5 Historical Figures Who Would Be Richer Than Bernard Arnault, Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos And Elon Musk Today

Think today’s billionaires like Bernard Arnault, Warren Buffet, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos are the richest people to have ever lived? Hold onto your hats, because as staggering as their fortunes may seem, these modern billionaires might not even make the historical rich list when you really crunch the numbers.

Here are at least five people in history who were definitely richer than any of today’s richest multi-billionaires:

Mansa Musa (1280-1337)

Ever heard of a guy so rich he caused inflation just by traveling? That’s Mansa Musa for you. During his pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324, he took so much gold and spent it so lavishly in Cairo and Medina that he skyrocketed the local prices. Realizing his spending spree had destabilized economies, he bought back gold just to balance things out. Talk about being a one-man economic whirlwind.

Genghis Khan (1162-1227)

With a net worth estimated at a jaw-dropping $120 trillion today, Genghis Khan didn't just conquer lands; he owned them. His empire stretched across Asia to Europe, making him not only a fearsome warrior but also an incomparable holder of wealth. Imagine owning most of the known world and having the gold to match.

Emperor Shenzong (1048–1085)

Ruling an empire that commanded up to 30% of the world's GDP, Emperor Shenzong of China's Song dynasty was no small fry. His empire was a global economic powerhouse, pioneering in tax systems and governance that would put some modern nations to shame. That's a cool $30 trillion today, making Silicon Valley look like a lemonade stand.

Akbar (1542-1605)

Akbar the Great wasn't just great at expanding his empire, he was also a master of the economic game. Controlling an empire that accounted for 25% of the global GDP, his $21 trillion net worth today came from a finely tuned ability to squeeze wealth out of his dominion, overshadowing the riches of contemporary Elizabethan England.

Empress Wu Zetian (624–705)

Empress Wu, ruling solo, handled the economy of a nation contributing 23% to the global GDP. Her reign brought in about $16 trillion today, through savvy trade deals and ruthless political maneuvers. She leveraged everything from tea to silk, expanding China's influence far and wide on the ancient Silk Road.