Global: U.S. President Donald Trump and tech guru Elon Musk have emerged as the world’s most hated billionaires in a new ranking by Slot.Day, which analyzed public sentiment around 21 of the world’s wealthiest individuals.
Trump, whose net worth stands at $6.5 billion, topped the list with an overall hate score of 100, driven by the highest number of fraud-related online searches (143,000) and a Reddit hate score of 9.5. His controversial political legacy and polarizing public persona continue to fuel widespread disapproval, with 40% of respondents expressing negative sentiment toward him.
Second on the list is Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who, despite being the world’s third-richest person with a net worth of $195 billion, scored 92 on the hate index. Musk registered the highest number of “controversy” keyword searches globally (113,000) and received a Reddit hate score of 9.4.
The backlash stems from his perceived erratic leadership style, controversial decisions at X (formerly Twitter), and allegations of poor worker treatment at Tesla.
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch came in third with a hate score of 64. The 92-year-old Fox News owner was found to have the highest public disapproval rating (55%), reflecting concerns over media bias and influence. While his Reddit hate score (9.2) remains high, his volume of negative online coverage was notably lower than those above him.
Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, whose business empire has long been tied to political patronage and environmental concerns, tied for fourth place with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, both scoring 56. Adani was marked down primarily due to a 51% public disapproval rating, while Zuckerberg’s issues centered around privacy scandals at Facebook and his awkward public image, with a Reddit hate score of 9.1.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos followed in sixth position, earning a hate score of 47. His criticism stems from Amazon’s aggressive labor policies, tax avoidance controversies, and the optics of personal wealth amid global economic inequality.
Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, ranked seventh with a score of 46. Although his net worth is modest in billionaire terms ($2.7 billion), Dimon drew scrutiny for his role in global finance and large-scale fraud investigations involving financial institutions.
Eighth on the list is Vince McMahon, longtime WWE executive, with a score of 43. Despite recent retirement moves, his reputation remains mired in scandal and allegations of workplace misconduct.
Philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, ranked ninth with a score of 41, surprisingly had the highest volume of negative mentions (11,770) among all billionaires. Nonetheless, his lower Reddit hate score (7.0) and a more favorable public image compared to peers softened his ranking.
George Soros, the liberal financier and long-standing target of conspiracy theories, closed the top ten with a hate score of 36. His relatively low Reddit hate score (5.9) and 26% disapproval rating placed him below others despite the barrage of political attacks often launched against him.
Why These Billionaires Attract Controversy
Slot.Day’s methodology included an analysis of Google search volumes containing the billionaire’s name and keywords like “controversy,” “fraud,” and “scam,” as well as Reddit sentiment data and public opinion ratings. A combined score was generated to reflect public sentiment and digital backlash.
“The intense public scrutiny of billionaires reflects broader societal concerns about power concentration rather than wealth alone. Those facing the strongest backlash typically combine economic influence with perceived ethical lapses or democratic interference,” a spokesperson from Slot.Day noted.
The report highlights a growing trend: wealth without accountability is drawing sharp criticism, and in the digital age, public sentiment has become an increasingly powerful currency.
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