Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is the richest person in the world. This 59-year-old self-made billionaire has held the top position for 16 out of the last 21 years. The stellar performance of Microsoft boosted his net worth, but he is steadily selling his shares in the company for at least 15 years. Now-a-days he spends most of his time focused on philanthropy. Gates co-founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with his wife. The foundation continues to work on improving US education and global health.
Carlos Slim Helu & family (Net worth: $77.1 billion)
Former world’s richest man, Carlos Slim Helu is the Honorary Chairman of America Movil, the leading wireless services provider in Latin America and the fourth largest mobile network operator (in terms of equity subscribers) in the world. He and his children own 62 percent of the company. He is also majority shareholder of The New York Times (17% stake), and industrial conglomerate Grupo Carso.
Although his businesses suffered in 2013, bringing down his net worth, this Mexican billionaire seems to be back on track.
Warren Buffett (Net worth: $72.7 billion)
The Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett is well known for his phenomenal market intuition and faultless economic forecasts. He is the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, a diversified holding company. This 84-year-old self-made billionaire is wealthier than ever, thanks to the stellar performance of his company Berkshire Hathaway.
Amancio Ortega (Net worth: $64.5 billion)
This 78-year-old Spaniard is son of a railway worker. Today he is the richest Spain’s richest man and the richest retailer in the world. He co-founded Zara with his former wife late Rosalia Mera in 1975. They made lingerie and bathrobes in their living room. Ortega owns 59 per cent of Inditex, the world’s largest clothing retailer and parent of the Zara chain.
Larry Ellison (Net worth: $54.3 billion)
America’s third richest person, Larry Ellison is the co-founder and former CEO (1977-2014) of computer technology corporation Oracle. He is arguably the first Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur to live large and fast. After building databases for the CIA, together with Bob Miner and Ed Oates he founded the database software company Software Development Laboratories (SDL) later Oracle in 1977.
Aside from Oracle and several other corporations, Ellison is known for his commitment to philanthropic efforts, and was also one of the billionaires in 2010 to sign the “The Giving Pledge,” a campaign made public by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett which emboldens the wealthiest in the world to give most of their wealth to philanthropic causes.
Charles Koch (Net worth: $42.9 billion)
One half of the most affluent sibling partnership in the world. Charles Koch is the CEO of Koch Industries which have interests in oil pipelines, refineries and building materials. He owns 42% of the Kansas-based company. The Koch brothers are the second richest family in America, after the Waltons. His activities of influence spans business, philanthropy and politics.
David Koch (Net worth: $42.9 billion)
This 74-year-old billionaire is the Vice President of Koch Industries, a diversified multinational group of companies. With his brother Charles, they each own 42 per cent of the firm. He is also New York City’s richest resident. The brothers are well known as Republican mega-donors for their conservative and libertarian political agenda and to the arts and medicine, including Lincoln Center and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Christy Walton & family (Net worth: $41.7 billion)
Christy Walton is the richest woman in the world. She married into the Walton family, the richest family in the world. Walton is the widow of John Walton, one of the sons of Walmart founder Sam Walton. After his death in June 2005 she inherited his fortune of $18.2 billion.
Walton is no stranger to the FORBES rankings, as she was listed as the 6th richest in America, and the 10th richest person in the world in 2014.
Jim Walton (Net worth: $40.6 billion)
Jim Walton is the youngest son of Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart Stores. He is the chairman and CEO of Arvest Bank Group, Inc. He is also a board member of Wal-Mart. Walton’s net worth is up by $6 billion.
Liliane Bettencourt & family (Net worth: $40.1 billion)
92-year-old L’Oreal grand dame became wealthier in 2014, thanks to a deal in which she purchased an additional 8 percent stake in the cosmetics empire from Nestle. Now she and her family own 33 percent of L’Oreal, world’s largest cosmetic company.
Bill Gates, Carlos Slim Helu, Amancio Ortega
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