# China billionaires

AI Surge and Private Valuations Propel Musk Back to No.1 as China Reclaims Top Spot for Billionaires

Hurun’s 2026 Global Rich List records a historic jump to 4,020 billionaires as global wealth on the list rises 28%. AI-driven valuation gains and private-company growth catapult Elon Musk back to the top while China, led by Shenzhen’s tech ecosystem and ByteDance’s Zhang Yiming, surpasses the United States in billionaire headcount.