Money may not buy you happiness, but having plenty of money can sure make your life easier.
One way to make more money is to gain wisdom from people who already have it. Fortunately, you can obtain access to much of that insight without ever leaving your house. You can read newsletters, watch financial shows on TV – and follow the Twitter feeds of some of the richest people in the world.
Listed below are some of the richest folks on Twitter (in no particular order), tweeting out their life lessons, tips and experiences for us. Remember, these are the best of the best out there. Lap up all the wisdom you can – follow them on Twitter!
1) Warren Buffett @WarrenBuffett
Net Worth: $62.7 billion Twitter Followers: 898 k
OK, so he’s only posted 5 tweets so far, but the man knows how to make money. Which is why he has 898,000 followers breathlessly awaiting his next 140-character pearl of wisdom.
2) Bill Gates @BillGates
Net Worth: $82 billion Twitter Followers: 18.1 million
The former Microsoft head was an early Twitter adapter, posting his first tweets in 2009. He’s only a *bit* more prolific than Warren Buffet, having posted just over 1,400 Tweets as of October 2014. But Bill has over 18 million followers – perhaps you should join them.
3) Elon Musk @elonmusk
Net Worth: $11.7 billion Twitter Followers: 1.19 million
The brains behind Tesla, the all-electric car that made electric cars sexy, joined Twitter in 2009, posting just over 1,000 Tweets as of October 2014. He posts updates on all things Tesla and tech to more than 1 million eager followers.
4) Mike Bloomberg @MikeBloomberg
Net Worth: $33 billion Twitter Followers: 632 k
As in the former NYC mayor and the founder of Bloomberg LP. He was also an early Twitter adapter, joining in 2008. He’s fairly prolific too, posting just over 7,700 tweets as of October 2014 and has 632,000 followers.
5) Michael Dell @MichaelDell
Net Worth: $15.9 billion Twitter Followers: 864 k
As in Dell computers. Another billionaire, Dell joined Twitter in 2009. He’s posted just over 2,300 Tweets as of October 2014 and has 864,000 followers. You should consider joining them.
6) Donald Trump @realDonaldTrump
Net Worth: $4 billion Twitter Followers: 2.73 million
Whether you love him or you hate him, you have to admit the man knows how to work deals. (He wrote the book on the subject: The Art of the Deal). The real estate tycoon joined Twitter in 2009 and has been Tweeting like a man possessed – with more than 19,000 Tweets as of October 2014. He also has 2.71 million followers who just can’t get enough.
7) Oprah Winfrey @Oprah
Net Worth: $2.9 billion Twitter Followers: 25.7 million
The former talk show queen is one of an elite group who only needs one name. She joined Twitter in 2009 and has posted an impressive 9,700+ Tweets as of October 2014. A member of the billionaire girls club, Oprah has more than 25.7 million devoted followers on Twitter.
8) Sheryl Sandberg @sherylsandberg
Net Worth: $1.1 billion Twitter Followers: 148 k
The Facebook exec and author of the provocative book Lean In joined Twitter in 2009. She’s only posted 17 Tweets as of October 2014, but surely as a social media maven she’s bound to pick up again. Her 148,000 followers sure hope so.
9) Richard Branson @richardbranson
Net Worth: $5 billion Twitter Followers: 4.6 million
More than the CEO of Virgin, Branson is a genuine adventurer. He joined Twitter way back in 2007 and has posted nearly 6,500 tweets as of October 2014. His Twitter feed is filled with interesting stuff ranging from links to his blog to investment opportunity tips. No wonder he has more than 4.6 million followers. He should be a fun one to follow.
10) Guy Kawasaki @GuyKawasaki
Net Worth: $30 million Twitter Followers: 1.43 million
The former chief evangelist of Apple was also a Twitter pioneer, launching his account in 2007. He’s a prolific Tweeter with more than 132,000 Tweets as of October 2014. His 1.43 million followers appreciate every post.
11) Seth Godin @ThisIsSethsBlog
Net Worth: $30 million Twitter Followers: 417 k
The founder of Squidoo is a respected blogger. He joined Twitter in 2008 and has posted more than 2400 Tweets as of October 2014. His Tweets include business trends, entrepreneurial ventures and marketing news. More than 417,000 followers can’t be wrong about the value of his Twitter feed for entrepreneurs.
12) Alan Sugar @Lord_Sugar
Net Worth: $1.14 billion Twitter Followers: 3.65 million
If you’re thinking “who?” then it’s time to get hip to the billionaire businessman and proprietor of the UK version of The Apprentice, who has been on Twitter since 2010, racking up more than 24,000 Tweets as of October 2014. Sugar posts job openings and info about his various ventures which are closely followed by 3.65 million followers.
13) Suze Orman @SuzeOrmanShow
Net Worth: $35 million Twitter Followers: 1.55 million
On her long-running TV show, Orman dispenses financial advice with a healthy dose of humor and humanity. The millionaire financial guru joined Twitter in 2009, racking up more than 24,000 Tweets as of October 2014. Her 1.55 million followers eagerly await every update.
14) Russell Simmons @UncleRUSH
Net Worth: $350 million Twitter Followers: 3.31 million
The hip-hop legend has a net worth of more than $350 million and more than 3 million followers on Twitter. He’s been Tweeting since 2009, dishing politics and life along with celebrity happenings with more than 50,000 Tweets as of October 2014.
15) Jerry Brown @JerryBrownGov
Net Worth: $4 million Twitter Followers: 1.05 million
The once before and now again governor of California has an estimated net worth of $4 million. While that’s pocket change to people like Warren Buffet, his Twitter feed features insider updates on California politics and world affairs. Brown joined Twitter in 2009 and has racked up more than 1800 Tweets as of October 2014, and more than 1 million followers.
16) Marcus Lemonis @marcuslemonis
Net Worth: $2 billion Twitter Followers: 225 k
The star of the reality show The Profit is reportedly worth more than $2 billion. Lemonis joined Twitter in 2009 and has racked up more than 8,700 Tweets as of October 2014, plus 200,000+ followers.
17) Larry Ellison @LarryEllison
Net Worth: $46 billion Twitter Followers: 50.6 k
He joined Twitter in 2012 and promptly posted a single Tweet. But he’s a multi-billionaire, which is why he has more than 50,000 followers waiting for Tweet #2.
18) Marissa Mayer @marissamayer
Net Worth: $300 million Twitter Followers: 794 k
The CEO of Yahoo joined Twitter in 2008, posting just over 1,200 Tweets as of October 2014. She dishes about Yahoo and the tech world in general to nearly 800,000 followers.
19) Biz Stone @biz
Net Worth: $250 million Twitter Followers: 2.25 million
The co-founder and co-inventor of Twitter has a net worth of at least $250 million. He’s been Tweeting since 2006, posting nearly 5,700 Tweets as of October 2014 on subjects ranging from innovation to charity. Is it any surprise he’s racked up more than 2.2 million followers?
20) Neil deGrasse Tyson @neiltyson
Net Worth: $1 million Twitter Followers: 2.55 million
The host of the super-cool reboot of Cosmos is also a bona-fide millionaire. He joined Twitter in 2009, posting just over 4,000 Tweets as of October 2014, and also has nearly 2.5 million followers.
21) Reid Hoffman @reidhoffman
Net Worth: $4.4 billion Twitter Followers: 227 k
The co-founder LinkedIn joined Twitter way back in 2006. As of October 2014 he’s only posted 776 Tweets, but collected 227,000 followers.
22) Pierre Omidyar @pierre
Net Worth: $7.6 billion Twitter Followers: 489 k
As the founder and chairman of eBay, Omidyar has assembled a worldwide financial powerhouse. Omidyar joined Twitter in 2007, posting nearly 5,500 Tweets as of October 2014. He also has 487,000 followers.
23) Carl Icahn @Carl_C_Icahn
Net Worth: $26 billion Twitter Followers: 189 k
The activist investor, worth more than $26 billion is famous for using financial muscle to shape the companies in which he invests. Icahn was a latecomer to Twitter, only joining in 2013 and posting 155 Tweets as of October 2014, but has already collected more than 189,000 followers.
While we may never achieve the “greatness” that many of these leaders have, we can certainly still aim high in our personal, and of course, our financial lives. These iconic individuals have established a proven reputation for knowing a thing or two about how to manage their finances. By following them on Twitter you might just have the good fortune of some of that wisdom rubbing off on you.
After all, what have you got to lose?
Audrey Henderson is a Chicagoland-based writer and researcher. She holds advanced degrees in sociology and law from Northwestern University. Her writing specialties are sustainable development in the built environment, policy related to arts and popular culture, socially and ecologically responsible travel, civic tech and personal finance.
