Core Insights - The total number of known billionaires worldwide is 2,838, with 73% of U.S. billionaires being self-made [1] Group 1: Definition of Self-Made Billionaires - A self-made billionaire is defined as someone who has founded or co-founded a company leading to billionaire status [2] - Some self-made billionaires have a true rags-to-riches story, while others may have had some initial family wealth to help launch their businesses [3] Group 2: Paths to Becoming a Self-Made Billionaire - Most billionaires accumulate wealth through entrepreneurship by starting their own successful businesses, which can range from technology companies to consumer brands [5] - Wealth is primarily derived from ownership of equity in the companies they founded rather than salaries, as exemplified by Mark Zuckerberg, who owns a 13% stake in Meta Platforms valued at approximately $1.5 trillion, contributing to his net worth of nearly $200 billion [6] - Success often involves a combination of hard work, innovation, timing, and market demand, with many billionaires benefiting from starting their companies at opportune moments, such as during the tech boom of the 1990s and the current AI boom [7]