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 1 226 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 1 226 billionaires [up from 1 210 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