billionaire

[bil-yuh-nair, bil-yuh-nair]

noun

1. a person who has assets worth a billion or more dollars, euros, etc.

billionaire

/ ˌbɪljəˈnɛə /

noun

1. a person whose assets are worth over a billion of the monetary units of his country

Word History and Origins

Origin of billionaire¹

First recorded in 1855–60, billion + -aire, on the model of millionaire

Example Sentences

Munger, the son of a billionaire who was the right-hand man of investor Warren Buffett, declined to comment about whether he planned to give additional funds.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Along with a volunteer medical army of doctors and researchers, and with funding from billionaire philanthropist Christy Walton, they are analyzing the latest data on certain vaccines and helping coordinate and advise policymakers and physicians.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Yet all that doesn’t approach the wealth of Swift, who achieved billionaire status in 2023 after her blockbuster “Eras” tour, according to Forbes.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

As superyachts have become a staple of the billionaire class, owners and designers turned these pricey pleasure vessels into well-appointed floating offices, outfitted with executive desks and high-speed internet.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Those policies—and how they’re enforced—are what upset opponents such as billionaire Musk, White House AI czar David Sacks and others who don’t like its perceived slant.

Read more on Wall Street Journal