Grant Cardone says 9,000 more billionaires exist

Grant Cardone says there are 9,000 billionaires not on the Forbes list. This is much higher than Forbes' count.
By Newsroom | Business, Finance |

Grant Cardone, a figure known for his pronouncements on wealth accumulation, recently asserted that there exist 9,000 billionaires not cataloged by Forbes' annual list. This claim hinges on a distinctly expansive interpretation of what constitutes a billionaire, a perspective that diverges sharply from established methodologies.

Cardone's argument centers on the idea that net worth, particularly in the form of tangible assets and private holdings, is significantly undervalued or simply overlooked by conventional wealth trackers. He suggests that real estate, private company stakes, and other illiquid assets, when valued by his own metrics, would push many individuals across the billion-dollar threshold. Forbes, conversely, adheres to a more stringent, publicly verifiable valuation process.

This discrepancy underscores a fundamental debate: what is the true measure of immense wealth? Is it the readily quantifiable, liquid capital that can be easily assessed and reported, or does it encompass the less transparent, yet potentially vast, reserves of private ownership? Cardone’s stance implies that the 'invisible' wealth is substantial enough to alter perceptions of global affluence.

Read More: Temu fined $232 million for selling unsafe toys in California

The Forbes methodology, widely recognized in financial circles, relies on documented assets and verified valuations, often involving public company shares, substantial real estate holdings with readily available market data, and other forms of verifiable capital. This approach aims for accuracy and comparability. Cardone's broader definition, however, includes assets that are difficult to appraise objectively, such as privately held companies whose value fluctuates significantly with market sentiment and internal performance metrics not shared publicly.

Cardone's pronouncements, while provocative, do not necessarily invalidate Forbes' findings but rather highlight the inherent subjectivity in wealth calculation. The very act of defining and quantifying wealth is a construction, and different constructions yield different results. The "grant" of a billionaire status, in Cardone's view, seems to be a more fluid and inclusive process than the rigorous verification typically associated with such declarations.

Read More: Ninety One AUM Jumps 31% to R3.9 Trillion by March 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What did Grant Cardone say about the number of billionaires?
Grant Cardone said on April 6, 2026, that there are 9,000 billionaires who are not on the Forbes list. He believes they are not counted because their wealth is in things like real estate and private companies.
Q: Why does Grant Cardone think Forbes misses billionaires?
Cardone thinks Forbes uses a strict way to count wealth that only looks at easily proven money. He says many people have a lot of money in assets like property and private businesses that Forbes does not value high enough.
Q: How does Forbes count billionaires?
Forbes uses a method that checks assets and values them using public information. They look at things like stocks and property with clear market prices to make sure the numbers are correct and can be compared.
Q: What is the main difference between Cardone's and Forbes' views?
The main difference is how they value wealth. Cardone includes hard-to-value private assets, while Forbes focuses on assets that are easy to check and have clear market values.