The Watches of the 100 Richest People in the World

Between ostentation, discretion and mechanical obsession

You can buy islands, private jets, or Basquiat's works. But a watch? It doesn't cheat. It doesn't always show itself. It has to be experienced.

And yet, at the top of the economic world, where numbers have more zeros than meaning, watches tell a story. A lot. More than just a style, they reveal an intimate relationship with time, power, and ego.

Because while some fortunes flaunt 260-carat diamonds, others opt for a $69 Casio . Why? Because in watchmaking, as in strategy, there are two schools of thought: noise — and silence .

The watchmaking divide: between bling and simplicity

On one side, there are collectors who transform their wrists into mobile safes, with Patek Philippe Grand Complications or Jacob & Co Billionaire Watches costing $18 million.

On the other hand, there are those who hate watches like we hate interruptions: Bill Gates, Mark Cuban, Elon Musk—ultra-wealth without the tie or the complication.

This divide isn't a question of style. It's a philosophy. The jewel or the tool. The symbol or silence.

Exceptional collectors

LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault isn't wearing just any Patek. He's wearing the Nautilus Perpetual Calendar 5740 with a Tiffany dial. A unique piece estimated at $6.5 million.

©Photo: hypebeast.com

Anant Ambani , heir to Indian tycoon Mukesh Ambani, owns one of the craziest collections in the world: Sky Moon Tourbillon, Grandmaster Chime, for more than 16 million euros combined.

© Photo: gq.com

Floyd Mayweather doesn't do things by halves. His Jacob & Co. Billionaire Watch is set with 260 carats. Value: $18 million. It doesn't tell the time; it announces a fortune.

© Photo: ablogtowatch.com

Simplicity chosen, complexity assumed

Bill Gates has never been interested in prestige. His $69.99 Casio Duro follows him everywhere. Waterproof, simple, functional.

© Photo: hodinkee.com

Warren Buffett remains loyal to his yellow gold Rolex Day-Date , a $23,000 watch he's worn for decades.

© Photo: gq-magazine.co.uk

Mark Cuban stopped wearing a watch the day he sold his first company. "Because I don't need someone telling me what time it is anymore."

© Photo: Disney/Christopher Willard I Mark Cuban on "Shark Tank"

Tech Titans: The Watch as a Non-Subject

Elon Musk , once a fan of Richard Mille or TAG Heuer Carrera SpaceX, now seems to prefer the absence of a watch.

© Photo: gq-magazine.co.uk

Jeff Bezos opts for a Ulysse Nardin Dual Time. Elegant, discreet, perfectly suited to his intercontinental travels.

© Photo: gq-magazine.co.uk

Larry Page and Sergey Brin favor connected technologies over mechanical watches. Tradition isn't always compatible with the algorithmic worldview.

Understated luxury in Asia and the Middle East

Mukesh Ambani wears a Vacheron Constantin Patrimony or a Rolex Cellini. Two understated models despite his colossal fortune.

© Photo: Vacheron-Constantin.com

Prince Joaan of Qatar owns a Richard Mille RM-056 sapphire watch, limited to 5 pieces, valued at $1.6 million.

© Photo: richardmille.com

The favorite homes of the world's elite

Patek Philippe remains an absolute reference, notably with the Grandmaster Chime 6300A ($31 million).

Richard Mille appeals to fans of extreme mechanics. Aggressive lines, ultra-limited editions, futuristic materials.

Rolex embodies reassuring stability. Timeless, resalable, identifiable. And a frequent choice among major investors.

Preserve what you have

When a watch is worth several million—or simply a lot in your opinion—the question of maintenance becomes central. How can you avoid malfunctions? Congealed lubricants? Shocks?

President – ​​Smart Winder with Biometric Lock

More and more collectors are opting for an automatic watch winder : a discreet accessory, but crucial for keeping the most demanding movements alive.

And for those who want to combine security and care, secure watch winders for collectors offer a double guarantee: physical protection and mechanical continuity.

When discretion becomes luxury

A clear trend is emerging: fewer display cases, more drawers. Less glitter, more minimalism. Among young billionaires, watches are no longer systematically displayed. They are chosen, lived in... or kept silent.

Because in a world saturated with signals, silence becomes the most precious signature.

Conclusion: The watch as a manifesto

Casio or Patek. Rolex or nothing at all. Each top watchmaking choice reflects more than just an aesthetic preference.

The watch is not just a measuring tool. It's an idea, a symbol, an intimate narrative. And for the richest, it remains one of the rare objects that doesn't lie. Just turns.