Larry Page is the richest inventor in the world in October 2026, with a reported fortune of roughly $334 billion built on PageRank and Google. This list ranks ten inventors and inventor families whose own creation or product innovation produced their wealth, from search algorithms to Nutella, Red Bull and the bagless vacuum. Six of the ten are reported to be worth more than $15 billion.
| Rank | Name | Net worth |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Larry Page | Roughly $334 billion |
| 2 | Sergey Brin | Roughly $257 billion |
| 3 | Mark Mateschitz | Roughly $46 billion |
| 4 | Giovanni Ferrero and family | Reported at $43 billion or more |
| 5 | Chalerm Yoovidhya and family | Reported at $36 billion or more |
| 6 | James Dyson | Roughly $15 billion |
| 7 | Ty Warner | Reported at about $6.4 billion |
| 8 | Palmer Luckey | Roughly $6 billion |
| 9 | Sara Blakely | Reported at about $1.3 billion |
| 10 | Mario Moretti Polegato | We estimate roughly $2 billion |
1. Larry Page: Net worth roughly $334 billion
Larry Page co-created the PageRank algorithm at Stanford with Sergey Brin and co-founded Google in 1998. He led Google as CEO and later Alphabet, stepping down from the Alphabet role in December 2019, and remains a board member and one of two controlling shareholders.
Most of his wealth is held in Alphabet stock.
The figure comes from reported 2026 estimates of his Alphabet holdings, and it rises and falls with the share price.
2. Sergey Brin: Net worth roughly $257 billion
Sergey Brin is the other co-creator of PageRank and co-founder of Google. Like Page, he holds most of his wealth in Alphabet shares.
His fortune is almost entirely Alphabet stock, so it moves with the share price.
Reported October 2026 estimates of his Alphabet stake land him near $257 billion.
3. Mark Mateschitz: Net worth roughly $46 billion
Dietrich Mateschitz turned the Thai tonic Krating Daeng into the Red Bull energy drink with its creator, Chaleo Yoovidhya, and built it into a global brand. He died in October 2022, and his son Mark inherited his 49% stake in Red Bull GmbH.
Red Bull reported revenue of about EUR 12.2 billion for 2025.
Our number is the reported 2026 estimate of about $45.8 billion for the inherited 49% stake.
4. Giovanni Ferrero and family: Net worth of $43 billion or more
The Ferrero family owns the confectionery group behind Nutella, Ferrero Rocher, Kinder and Tic Tac. Pietro Ferrero founded the company in Alba in 1946 and created a hazelnut and cocoa paste that stretched scarce cocoa, and his son Michele relaunched it as Nutella in 1964 and grew the global brand.
Giovanni Ferrero is executive chairman. The group reported revenue of about EUR 19 billion for fiscal 2025.
The latest estimate we could confirm is $43.3 billion from mid-2024, hence the “or more”. The group has grown since.
5. Chalerm Yoovidhya and family: Net worth of $36 billion or more
Chalerm Yoovidhya is the son of Chaleo Yoovidhya, who created the Krating Daeng tonic drink in Thailand that became the base for Red Bull. The family holds 51% of Red Bull GmbH and is described as among the wealthiest in Thailand.
Red Bull reported revenue of about EUR 12.2 billion for 2025.
A 2024 estimate of about $36 billion is the newest we could confirm, so read it as a floor. Newer estimates may be higher.
6. James Dyson: Net worth roughly $15 billion
James Dyson is the British inventor of the bagless cyclonic vacuum cleaner, which he developed through about 5,127 prototypes before the G-Force launched in 1983 and later the Dual Cyclone. His company has since expanded into hand dryers, fans, hair care and robot vacuums.
Dyson reported 2025 revenue of about GBP 6.1 billion, lower than the year before, with operating profit of about GBP 600 million, which was higher. He is one of the richest people in Britain.
A September 2026 estimate of about $15.1 billion rests on his private company and other investments.
7. Ty Warner: Net worth about $6.4 billion
Ty Warner launched Beanie Babies in 1993, and the stuffed animals became one of the biggest collectible crazes ever. He also owns luxury hotels and resorts, including the Four Seasons Hotel New York and The Biltmore in Santa Barbara.
We lean on a March 2025 estimate of about $6.4 billion, built on the toy company and the hotel holdings.
8. Palmer Luckey: Net worth roughly $6 billion
Palmer Luckey created the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset as a teenager, and Facebook acquired Oculus in 2014 for a reported $2 billion.
He later co-founded the defense technology company Anduril, which raised $5 billion in May 2026 at a reported valuation of $61 billion.
An estimate from September 2026 puts him near $6 billion, built on his Anduril stake and the Oculus sale proceeds.
9. Sara Blakely: Net worth about $1.3 billion
Sara Blakely invented Spanx shapewear, starting the company in Atlanta in 2000 with $5,000 in savings. In October 2021 she sold a majority stake in the company to Blackstone at a valuation of $1.2 billion.
A reported estimate after the deal put her fortune at about $1.3 billion.
The post-deal estimate rests on her retained stake and sale proceeds, and nobody has updated it since.
10. Mario Moretti Polegato: We estimate roughly $2 billion
Mario Moretti Polegato invented the Geox breathable shoe, a sole designed to let sweat escape, and founded the company in 1995. He chairs the family holding company LIR, through which he controls Geox, and the company listed on the Italian stock exchange in 2004.
Nobody publishes a current figure, so $2 billion is our own rough estimate, anchored on his control of Geox through LIR and held flat while sales are under pressure.
Special mentions
Thomas Edison, history’s best-known inventor, is not ranked because his fortune cannot be compared with modern valuations. Earlier versions of this list also included Hans Riegel of Haribo, Bradley Hughes of Public Storage and fashion designer Ralph Lauren, who are no longer ranked as inventors.
The habits that let people afford this
Short audio lessons on money, mindset and discipline, in the Alux app.
Get the Alux app →FAQ
Who is the richest inventor in the world?
Larry Page, the co-creator of PageRank and co-founder of Google, with a reported fortune of roughly $334 billion in October 2026.
Is Sergey Brin richer than Larry Page?
No. Brin is estimated at roughly $257 billion, well behind Page. Both fortunes are almost entirely Alphabet shares.
Which inventor made a fortune from a food or drink?
Mark Mateschitz (Red Bull) at roughly $46 billion, the Ferrero family (Nutella) at $43 billion or more, and the Yoovidhya family (Red Bull) at $36 billion or more.
Who is the richest British inventor?
James Dyson, who invented the bagless cyclonic vacuum cleaner, with roughly $15 billion.
Who is new on the list since the last version?
Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Mark Mateschitz, Palmer Luckey and Sara Blakely. Hans Riegel, Bradley Hughes, Thomas Edison and Ralph Lauren were removed.
How are inventor net worths estimated?
We start from reported estimates, stock prices or company revenue and profit, apply the owner’s stake, and add known cash and other assets. Where only older estimates exist we state that.
How we estimate net worth
Our estimates are based on public reporting, company valuations, and deal and earnings figures all compiled in an internal valuation model. They are approximate, and figures change over time as new information emerges.
For this list we used share prices and holdings for listed companies, reported revenue and profit for private companies, and disclosed deal valuations such as funding rounds and stake sales. Where sources disagreed we used the higher realistic figure.
Last updated: October 2026.
