billionaire

noun

bil·​lion·​aire ˌbi(l)-yə-ˈner How to pronounce billionaire (audio)
ˈbi(l)-yə-ˌner
: one whose wealth is estimated at a billion or more dollars, pounds, or other monetary units

Examples of billionaire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Steve Bannon questioned the accounting of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on Wednesday, while also taking aim at the agency's billionaire leader Elon Musk. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025 The move to shut down the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) comes as part of an unprecedented push by President Donald Trump and his billionaire adviser Musk to shrink the federal government, saying U.S. taxpayer money is misspent. Simon Lewis, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025 Their growing share of the country’s total wealth comes as the U.S. has seen a record number of billionaires. Ben Kesslen, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2025 Without a billionaire at the helm like the other 31 franchises, the ownership structure provides the fans with a unique sense of togetherness, as roughly 530,000 people call themselves shareholders (though none of them receive any financial return for their investment). Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 23 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for billionaire

Word History

Etymology

billion + -aire (as in millionaire)

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of billionaire was in 1844

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Cite this Entry

“Billionaire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/billionaire. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

billionaire

noun
bil·​lion·​aire ˌbil-yə-ˈna(ə)r How to pronounce billionaire (audio)
-ˈne(ə)r;
ˈbil-yə-ˌna(ə)r,
-ˌne(ə)r
: one whose wealth is a billion dollars or more

More from Merriam-Webster on billionaire

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