Which language has the most speakers?

Indeed, sir, the question of which language has the most speakers is a matter of some interest. If we consider native speakers, Mandarin Chinese holds the title, it is spoken by over a billion people. However, if we take into account total speakers, including those who learn the language as a second or third tongue, English takes the lead, with more than 1.5 billion speakers worldwide. One might suggest that the answer depends on whether one counts native speakers alone or includes those who have learned the language in addition to their first tongue, a distinction worth bearing in mind when discussing linguistic dominance.