Gates Overtakes Buffett Atop Forbes List of World's Richest

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 12, 2009 - 8:17am.

New York - Despite losing $18 billion in the plunging stock market, Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) founder Bill Gates leapfrogged financier Warren Buffett to claim the top spot in Forbes' newly released list of the richest people in the world.

Gates, with a net worth of $40 billion, topped the list, followed by Buffett, last year's No. 1, who's net worth ($37 billion) fell $25 billion as shares of Berkshire Hathaway fell nearly 50% in 12 months.

Mexican telecom mogul Carlos Slim Helu ($35 billion) dropped one spot to No. 3, with Oracle founder Larry Ellison ($22.5 billion) and Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad ($22 billion) rounding out the top five.

All told, there are now 30% fewer billionaires (793) than a year ago, with an average net worth of $3 billion, down 23%.

The complete list is available at the link below.

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/dogsw (Forbes)

Published in DMW Daily, March 12, 2009

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Comments

Isn't Jimmy Buffett related

Submitted by anonymous (not verified) on March 12, 2009 - 8:53am.

Isn't Jimmy Buffett related to Warren Buffett? I thinks he's the younger brother or something? Anyway, I really like his music.