Riding surging prices of his various telecom holdings, including
giant mobile outfit America Movil, Mexican tycoon Carlo Slim Helu has
beaten out Americans Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to become the
wealthiest person on earth and nab the top spot on the 2010 Forbes list of the World's Billionaires.
1. Carlos Slim Helu & family
Telecom
tycoon who pounced on privatization of Mexico's national telephone
company in the 1990s becomes world's richest person for first time after
coming in third place last year. Net worth up $18.5 billion in a year.
Recently received regulatory approval to merge his fixed-line assets
into American Movil, Latin America's biggest mobile phone company. His
construction conglomerate, Impulsora del Desarrollo y el Empleo, builds
roads and energy infrastructure. Son of a Lebanese immigrant also owns
stakes in financial group Inbursa, Bronco Drilling, Independent News
& Media, Saks and New York Times Co. Newspaper outfit's stock popped
in early March on talk he might buy a controlling stake; he denies the
rumor. Donating $65 million to fund a research project in genomic
medicine with American billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad.
2. William Gates III
Software
visionary is now the world's second-richest man. Net worth still up $13
billion in a year as Microsoft shares rose 50% in 12 months, value of
investment vehicle Cascade swelled. More than 60% of fortune held
outside Microsoft; investments include Four Seasons hotels, Televisa,
Auto Nation. Stepped down from day-to-day duties at Microsoft in 2008 to
focus on philanthropy. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation dedicated to
fighting hunger, improving education in America's high schools,
developing vaccines against malaria,
tuberculosis and AIDS.
3. Warren Buffett
America's
favorite investor up $10 billion in past 12 months on surging Berkshire
Hathaway shares; says U.S. has survived economic "Pearl Harbor," but
warns recovery will be slow. Shrewdly invested $5 billion in Goldman
Sachs and $3 billion in General Electric amid 2008 market collapse.
Recently acquired railroad giant Burlington Northern Santa Fe for $26
billion. "We've put a lot of money to work during the chaos of the last
two years. When it's raining gold, reach for a bucket, not a thimble."
Berkshire Hathaway book value was up 19.8% to $21.8 billion in 2009. Son
of Nebraska stockbroker met value investor Benjamin Graham while
studying economics at Columbia. Took over textile firm Berkshire
Hathaway in 1965, used company as a vehicle to invest in insurance
(Geico), food (Dairy Queen), utilities (MidAmerican Energy) and recently
green tech (electric-car maker BYD).
4. Mukesh Ambani
Global
ambitions: His Reliance Industries, already India's most valuable
company, recently bid $2 billion for 65% stake in troubled Canadian oil
sands outfit Value Creation. Firm's $14.5 billion offer to buy bankrupt
petrochemicals maker LyondellBasell was rejected. Since September
company has sold treasury shares worth $2 billion to be used for
acquisitions. Late father, Dhirubhai, founded Reliance and built it into
a massive conglomerate. After he died, Mukesh and his brother, Anil,
ran the family business together for a brief time. But siblings feuded
over control; mother eventually brokered split of assets, with Mukesh
getting oil and gas and petrochemicals businesses. Still at odds with
Anil over gas supply agreement; awaiting Supreme Court's final ruling.
Has yet to move out of the family's high-rise, which he shares with his
brother, into his new 27-story home in downtown Mumbai. Owns cricket
team Mumbai Indians.
5. Lakshmi Mittal
London's
richest resident oversees ArcelorMittal, world's largest steelmaker.
Net profits fell 75% in 2009. Mittal took 12% pay cut amid slump but
improved outlook pushed stock up a third in past year. Looking to expand
in his native India; wants to build steel mills in Jharkhad and Orissa
but has not received government approval. Started in family steel
business in India in 1970s; branched out on his own in 1994. Initially
bought up steel mills on the cheap in Eastern Europe. Earned $1.1
billion for selling his interest in a Kazakh refinery in December. Sits
on the boards of Goldman Sachs, EADS. Upped stake in struggling British
soccer team QPR in February. Funding 400-foot sculpture to be built in
London's Olympic Park in time for 2012 Olympics. Owns 12-bedroom mansion
in London's posh Kensington neighborhood. Daughter-in-law Megha
recently bought insolvent German fashion house Escada.
6. Lawrence Ellison
Oracle
founder's fortune continues to soar; shares up 70% in past 12 months.
Database giant has bought 57 companies in the past five years. Completed
$7.4 billion buyout of Sun Microsystems in January; acquired BEA
Systems for $8.5 billion in 2008. Studied physics at U. of Chicago;
didn't graduate. Started Oracle 1977; took public a day before Microsoft
in 1986. Owns 52% stake in business-software company NetSuite; shares
worth $480 million. Racing junkie owns 453-foot yacht Rising Sun with
pal David Geffen. Won America's Cup in February, besting longtime rival
billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli.
7. Bernard Arnault
Bling
is back, helping fashion icon grab title of richest European as shares
of his luxury goods outfit LVMH-maker of Louis Vuitton, Moet &
Chandon, surge 57%. LVMH is developing upscale Shanghai commercial
property, L'Avenue Shanghai, with Macau billionaire Stanley Ho.
Renaissance man owns French tour operator Go Voyages, yacht builder
Royal Van Lent; has a stake in French retailer Carrefour. Built Le
Cheval Blanc in ski resort town of Courchevel, France, where he likes to
spend New Year's Eve. Father, Jean, who died in January, made small
fortune in construction; sale of that business later helped fund
Arnault's move into real estate and eventually into luxury goods. Still a
family affair: son Antoine, 32, and daughter Delphine, 34, sit on
LVMH's board. Wife is a concert pianist; Arnault himself reported to be
an excellent piano player.
8. Eike Batista
Vowing
to become world's richest man—and he may be on his way. This year's
biggest gainer added $19.5 billion to his personal balance sheet. Son of
Brazil's revered former mining minister who presided over mining giant
Companhia Vale do Rio Doce got his start in gold trading and mining.
Insists Dad didn't help: "All my businesses started from zero. My father
was a problem for me because he never let me near Vale." Made a pile in
resources and other services, but two-thirds of his fortune comes from
relatively new source, OGX, the oil-and-gas exploration company he
founded in 2007 and took public a year later. Police raided his home in
2008, alleging Batista smuggled gold and unfairly influenced the
acquisition of a railroad. He denied all wrongdoing, emerged unscathed.
New IPO for shipbuilding business (OSX) could raise $5.6 billion later
this month—world's largest IPO so far this year. Onetime champion
offshore powerboat racer; formerly married to Playboy cover girl.
Provided financing to Rio de Janeiro's Olympic committee, helping the
city win its bid for 2016 Olympic Games.
9. Amancio Ortega
Style
maven lords over Inditex; fashion firm, which operates under several
brand names including Zara, Massimo Dutti and Stradivarius, has 4,500
stores in 73 countries including new spots in Mexico and Syria. Set up
joint venture with Tata Group subsidiary to enter India in 2010. Betting
on Florida real estate: bought Coral Gables office tower that is
currently home to Bacardi USA. Also owns a luxury apartment complex in
Miami; properties in Madrid, Paris, London and Lisbon, a horse-jumping
circuit, an interest in a soccer league; has investments in gas, tourism
and banks. Railway worker's son started as a gofer in a shirt store.
With then-wife Rosalia Mera, also a billionaire, started making dressing
gowns and lingerie in living room. Shuns neckties and fanfare. Daughter
Marta works for Inditex; speculation has it she's being groomed to
eventually replace her father.
10. Karl Albrecht
Owns discount-supermarket giant Aldi Sud, one of Germany's (and
Europe's) dominant grocers. Has 1,000 stores in U.S. across 29 states.
Estimated sales: $37 billion. Plans to open New York City store this
year. With younger brother, Theo, transformed mother's corner grocery
store into Aldi after World War II. Brothers split ownership in 1961;
Karl took the stores in southern Germany, plus the rights to the brand
in the U.K., Australia and the U.S. Theo got northern Germany and the
rest of Europe. Retired from daily operations. Fiercely private: little
known about him other than that he apparently raises orchids and plays
golf.
Source
TV clip about the richest men in the world:
giant mobile outfit America Movil, Mexican tycoon Carlo Slim Helu has
beaten out Americans Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to become the
wealthiest person on earth and nab the top spot on the 2010 Forbes list of the World's Billionaires.
1. Carlos Slim Helu & family
| Net Worth: | $53.5 bil |
| Fortune: | Self Made |
| Source: | telecom |
| Age: | 70 |
| Country Of Citizenship: | Mexico |
| Residence: | Mexico City |
| Education: | Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Bachelor of Arts / Science |
| Marital Status: | Widowed, 6 children |
Telecom
tycoon who pounced on privatization of Mexico's national telephone
company in the 1990s becomes world's richest person for first time after
coming in third place last year. Net worth up $18.5 billion in a year.
Recently received regulatory approval to merge his fixed-line assets
into American Movil, Latin America's biggest mobile phone company. His
construction conglomerate, Impulsora del Desarrollo y el Empleo, builds
roads and energy infrastructure. Son of a Lebanese immigrant also owns
stakes in financial group Inbursa, Bronco Drilling, Independent News
& Media, Saks and New York Times Co. Newspaper outfit's stock popped
in early March on talk he might buy a controlling stake; he denies the
rumor. Donating $65 million to fund a research project in genomic
medicine with American billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad.
2. William Gates III
| Net Worth: | $53.0 bil |
| Fortune: | Self Made |
| Source: | Microsoft |
| Age: | 54 |
| Country Of Citizenship: | United States |
| Residence: | Medina, Washington |
| Education: | Harvard U, Drop Out |
| Marital Status: | Married, 3 children |
Software
visionary is now the world's second-richest man. Net worth still up $13
billion in a year as Microsoft shares rose 50% in 12 months, value of
investment vehicle Cascade swelled. More than 60% of fortune held
outside Microsoft; investments include Four Seasons hotels, Televisa,
Auto Nation. Stepped down from day-to-day duties at Microsoft in 2008 to
focus on philanthropy. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation dedicated to
fighting hunger, improving education in America's high schools,
developing vaccines against malaria,
tuberculosis and AIDS.
3. Warren Buffett
| Net Worth: | $47.0 bil |
| Fortune: | Self Made |
| Source: | Berkshire Hathaway |
| Age: | 79 |
| Country Of Citizenship: | United States |
| Residence: | Omaha, Nebraska |
| Education: | Columbia U, Master of Science; U of Nebraska Lincoln, Bachelor of Arts / Science |
| Marital Status: | Widowed, 3 children |
America's
favorite investor up $10 billion in past 12 months on surging Berkshire
Hathaway shares; says U.S. has survived economic "Pearl Harbor," but
warns recovery will be slow. Shrewdly invested $5 billion in Goldman
Sachs and $3 billion in General Electric amid 2008 market collapse.
Recently acquired railroad giant Burlington Northern Santa Fe for $26
billion. "We've put a lot of money to work during the chaos of the last
two years. When it's raining gold, reach for a bucket, not a thimble."
Berkshire Hathaway book value was up 19.8% to $21.8 billion in 2009. Son
of Nebraska stockbroker met value investor Benjamin Graham while
studying economics at Columbia. Took over textile firm Berkshire
Hathaway in 1965, used company as a vehicle to invest in insurance
(Geico), food (Dairy Queen), utilities (MidAmerican Energy) and recently
green tech (electric-car maker BYD).
4. Mukesh Ambani
| Net Worth: | $29.0 bil |
| Fortune: | Inherited and Growing |
| Source: | petrochemicals, oil & gas |
| Age: | 52 |
| Country Of Citizenship: | India |
| Residence: | Mumbai |
| Education: | Stanford U, Drop Out; U Bombay, Bachelor of Arts / Science |
| Marital Status: | Married, 3 children |
Global
ambitions: His Reliance Industries, already India's most valuable
company, recently bid $2 billion for 65% stake in troubled Canadian oil
sands outfit Value Creation. Firm's $14.5 billion offer to buy bankrupt
petrochemicals maker LyondellBasell was rejected. Since September
company has sold treasury shares worth $2 billion to be used for
acquisitions. Late father, Dhirubhai, founded Reliance and built it into
a massive conglomerate. After he died, Mukesh and his brother, Anil,
ran the family business together for a brief time. But siblings feuded
over control; mother eventually brokered split of assets, with Mukesh
getting oil and gas and petrochemicals businesses. Still at odds with
Anil over gas supply agreement; awaiting Supreme Court's final ruling.
Has yet to move out of the family's high-rise, which he shares with his
brother, into his new 27-story home in downtown Mumbai. Owns cricket
team Mumbai Indians.
5. Lakshmi Mittal
| Net Worth: | $28.7 bil |
| Fortune: | Inherited and Growing |
| Source: | steel |
| Age: | 59 |
| Country Of Citizenship: | India |
| Residence: | London |
| Education: | St Xavier C Calcutta, Bachelor of Arts / Science |
| Marital Status: | Married, 2 children |
London's
richest resident oversees ArcelorMittal, world's largest steelmaker.
Net profits fell 75% in 2009. Mittal took 12% pay cut amid slump but
improved outlook pushed stock up a third in past year. Looking to expand
in his native India; wants to build steel mills in Jharkhad and Orissa
but has not received government approval. Started in family steel
business in India in 1970s; branched out on his own in 1994. Initially
bought up steel mills on the cheap in Eastern Europe. Earned $1.1
billion for selling his interest in a Kazakh refinery in December. Sits
on the boards of Goldman Sachs, EADS. Upped stake in struggling British
soccer team QPR in February. Funding 400-foot sculpture to be built in
London's Olympic Park in time for 2012 Olympics. Owns 12-bedroom mansion
in London's posh Kensington neighborhood. Daughter-in-law Megha
recently bought insolvent German fashion house Escada.
6. Lawrence Ellison
| Net Worth: | $28.0 bil |
| Fortune: | Self Made |
| Source: | Oracle |
| Age: | 65 |
| Country Of Citizenship: | United States |
| Residence: | Redwood City, California |
| Education: | University of Chicago, Drop Out |
| Marital Status: | Married, 2 children |
Oracle
founder's fortune continues to soar; shares up 70% in past 12 months.
Database giant has bought 57 companies in the past five years. Completed
$7.4 billion buyout of Sun Microsystems in January; acquired BEA
Systems for $8.5 billion in 2008. Studied physics at U. of Chicago;
didn't graduate. Started Oracle 1977; took public a day before Microsoft
in 1986. Owns 52% stake in business-software company NetSuite; shares
worth $480 million. Racing junkie owns 453-foot yacht Rising Sun with
pal David Geffen. Won America's Cup in February, besting longtime rival
billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli.
7. Bernard Arnault
| Net Worth: | $27.5 bil |
| Fortune: | Inherited and Growing |
| Source: | LVMH |
| Age: | 61 |
| Country Of Citizenship: | France |
| Residence: | Paris |
| Education: | Ecole Polytechnique, Bachelor of Arts / Science |
| Marital Status: | Married, 5 children |
Bling
is back, helping fashion icon grab title of richest European as shares
of his luxury goods outfit LVMH-maker of Louis Vuitton, Moet &
Chandon, surge 57%. LVMH is developing upscale Shanghai commercial
property, L'Avenue Shanghai, with Macau billionaire Stanley Ho.
Renaissance man owns French tour operator Go Voyages, yacht builder
Royal Van Lent; has a stake in French retailer Carrefour. Built Le
Cheval Blanc in ski resort town of Courchevel, France, where he likes to
spend New Year's Eve. Father, Jean, who died in January, made small
fortune in construction; sale of that business later helped fund
Arnault's move into real estate and eventually into luxury goods. Still a
family affair: son Antoine, 32, and daughter Delphine, 34, sit on
LVMH's board. Wife is a concert pianist; Arnault himself reported to be
an excellent piano player.
8. Eike Batista
| Net Worth: | $27.0 bil |
| Fortune: | Self Made |
| Source: | mining, oil |
| Age: | 53 |
| Country Of Citizenship: | Brazil |
| Residence: | Rio de Janeiro |
| Education: | RWTH Aachen University, Drop Out |
| Marital Status: | Divorced, 2 children |
Vowing
to become world's richest man—and he may be on his way. This year's
biggest gainer added $19.5 billion to his personal balance sheet. Son of
Brazil's revered former mining minister who presided over mining giant
Companhia Vale do Rio Doce got his start in gold trading and mining.
Insists Dad didn't help: "All my businesses started from zero. My father
was a problem for me because he never let me near Vale." Made a pile in
resources and other services, but two-thirds of his fortune comes from
relatively new source, OGX, the oil-and-gas exploration company he
founded in 2007 and took public a year later. Police raided his home in
2008, alleging Batista smuggled gold and unfairly influenced the
acquisition of a railroad. He denied all wrongdoing, emerged unscathed.
New IPO for shipbuilding business (OSX) could raise $5.6 billion later
this month—world's largest IPO so far this year. Onetime champion
offshore powerboat racer; formerly married to Playboy cover girl.
Provided financing to Rio de Janeiro's Olympic committee, helping the
city win its bid for 2016 Olympic Games.
9. Amancio Ortega
| Net Worth: | $25.0 bil |
| Fortune: | Self Made |
| Source: | Zara |
| Age: | 74 |
| Country Of Citizenship: | Spain |
| Residence: | La Coruna |
| Education: | NA |
| Marital Status: | Married, 3 children |
Style
maven lords over Inditex; fashion firm, which operates under several
brand names including Zara, Massimo Dutti and Stradivarius, has 4,500
stores in 73 countries including new spots in Mexico and Syria. Set up
joint venture with Tata Group subsidiary to enter India in 2010. Betting
on Florida real estate: bought Coral Gables office tower that is
currently home to Bacardi USA. Also owns a luxury apartment complex in
Miami; properties in Madrid, Paris, London and Lisbon, a horse-jumping
circuit, an interest in a soccer league; has investments in gas, tourism
and banks. Railway worker's son started as a gofer in a shirt store.
With then-wife Rosalia Mera, also a billionaire, started making dressing
gowns and lingerie in living room. Shuns neckties and fanfare. Daughter
Marta works for Inditex; speculation has it she's being groomed to
eventually replace her father.
10. Karl Albrecht
| Net Worth: | $23.5 bil |
| Fortune: | Self Made |
| Source: | Aldi |
| Age: | 90 |
| Country Of Citizenship: | Germany |
| Residence: | La Coruna |
| Education: | Mulheim an der Ruhr |
| Marital Status: | Married, 2 children |
Owns discount-supermarket giant Aldi Sud, one of Germany's (and
Europe's) dominant grocers. Has 1,000 stores in U.S. across 29 states.
Estimated sales: $37 billion. Plans to open New York City store this
year. With younger brother, Theo, transformed mother's corner grocery
store into Aldi after World War II. Brothers split ownership in 1961;
Karl took the stores in southern Germany, plus the rights to the brand
in the U.K., Australia and the U.S. Theo got northern Germany and the
rest of Europe. Retired from daily operations. Fiercely private: little
known about him other than that he apparently raises orchids and plays
golf.
Source
TV clip about the richest men in the world:
