Forbes Thought Of The Day
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— Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Richest People On The Planet 2013
The ranks of the world's billionaires have yet again reached all-time highs, both in terms of the number of billionaires (1,426) and record net worth ($5.4 trillion). The United States still has more billionaires than any other country, but once again the world's richest person comes from outside its borders.
The ranks of the world’s billionaires, as monitored and tallied by our global wealth team, have yet again reached all-time highs. The 2013 Forbes Billionaires list now boasts 1,426 names, with an aggregate net worth of $5.4 trillion, up from $4.6 trillion. We found 210 new ten-figure fortunes. Once again the U.S. leads the list with 442 billionaires, followed by Asia-Pacific (386), Europe (366), the Americas (129) and the Middle East & Africa (103).
Resurgent asset prices are the driving force behind the rising wealth of the super-rich around the globe. While last year almost as many fortunes fell as rose, this year gainers outnumbered losers by 4-to-1. Many new names made the list thanks to free-spending consumers. To name a few: Diesel jeans mogul Renzo Rosso at $3 billion, retailer Bruce Nordstrom at $1.2 billion and designer Tory Burch at $1 billion.
Carlos Slim is once again the world’s richest person, followed by Bill Gates. Amancio Ortega of Spanish retailer Zara moves up to No. 3 for the first time. He is the year’s biggest gainer, adding $19.5 billion to his fortune in one year. He moves ahead of Warren Buffett, despite the fact that the U.S. investing legend added $9.5 billion to his fortune. This is the first year since 2000 that Buffett has not been among the top 3. The year’s biggest loser is Brazilian Eike Batista, whose fortune dropped by $19.4 billion, or equivalent to about $50 million a day. His rank falls from no. 7 to no. 100 in the world.
1. Carlos Slim Helu
Net worth: $73 billion
Country: Mexico
Source of wealth: Telecom
Mexico's telecom mogul retains his spot as the world's richest man for the fourth year in a row. His net worth is up $4 billion from 2012 but is still $1 billion shy of his all-time record. A boost came from surging stock prices at his financial arm, Grupo Financiero Inbursa, and at his industrial and retail giant, Grupo Carso. This year he added soccer to the mix, buying into Mexico's Leon and Pachuca clubs and Spain's Real Oviedo.
2. Bill Gates
Net worth: $67 billion
Country: U.S.
Source of wealth: Microsoft
Bill Gates' net worth rose $6 billion from last March due to gains in his investment portfolio; his holdings include tech hygiene firm Ecolab, waste collector Republic Services and Mexican Coke bottler FEMSA. In February the first 12 non-Americans joined Bill Gates’ and Warren Buffett’s Giving Pledge, in which the ultra-wealthy pledge to give away at least half their net worth to charity.
3. Amancio Ortega
Net worth: $57 billion
Country: Spain
Source of wealth: Zara
Amancio Ortega is this year's biggest gainer; his fortune is up $19.5 billion, pushing his fortune to a record high and moving him ahead of Warren Buffett. While he's no longer chairman of clothing retailer Inditex (he stepped down in 2011), he controls nearly 60% of the company's shares, which were up more than 50%. The company, which operates under several brand names including Zara, Massimo Dutti and Stradivarius, has nearly 5,900 stores in 86 countries.
4. Warren Buffett
Net worth: $53.5 billion
Country: U.S.
Source of wealth: Berkshire Hathaway
Although Buffett is the year's second biggest gainer, adding $9.5 billion to his fortune, it is the first time since 2000 that he has not been among the three richest billionaires in the world. In February, Buffett announced a deal with Brazilian billionaire Jorge Paulo Lemann's 3G Capital to snap up iconic ketchup producer H.J. Heinz Co. for $23.2 billion.
5. Larry Ellison
Net worth: $43 billion
Country: U.S.
Source of wealth: Oracle
The world's fifth-richest man is $7 billion wealthier than a year ago, thanks to a more than 20% jump in the value of his Oracle stock. In the past year, the software mogul has been on a real estate buying spree, acquiring properties in Malibu and 98% of the Hawaiian island of Lanai from billionaire David Murdock for a reported $500 million. He just added Hawaiian airline Island Air to his holdings.
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http://www.forbes.com/billionaires/