What qualifies you to be on the Forbes list?

Qualifying for a Forbes list depends on the specific list, but generally involves exceptional achievement, scale, impact, and innovation in your field, with criteria like revenue/funding for business lists, significant social impact for others, and strict age/category rules for lists like the 30 Under 30, judged by industry experts, Forbes editors, and judges, not just a simple application. There's no single formula, but demonstrating significant traction, leadership, and disruption in your venture or career is key, with Forbes scouting and vetting candidates rigorously.

What are the criteria for the Forbes list?

To get on a Forbes list like the 30 Under 30, you need to build a compelling story around significant metrics (funding, revenue, impact) and secure nominations, ideally from current list members, while also creating valuable content and networking with Forbes contributors; for general mentions, pitch unique data or stories to relevant journalists covering your industry. The key is demonstrating innovation, traction, and potential, often through a strong application narrative or direct, tailored pitches, rather than generic press releases. 

Can you pay to be on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list?

Forbes says "There are no fees to apply, and no one can pay their way to secure a spot on the list."

What is the minimum net worth for Forbes list?

A decade ago, when it took $1.7 billion to make The Forbes 400, a net worth of $3.8 billion was comfortably within the top half of the ranking—now that lofty sum is the minimum required. Still, 14 newcomers, including four worth $10 billion or more, have muscled their way into America's most elite club.

How many Americans have $2 million in the bank?

Only a small fraction of Americans, about 1.8% of households, have $2 million or more in retirement savings, according to analyses of Federal Reserve data by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI). This puts reaching the $2 million mark in a distinct category, as far fewer people achieve it compared to $1 million, and even fewer reach $3 million or more. 

How To Increase Your Chances Of Getting On The Forbes Under 30 List From The Editors Who Create It

Who will be the 1st trillionaire?

While no one is a trillionaire yet, Elon Musk is widely considered the frontrunner, with recent reports and a massive, conditionally approved Tesla pay package putting him on track to potentially reach that milestone within the next decade, driven by Tesla's performance goals and SpaceX's potential IPO. Other tech leaders in AI, like Jeff Bezos or Mark Zuckerberg, or figures mastering AI, like Jensen Huang, are also potential candidates, but Musk currently leads the predictions. 

Who is richer, Oprah or Taylor Swift?

Oprah Winfrey - $3.1 billion 2. Kim Kardashian - $1.7 billion 3. Taylor Swift - $1.6 billion 4. Rihanna - $1.4 billion 5.

Has anyone ever fallen off the Forbes list?

One billionaire couple has dropped off Forbes' list of the 400 richest people in America after giving away nearly half of their personal fortune through philanthropy. In 2023, John was ranked 345th on the Forbes 400.

Why are suddenly so many self-made billionaires under 30?

Fueled by AI, prediction markets and online gambling, there are more self-made billionaires under 30 than ever before, 13 up from a previous record of 7.

Do companies pay to be on the Forbes list?

While listees do not pay for placement on the Forbes list, they can elect to pay for “enhanced features” on their listing online, giving them a prominent label in the list as well an extended explanation of their ranking.

How to appear on Forbes?

How to get a reporter to write an article for you on Forbes?

1. Email outreach. From our experience, traditional email outreach is still the most effective way to get featured on Forbes. ...
2. Social media outreach. Reaching out to reporters on social media is, in many ways, similar to email outreach. ...
3. HARO (Help A Reporter Out)

Can you nominate yourself for Forbes?

Anyone can nominate themselves or a potential candidate. We look at every single one. Our more than 8,000 U.S. list alumni share tips about who Forbes should feature on the list.

What is the top 1% of rich people?

The "top 1%" of rich people refers to the wealthiest individuals or households, with thresholds varying significantly by location: globally, a net worth of around $1 million might place you in the 1%, but in the U.S., it's much higher, requiring a net worth of approximately $5.8 million or more, with the average top 1% household having over $35 million in wealth and earning substantial income, controlling a disproportionate share of national assets, notes.
 

What is the Forbes 5 * standards?

The Forbes 5-Star Standards Checklist is a structured evaluation tool designed to measure how closely a hotel aligns with the world's most respected hospitality benchmarks. Forbes Travel Guide inspectors assess over 900 detailed criteria, with 75% of scoring focused on service and only 25% on physical facilities.

Who is the richest female singer ever?

Based on Forbes, American singer Taylor Swift is the wealthiest female musician, with a net worth of US$1.6 billion as of 2024. Barbadian singer Rihanna became the first female musician to attain a billionaire status in 2021, with a net worth of $1.7 billion at that time.

Did Oprah donate $10 million to Maui?

Yes, Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson jointly pledged and donated $10 million to launch the People's Fund of Maui in August 2023 to aid residents impacted by the devastating wildfires, providing direct cash assistance of $1,200 monthly to eligible adults who lost their homes, with the fund eventually distributing nearly $60 million in total.
 

Is Kim Kardashian or Taylor Swift richer?

As of late 2025, Kim Kardashian is generally reported to be richer than Taylor Swift, with estimates placing Kardashian's net worth around $1.9 billion compared to Swift's $1.6 billion, largely due to Kardashian's successful SKIMS brand. Both are billionaires, but Kardashian's business ventures have pushed her net worth slightly higher in recent reports from sources like Forbes.
 

Is Elon Musk a billionaire or a trillionaire?

Elon Musk is a billionaire, currently the world's richest person, with a net worth well over $600 billion (approaching $700 billion by late 2025), making him the first person to reach such heights, and he is actively on track to potentially become the first trillionaire if Tesla and SpaceX valuations continue to grow and meet targets, especially with a massive potential $1 trillion performance-based pay package from Tesla approved in late 2025.
 

What can you buy with $1 trillion dollars?

With $1 trillion, CNN wrote, you get get every single car sold in the United States this year. If cars aren't your thing, you could splurge on 2,000 “Jeff Bezos yachts” — with the outlet noting that they take about $25 million in mainetance every year for each boat.

Which country has the most billionaires?

The United States consistently has the most billionaires by a large margin, hosting over 900 individuals, followed by China and then India, with these three countries leading the global billionaire count in 2025 according to multiple financial reports. The U.S.'s robust economy, deep capital markets, and strong tech ecosystem drive its dominance in wealth accumulation, with China and India showing significant growth.
 

What do billionaires do with their money?

Another common place where billionaires keep their money is in securities. Securities are financial investments and instruments with some value that can be traded, oftentimes on public markets. Common types of securities include bonds, stocks, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).