Jeff Bezos overtakes Elon Musk as world's richest for the first time in three years as Amazon founder's net worth tops $200billion while Tesla creator's stumbles after $55.8billion compensation package was struck down by Delaware court

Jeff Bezos is back on top as the world's richest man for the first time in three years as his worth sits at $200billion and former No. 1 Elon Musk saw his total stumble. 

Bezos, 60, topped the recent Bloomberg Billionaires Index for the first time since fall of 2021, surpassing Musk, who is now at $198 billion. 

It comes after the Amazon founder sold off a total of $4billion worth of shares since mid-February, regulatory filings revealed. 

At the same time, Tesla CEO and X chair Musk, 52, saw a judge rule in late January that he must hand back the biggest pay packet in corporate history, at $55billion, following accusations of the CEO strong-arming Tesla directors. 

Bezos' stock sales come after it emerged that he will set up his primary residence in Florida, taking advantage of the Sunshine State's tax system. 

Jeff Bezos has returned to the top of the list of world's richest people for the first time in three years, as his largesse hits $200 billion and former number one Elon Musk's wealth stumbles. Bezos is pictured sharing the red carpet with Lauren Sanchez

Bezos, 60, topped the Bloomberg Billionaires Index for the first time since fall of 2021, surpassing Tesla founder Elon Musk, who is now at $198 billion

Bezos stepped down as Amazon CEO in 2021. His current title is executive chairman. In the space of a week, he's shed nearly 25 million shares of the company. These are the first shares that he's sold since leaving his role as CEO.

Earlier this month, Bezos, said that he would sell 50 million of his Amazon shares by 2025 through brokerage firm Morgan Stanley. 

Despite the sales, Bezos is still Amazon's highest shareholder, owning close to 10 percent of company stock.

Since February 2023, Amazon shares have soared over 50 percent with its price close to an all time high. Its market capitalization is around $1.75 trillion. 

Bezos backed away from Amazon in order to spend more time on his other projects, including the rocket company, Blue Origin, and his philanthropy.

Bezos has also spent time galivanting with fiancé Lauren Sanchez as the two have been pictured in numerous hot spots.  

While it's unclear when exactly they started dating, Lauren and Jeff's romance was first exposed by the National Enquirer in January 2019, while they were both married to other people.

Soon after it was revealed, the billionaire Amazon founder, 59, divorced his wife of more than 25 years and the mother of his four children, Mackenzie Scott, while Lauren left her husband, Endeavor talent agency co-founder Patrick Whitesell.

They got engaged in early 2023, and Lauren opened up about the moment Jeff asked her to marry him to Vogue last month.

She recalled how Jeff popped the question on his yacht after they enjoyed a romantic dinner under the stars together.

She said the mogul concealed the huge diamond ring under her pillow, and that she almost 'blacked out' when she discovered it at the end of the evening just before they went to bed.

When asked about their upcoming nuptials, Lauren admitted that they were still in the early stages of planning the wedding, so they didn't have a lot figured out just yet.

'We're still thinking about the wedding and what it's going to be. Is it going to be big? Is it going to be overseas? We don't know yet,' she dished.

And Jeff made it clear that he was leaving it in her hands, telling the outlet when asked if he was going to be heavily involved in the planning, 'Oh, God, no. Do I look that dumb?'

As for whether or not Lauren will be taking her husband-to-be's last name, she admitted: 'Uh, yes, 100 percent. I am looking forward to being Mrs. Bezos.'

Bezos' return to the top of the world's richestcomes after the Amazon founder sold off a total of $4billion worth of shares since mid-February, regulatory filings revealed

Bezos' stock sales come after it emerged that he will set up his primary residence in Florida, taking advantage of the Sunshine State's tax system

Tesla CEO and X chair Musk, 52, saw a judge rule in late January that he must hand back the biggest pay packet in corporate history following accusations of the CEO strong-arming Tesla directors

Musk , who now sits in second place on the world's riches, must hand back the biggest pay packet in corporate history after a judge ruled he strong-armed Tesla directors into awarding him $55 billion

Musk, who now sits in second place, must hand back the biggest pay packet in corporate history after a judge ruled he strong-armed Tesla directors into awarding him $55 billion.

The ruling in a Delaware court comes five years after a lawsuit filed by shareholder Richard Tornetta targeted Musk and the directors of the electric car company he founded.

Chancery Court Judge Kathleen McCormick in her ruling found that the process leading to the board’s approval of his 2018 compensation package was 'deeply flawed'.

Musk had 'extensive ties with the persons tasked with negotiating on Tesla’s behalf', she found including General Counsel Todd Maron, who was his 'former divorce attorney'.

Musk immediately reacted to the ruling on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter, tweeting: 'Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware.'

'I recommend incorporating in Nevada or Texas if you prefer shareholders to decide matters.' 

Defense lawyers said the pay plan was fairly negotiated by a committee of independent directors, contained lofty performance milestones, and was blessed by a shareholder vote that was not even required.

McCormick ordered directors back to the drawing board in a bid to come up with an appropriate pay package for the world's richest man.

'The parties are to confer on a form of final order implementing this decision and submit a joint letter identifying all issues, including fees that need to be addressed to bring this matter to a conclusion at the trial level,' she wrote.

Musk owns 13 percent of Tesla stock but announced a bid earlier this month to secure a quarter of its voting stock.

'I am uncomfortable growing Tesla to be a leader in AI & robotics without having ~25% voting control,' he wrote on X.

'Enough to be influential, but not so much that I can’t be overturned.'  

Tesla's shares fell around 3 percent in the aftermath of the ruling. 

Third on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index list is Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, with $197 billion 

Mark Zuckerberg (pictured right) and Bill Gates, who come in at $179 billion and $150 billion, respectively, wrap up the top five

Third on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index list is Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, with $197 billion. The French company oversees numerous luxury brands and has a market cap of $382 billion in the eurozone. 

Arnault is followed by Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft mogul Bill Gates, who come in at $179 billion and $150 billion, respectively.

Steve Ballmer, Warren Buffet, Larry Ellison, Larry Page and Sergey Brin round out the top ten.

L'Oreal Vice Chairman Françoise Bettencourt Meyers is the world's richest woman, coming in at 15th on the list with a worth of $97.1 billion.