Microsoft
founder Bill Gates has regained the top spot as the world's richest person,
according to Forbes magazine's annual ranking of global billionaires.
Mr Gates' total net worth was
estimated at $76bn (£45.5bn) this year, up from $67bn in 2013.
His rise in wealth knocked Mexican
telecoms tycoon Carlos Slim off the top spot into second place.
In total, there were a record 1,645
billionaires, according to Forbes.
The funds needed to make it into
the top 20 ranking are now $31bn, up from $23bn last year, Forbes said.
Mr Gates has been top of the list
for 15 of the last 20 years, according to Forbes.
Technology
firms featured heavily in the list, with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg
becoming the biggest gainer in net worth.
His
fortune more than doubled to $28.5bn, boosted by a sharp rise in the price of
the social network's shares.
The
social network's chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, also made the list
for the first time.
WhatsApp
founders Jan Koum and Brian Acton entered the list at number 202 and 551
respectively, thanks to Facebook's $19bn purchase of the messaging app.
US
continues to dominate
The
world's largest economy, the US, continues to have the most billionaires, with
492.
By
region, Europe boasted the most billionaires outside the US, with 468 in total,
closely followed by Asia, which had 444 billionaires.
The list
suggested that wealth was spreading, with four new countries featuring for the
first time - Algeria, Lithuania, Tanzania and Uganda.
Nigeria's
Aliko Dangote, Africa's richest man, became the first African to be listed in
the top 25, with a net worth of $25bn.
Landlord
Gerald Grosvenor and family were the richest British family to make the list,
with a net worth estimated at $13bn.
Known
formally as the 6th Duke of Westminster, he owns 190 acres in Belgravia, an
area adjacent to Buckingham Palace and one of London's most expensive
neighbourhoods.
Forbes list of world's richest people
|
|---|
|
Name
|
Wealth
|
Main business
|
Source: Forbes magazine
|
Bill Gates
|
$76bn
|
Microsoft, software
|
Carlos Slim
|
$72bn
|
America Movil, telecoms
|
Amancio Ortega
|
$64bn
|
Zara, fashion
|
Warren Buffet
|
$58.2bn
|
Berkshire Hathaway, investment
|
Larry Ellison
|
$48bn
|
Oracle, software
|
Charles Koch/David Koch
|
$40bn/$40bn
|
Koch Industries, various
|
Sheldon Adelson
|
$38bn
|
Las Vegas Sands, casinos
|
Christy Walton
|
$36.7bn
|
Wal-Mart, retail
|
Jim Walton
|
$34.7bn
|
Wal-Mart, retail
|
Liliane Bettencourt
|
$34.5bn
|
L'Oreal, retail |
(BBC)
