Monaco counts two billionaires in the Forbes Global ranking
Monaco has two of its residents in the 2026 Forbes billionaires’ list © Wallgreens Boots Alliance
The American magazine Forbes has just published its annual edition of the global billionaires’ ranking, and Monaco has confirmed its status as a microstate with an unrivalled concentration of great wealth, with two residents in the global top 1,100.
The Principality once again stands out in the 2026 edition of the Forbes billionaires list, which this year features more than 2,600 individuals worldwide. Two Monaco residents feature on the list, with a combined fortune exceeding $10 billion.
Stefano Pessina: $6.31 billion
At 84, Stefano Pessina ranks 664th globally with a fortune estimated at $6.31 billion. The head of Walgreens Boots Alliance, a naturalised Monegasque since 1992, remains by far the wealthiest resident of the Principality. Despite the fall in his group’s share price, store closures and a difficult period for WBA, Pessina continues to hold the reins of the pharmaceutical empire he has built through a series of mergers and acquisitions since the 1970s. A resilience that commands respect, even if the value of his fortune has fluctuated considerably over the years.
Stefano Pessina: Monegasque tycoon’s pharmaceutical empire stands test of time
David Nahmad: $4 billion
The other representative from Monaco is an equally unique figure in the business world, but in a radically different sphere. Forbes estimates David Nahmad’s fortune at $4 billion in February 2026. Born in 1947 in Beirut, this 78-year-old has built his reputation on a colossal art collection, including over 300 Picassos, which ranks him among the world’s greatest art dealers and collectors. The Nahmad family stores between 4,500 and 5,000 works in a warehouse in a free zone near Geneva Airport, a veritable private museum hidden from view. Described as a ‘mega-dealer’ in the Impressionist and modern art market, Nahmad has been awarded the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his contributions to culture, and regularly lends his works to institutions such as the Louvre and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.