Forbes released their World's Billionaires list yesterday March 11th...
Check it out...
It's been a tough year for the richest people in the world. Last year there were 1,125 billionaires. This year there are just 793 people rich enough to make the list.
The world has become a wealth wasteland.
Like the rest of us, the richest people in the world have endured a financial disaster over the past year. Today there are 793 people on our list of the World's Billionaires, a 30% decline from a year ago.
Of the 1,125 billionaires who made last year's ranking, 373 fell off the list--355 from declining fortunes and 18 who died. There are 38 newcomers, plus three moguls who returned to the list after regaining their 10-figure fortunes. It is the first time since 2003 that the world has had a net loss in the number of billionaires.
The world's richest are also a lot poorer. Their collective net worth is $2.4 trillion, down $2 trillion from a year ago. Their average net worth fell 23% to $3 billion. The last time the average was that low was in 2003.
Bill Gates lost $18 billion but regained his title as the world's richest man. Warren Buffett, last year's No. 1, saw his fortune decline $25 billion as shares of Berkshire Hathaway fell nearly 50% in 12 months, but he still managed to slip just one spot to No. 2. Mexican telecom titan Carlos Slim Helú also lost $25 billion and dropped one spot to No. 3.
Top 20
1. William Gates IIINet Worth: $40 billion
Source: Microsoft/U.S.
Age: 53
Marital Status: Married, three children
2. Warren BuffettNet Worth: $37 billion
Source: Investments/U.S.
Age: 78
Marital Status: Widowed, remarried; three children
3. Carlos Slim HelúNet Worth: $35 billion
Source: Telecom/Mexico
Age: 69
Marital Status: Widowed, six children
4. Lawrence EllisonNet Worth: $22.5 billion
Source: Oracle/U.S.
Age: 64
Marital Status: Thrice divorced, remarried; two children
5. Ingvar KampradNet Worth: $22 billion
Source: Ikea/Sweden
Age: 83
Marital Status: Divorced, remarried; four children
6. Karl AlbrechtNet Worth: $21.5 billion
Source: Supermarkets/Germany
Age: 89
Marital Status: Married, two children
7. Mukesh AmbaniNet Worth: $19.5 billion
Source: Petrochemicals/India
Age: 51
Marital Status: Married, three children
8. Lakshmi MittalNet Worth: $19.3 billion
Source: Steel/India
Age: 58
Marital Status: Married, two children
9. Theo AlbrechtNet Worth: $18.8 billion
Source: Supermarkets/Germany
Age: 87
Marital Status: Married, two children
10. Amancio OrtegaNet Worth: $18.3 billion
Source: Fashion/Spain
Age: 73
11. Jim C. WaltonNet Worth: $17.8 billion
Source: Wal-Mart/U.S.
Age: 61
Marital Status: Married, four children
Net Worth: $17.6 billion
Source: Wal-Mart/U.S.
Age: 65
Marital Status: Divorced, remarried; three children
12. Alice WaltonNet Worth: $17.6 billion
Source: Wal-Mart/U.S.
Age: 59
Marital Status: Twice divorced
12. Christy Walton & familyNet Worth: $17.6 billion
Source: Wal-Mart/U.S.
Age: 54
Marital Status: Widowed, one child
15. Bernard ArnaultNet Worth: $16.5 billion
Source: Luxury goods/France
Age: 60
Marital Status: Divorced, remarried; five children
16. Li Ka-shingNet Worth: $16.2 billion
Source: Ports, retail, energy/Hong Kong
Age: 80
Marital Status: Widowed, two children
17. Michael BloombergNet Worth: $16 billion
Source: Bloomberg LP/U.S.
Age: 67
Marital Status: Divorced, two children
18. Stefan PerssonNet Worth: $14.5 billion
Source: Hennes & Mauritz/Sweden
Age: 61
Marital Status: Married, three children
19. Charles KochNet Worth: $14 billion
Source: Koch Industries/U.S.
Age: 73
Marital Status: Married, two children
19. David KochNet Worth: $14 billion
Source: Koch Industries/U.S.
Age: 68
Marital Status: Married, three children
