billionaire

American  

[bil-yuh-nair, bil-yuh-nair] / ˌbɪl yəˈnɛər, ˈbɪl yəˌnɛər /

noun

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

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billionaire British  

/ ˌbɪljəˈnɛə /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of billionaire

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

Example Sentences

Around 40% of the world’s wealth is in the Americas, according to UBS research, and the U.S. hosts around one-third of all billionaires.

From The Wall Street Journal

Some of those billionaires are also ponying up to defeat the measure.

From Los Angeles Times

Then I did the math: Even if the company collapsed, I’d built relationships with celebrities and billionaires who could easily get me a six-figure job.

From The Wall Street Journal

A key adviser to Bill Gates passed along information about biotech startups his billionaire boss was investing in.

From The Wall Street Journal

He pardoned Joe Lewis, a British billionaire whose family owns an English Premier League soccer club and who had pleaded guilty to charges of securities fraud.

From The Wall Street Journal