Mexico telecoms czar Carlos Slim topped the Forbes annual world’s richest list on Wednesday, sporting a $69-billion fortune that, while down from last year, still outpaced the runner-up, Microsoft founder Bill Gates.
Forbes said 1Â 226 tycoons made it onto its global list of billionaires this year but Slim held onto the top spot for the third straight year with $7-billion more than Gates.
In the third spot was US investment guru Warren Buffet, worth $44-billion; followed by France’s luxury king Bernard Arnault with $41-billion and a newcomer to the top five; and Spain’s Amancio Ortega, whose net worth surged by $6.5-billion despite his country’s financial straits to hit $37.5-billion.
“In a year of churn and burn, 128-billionaires are new to the list … while 117 dropped off,” said Forbes.
“A record 1Â 226 billionaires [up from 1Â 210 in 2011] made the list, with an average net worth of $3.7-billion,” the same as last year.
Below are the top 10:
Carlos Slim (72) and family, Mexico, $69-billion
Bill Gates (56) United States, $61-billion
Warren Buffett (81) United States, $44-billion
Bernard Arnault (63) France, $41-billion
Amancio Ortega (75) Spain, $37.5-billion
Larry Ellison (67) United States, $36-billion
Eike Batista (55) Brazil, $30-billion
Stefan Persson (64) Sweden, $26-billion
Li Ka-shing (83) Hong Kong, $25.5-billion
Karl Albrecht (92) Germany, $25.4-billion
For a full list click here. — Sapa, AFP, Reuters