# billionaire

/ˌbɪɫjəˈnɛɹ/ (US) · /bˌɪliənˈeə/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/billionaire
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

a person who has at least one billion dollars, pounds, or euros in money and property.

For teachers: a person whose net worth is valued at one billion units or more of a major currency. Often used to describe the highest tier of global wealth and economic influence.

## Examples

- The young billionaire donated half of his wealth to charity.
- The city's skyline is dominated by luxury towers owned by a reclusive billionaire.
- Economists often debate whether the existence of a billionaire class is a sign of a healthy market or a symptom of systemic wealth inequality.

## Usage notes

- Countable; often used as a modifier before another noun (e.g., 'billionaire investor').

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.