You know what? I would really like to be on that list…Check out the youngest Billionaire on the list Hind Hariri, daughter of Lebanon’s slain prime minister…Rich and hot. What a combination. Where did her money come from anyway? I can’t seem to find it anywhere online? Anyone know?
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Gates fortune hits 50 billion dollars as megawealth spreads
Bill Gates gained ground at the top of the megarich rankings as the world’s wealthiest people added 400 billion dollars to their net worth, according to Forbes magazine’s annual list.
The number of people whose wealth reached 10 figures stood at a record 793, an increase of 102 from the previous year, with Microsoft founder Gates in first place for the 12th straight year.
His 50 billion dollar fortune marked an increase of 3.5 billion dollars from the 2005 Forbes list.
The summit of the cash mountain had a familiar look with Gates followed by investment wizard and perennial runner-up, Warren Buffett, with a 42-billion-dollar fortune. Buffett’s pile has fallen by two billion dollars, however.
Mexican telecom magnate Carlos Slim jumped a place to third with 30 billion dollars, while Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad of Sweden moved up two spots to fourth with 28 billion dollars.
Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal dropped two places to fifth with 23.5 billion dollars — down 1.5 billion dollars.
Newcomers to the top 10 chart included the French luxury retailer Bernard Arnault who made seventh spot with 21.5 billion dollars, and Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing in 10th place with 18.8 billion dollars.
Hind Hariri, the 22-year-old daughter of slain Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri, beat out Germany’s Prince Albert von Thurn und Taxis by eight months for the title of the world’s youngest billionaire.
At the other end of the age spectrum was American John Simplot, 96, who made his fortune processing potatoes.
Thirty-nine people fell off the Forbes list, victims of market forces, dubious ethics and, in 11 cases, death.
Notable disappearances included US lifestyle guru Martha Stewart, who debuted on the list last year despite serving a five-month prison term, and then found that freedom doesn’t pay as her net worth declined to 500 million dollars after her release.
The 2006 roster counted billionaires from 49 countries, with the Czech Republic making its first appearance, and New Zealand and Lebanon both returning after an absence of several years.
The United States boasted 371 names on the list with a collective net worth of 1.1 trillion dollars, while Europe’s 196 billionaires enjoyed combined wealth of 802 billion dollars.
Europe’s rising star was Russia, with 33 names including seven new faces.
“Russia continues to astound,” said Kroll. “For a long time there were questions about where they got their money … but now the story is just the enormous wealth that is being created from strong commodities markets there.”
In the Asia-Pacific region — home to 115 billionaires — the standout was India which added 10 new faces to total 23 on the list with a combined worth of 99 billion dollars, 60 percent more than last year.
China saw its presence in the rankings grow from just two billionaires last year to eight.
Of the 793 who made the global list, 452 were self-made billionaires.
The number of women increased by 10 from the previous year to 78 and included US talk show queen Oprah Winfrey who pulled in an extra 100 million dollars over the year to rank 562nd overal with 1.4 billion dollars.
New York has the highest number of resident billionaires with 40, Moscow is second with 25 and London third with 23.
