Jeff Bezos is no longer the second richest person in the world

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By Carina Murphy

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Jeff Bezos is no longer the second richest man on the planet.

According to Bloomberg, the multi-billionaire Amazon founder has been overtaken by Indian industrialist Gautam Adani, whose net worth of $146.9 billion has topped Bezos' net worth of $145.8 billion.

Adani has been storming up Bloomberg's Billionaire's Index all year. After starting 2022 in 14th position, the Adani Group chief became Asia's richest person in February when he overtook fellow Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani.

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Gautam Adani. Credit: Newscom / Alamy

A few months later he continued his ascent through the ranks of the world's wealthiest men. When his net worth hit $122 billion in April he surpassed Warren Buffett and Larry Page, placing him in fifth place on the Index.

Later in the summer, his wealth rose again and he climbed to third place ahead of Bill Gates and Bernard Arnault.

Then this Friday (September 16) a sudden dip in Bezos' worth put Adani in second place - just one behind the world's richest man, Tesla boss Elon Musk.

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Credit: APFootage / Alamy

With over $100 billion still separating them, it's safe to say that Musk isn't in too much danger of losing the top spot to Adani. The SpaceX founder's net worth is estimated at a whopping $264 billion - over $117 billion more than the Indian industrialist.

Like Musk - who famously dropped out of Stanford after just two days - Adani quit college at Gujarat University before going on to make his billions.

Per Business Today, the now 60-year-old became a diamond sorter in Mumbai, then went on to manage his brother's plastic company. In 1988, he established the Adani Group's flagship company, Adani Enterprises.

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Credit: Kristoffer Tripplaar / Alamy

Today, Adani's conglomerate includes everything from airports and cement to data centers and green energy. He owns India's largest commercial port and has a majority stake in Mumbai airport. Among the seven publicly-traded companies that comprise Adani Group are Adani Green Energy Ltd and Adani Total Gas Ltd.

Meanwhile, Adani's rise through the ranks of Bloomberg's Billionaire's Index marks a change from technology magnates like Bezos, Musk, Page, and Gates who have come to dominate the top 10 in recent years.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy/Erik Pendzich