#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: Mulheim an der Ruhr
Education: NA
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.
#11 Ingvar Kamprad & family
Net Worth: $23.0 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: Ikea
Age: 83
Country Of Citizenship: Sweden
Residence: Lausanne
Education: NA
Marital Status: Married, 4 children
See LATEST news, photos, video of Ingvar Kamprad
IKEA's reputation under fire. In Russia company fired two top managers for allowing bribes to a power supplier. In France firm is facing an extended workers' strike. A former managing director has published a book exposing questionable ethics. Even Kamprad's frugal image is being questioned, as details of a fancier life (he reportedly drives a Porsche) emerge. Still, no one can question his success: peddled matches, fish, pens, Christmas cards and other items by bicycle as a teenager. Started selling furniture in 1947. Opened first IKEA store over 50 years ago; chain's name is a combination of initials of his first and last name, his family farm and the nearest village. Retired in 1986; company's "senior advisor" still reportedly works tirelessly on his brand. Discount retailer now sells 9,500 items in 37 countries; prints catalog in 27 languages. Fiscal 2009 sales: $31 billion. Plans to open 15 stores in 2010, including one in Shenyang, China.
#12 Christy Walton & family
Net Worth: $22.5 bil
Fortune: Inherited
Source: Walmart
Age: 55
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: Jackson, Wyoming
Education: NA
Marital Status: Widowed, 1 child
World's largest retailer benefited as cash-strapped shoppers looked to discount merchandise at start of economic slump. Boost may have waned; recently reported 1.6% decline in same-store sales in its U.S. Walmart and Sam's Club stores, warned of soft sales in current quarter. Still, shares are up 7% in past 12 months and family fortune rose a combined $13 billion, largely recovering losses from market crash. Sam Walton started as J.C. Penney clerk. Opened Benjamin Franklin five-and-dime in 1945; lost lease five years later. Founded Bentonville, Ark., general store with brother James 1962. Today Walmart has $405 billion in annual sales, 2 million employees, more than 8,400 stores. Christy is the richest of the Waltons thanks to late husband John's early bet on First Solar; alternative energy stock up more than 350% since 2006 public offering.
#13 Stefan Persson
Net Worth: $22.4 bil
Fortune: Inherited and Growing
Source: Hennes & Mauritz
Age: 62
Country Of Citizenship: Sweden
Residence: Stockholm
Education: U of Stockholm, Associate in Arts / Science
Marital Status: Married, 3 children
Cheap chic mogul is chairman of Hennes & Mauritz (H&M); promoted son, Karl-Johan, 34, to chief executive in July. Retailer is known for bringing on big names like Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney to design affordable collections for its 1,900 stores. Continuing its designer-collaborations with new shoe line with Jimmy Choo that debuted in November and knitwear line with Sonia Rykiel. Continues to expand internationally: opened first stores in Russia, Lebanon and South Korea in past year. His father, Erling, founded H&M in 1947; Stefan took over in 1982, gave up chief executive position in 1998. Reportedly acquired the village of Linkenholt in Hampshire, England last summer. A founder of the Mentor Foundation, nonprofit that combats substance abuse among youth. Enjoys downhill skiing, tennis and golf.
#14 Li Ka-shing
Net Worth: $21.0 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: diversified
Age: 81
Country Of Citizenship: Hong Kong
Residence: Hong Kong
Education: High School, Drop Out
Marital Status: Widowed, 2 children
Betting on recovery, upped stakes in publicly traded conglomerates Cheung Kong and Hutchison Whampoa. Cheung Kong paid $100 million for shares in Russian aluminum maker Rusal ahead of its January Hong Kong public offering. Hutchison Whampoa is attempting to take its telecom subsidiary private for $545 million in cash; awaiting regulatory approval. Through HW, Li is world's largest operator of container terminals, world's largest health and beauty retailer by number of outlets, a major supplier of electricity to Hong Kong and a real estate developer. Has a large holding in Canadian oil firm Husky Energy, which recently announced its third discovery in South China Sea. Asia's most generous individual has given out $1.4 billion to education, medical research. Humble origins: quit school at age 15 to support his family; made plastic flowers that he exported to U.S. in the 1950s. Eldest son, Victor, helps him run businesses; son Richard struck out on his own in early 1990s and is a billionaire in his own right.
#15 Jim Walton
Net Worth: $20.7 bil
Fortune: Inherited
Source: Walmart
Age: 62
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: Bentonville, Arkansas
Education: U of Arkansas, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Marital Status: Married, 4 children
Sam Walton started as J.C. Penney clerk. Opened Benjamin Franklin five-and-dime in 1945; lost lease five years later. Founded Bentonville, Ark., general store with brother James in 1962. Today Walmart has $405 billion in annual sales, 2 million employees, more than 8,400 stores. Jim runs family's Arvest bank.
#16 Alice Walton
Net Worth: $20.6 bil
Fortune: Inherited
Source: Walmart
Age: 60
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: Fort Worth, Texas
Education: Trinity U, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Marital Status: Divorced
World's largest retailer benefited as cash-strapped shoppers looked to discount merchandise at start of economic slump. Boost may have waned; recently reported 1.6% decline in same-store sales in its U.S. Walmart and Sam's Club stores, warned of soft sales in current quarter. Still, shares up 7% in past 12 months and family fortune rose a combined $13 billion, largely recovering losses from market crash. Alice funded $100 million airport in Bentonville 1990; building Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
#17 Liliane Bettencourt
Net Worth: $20.0 bil
Fortune: Inherited
Source: L'Oreal
Age: 87
Country Of Citizenship: France
Residence: Paris
Education: NA
Marital Status: Widowed, 1 child
Makeup heiress' fortune rebounding with L'Oreal shares. Company, founded by her father, celebrated its 100th birthday in 2009. Last year only daughter and heir, Francoise Bettencourt-Meyers, petitioned courts to investigate reported $1.4 billion worth of cash and gifts her mother allegedly gave to Francois-Marie Banier, 61, a well-known photographer, writer and painter whom she befriended. Daughter claims Banier took advantage of her mother, who became a widow in 2007. Liliane denies it; has been ordered to undergo psychological testing before July trial. Mother and daughter apparently no longer speak.
#18 S. Robson Walton
Net Worth: $19.8 bil
Fortune: Inherited
Source: Walmart
Age: 66
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: Bentonville, Arkansas
Education: Columbia U, Doctor of Jurisprudence; U of Arkansas, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Marital Status: Married, 3 children
Rob has been chairman of Walmart since 1992. World's largest retailer benefited as cash-strapped shoppers looked to discount merchandise at start of economic slump. Boost may have waned; recently reported 1.6% decline in same-store sales in its U.S. Walmart and Sam's Club stores, warned of soft sales in current quarter. Still, shares up 7% in past 12 months and family fortune rose a combined $13 billion, largely recovering losses from market crash. Sam Walton started as J.C. Penney clerk. Opened Benjamin Franklin five-and-dime in 1945; lost lease five years later. Founded Bentonville, Ark., general store with brother James in 1962. Today Walmart has $405 billion in annual sales, 2 million employees, more than 8,400 stores.
#19 Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud
Net Worth: $19.4 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: investments
Age: 55
Country Of Citizenship: Saudi Arabia
Residence: Riyadh
Education: Menlo C, Bachelor of Arts / Science; Syracuse U, Master of Science
Marital Status: Married, 2 children
Net worth of globe-trotting investor and nephew of the Saudi king is up $6.1 billion in the past year. Two-thirds of his fortune is held in his 95% stake in Saudi-listed investment vehicle, Kingdom Holding Company. In the five weeks leading up to Forbes' stock valuation date, Kingdom shares jumped 49%. Alwaleed and Kingdom Holding together own a 3.5% stake in Citigroup. As the bank's largest individual investor, he has been vocal in his support of its chief executive Vikram Pandit. Kingdom Holding also has large holdings in the Four Seasons and Fairmont hotel management chains. In late February, News Corp. purchased a 9% stake in Alwaleed's Arab media and entertainment company Rotana, valuing the company at $770 million. His palaces and real estate are worth more than $3 billion. Owns jewelry collection he values at $730 million, plus 4 airplanes, including an Airbus A380.
#20 David Thomson & family
Net Worth: $19.0 bil
Fortune: Inherited
Source: inheritance
Age: 52
Country Of Citizenship: Canada
Residence: Toronto
Education: Selwyn College, Master of Arts
Marital Status: Divorced, 3 children
Chairman of Thomson Reuters knocks longtime rival Michael Bloomberg out of top 20. Firm acquired financial commentary site Breakingviews in December. Grandfather Roy founded the media group in 1934. With brother Peter, serves as cochair of family's investment concern, Woodbridge. Also owns CTVglobemedia; multimedia outfit's holdings include Canada's national newspaper, The Globe and Mail, and dozens of TV channels and radio stations.
#21 Michael Otto & family
Net Worth: $18.7 bil
Fortune: Inherited and Growing
Source: retail
Age: 66
Country Of Citizenship: Germany
Residence: Hamburg
Education: NA
Marital Status: Married, 2 children
Father Werner Otto, who turned 100 last August, started out making a 14-page shoe catalog in 1949; the $14 billion (sales) Otto Group now sells everything from toys to building supplies. Also hold a 96% stake in home furnishings retailer Crate & Barrel. Michael joined in 1971, expanded operations overseas and moved company into Internet sales; now world's second biggest internet retailer after Amazon. Retired in 2007 after 26 years as chief executive; still heads group's supervisory board. Brother Frank manages Otto family's shopping center outfit, ECE Group, which holds a stake in U.S. mall giant Developers Diversified Realty. Family owns 12 million sq. ft of prime real estate in the U.S. most in New York city. Their Paramount Group bought Deutsche Bank's Wall Street headquarters in 2007; reportedly paid a record price per square foot for lower Manhattan. Environmentalist supports foundation that funds preservation of Germany's Elbe river. Has been awarded the 2010 Theodor Heuss Prize for his contributions to society. Reportedly practices tai chi. Collects modern art.
#22 Lee Shau Kee
Net Worth: $18.5 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: real estate
Age: 82
Country Of Citizenship: Hong Kong
Residence: Hong Kong
Education: NA
Marital Status: Divorced, 5 children
Lee's wealth rebounded, thanks in part to doubling share price of Henderson Land Development, the property firm he founded and still heads. Active investor in China, has stakes in such outperfomers as PetroChina, China Shenhua Energy and China Life. Chairman of Hong Kong & China Gas, which distributes gas in more than 90 cities. Also chairman of Miramar Hotel and Investment, and a director of Hong Kong Ferry and Bank of East Asia. In July 2007, Lee received one of the Hong Kong government's highest awards, the "Grand Bauhinia Medal," for public service.
#23 Michael Bloomberg
Net Worth: $18.0 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: Bloomberg
Age: 68
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: New York, New York
Education: Harvard U, Master of Business Administration; Johns Hopkins U, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Marital Status: Divorced, 2 children
New York City mayor elected to third term last fall after spending a record $90 million of fortune. Forecasts predict NYC's tax revenues will fall 28%—nearly $7 billion—in 2010, in the aftermath of the crisis on Wall Street. Lucrative bonuses that came with working on Wall Street fueled spending on apartments, restaurants and shopping in recent years; as bonuses dry up, so does the city's income. Launched Five Borough Economic Opportunity Plan to create jobs in NYC. Today he owns 88% of Bloomberg LP, the financial data and news outfit he founded in 1982. Boston-born son of accountant got engineering degree from Johns Hopkins, M.B.A. from Harvard. Became a trader at Salomon Brothers 1970s, quit with $10 million in stock. Created financial information services firm Innovative Market Systems to sell financial data, analytic tools to Wall Street. Renamed Bloomberg LP 1987; added news service, magazine, cable network, radio station. Has given away nearly $1 billion to charity in the past 5 years.
#24 Sergey Brin
Net Worth: $17.5 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: Google
Age: 36
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: Palo Alto, California
Education: Stanford U, Master of Science; U of Maryland, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Marital Status: Married, 1 child
Tech darling on a hot streak in past year; Google fortune up $5.5 billion in 12 months. Shares of search giant up 70% in past year. Unveiled smartphone Nexus One in January; operates with Android software. Announced upgraded version of Chrome browser in March; gaining market share since November 2008. Emigrated from Russia, met future partner Larry Page at Stanford; duo dropped out of computer science Ph.D. program in 1998. Started Google in friend's garage. K. Ram Shriram, Andy von Bechtolsheim, professor David Cheriton provided initial financing; venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Sequoia Capital soon injected another $25 million. Public 2004. Annual sales: $23.7 billion. Introduced goats to Google campus lawn last year; animals less harmful to the environment than lawn mower.
#24 Charles Koch
Net Worth: $17.5 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: manufacturing, energy
Age: 74
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: Wichita, Kansas
Education: MIT, Bachelor of Arts / Science; MIT, Master of Science
Marital Status: Married, 2 children
Koch Industries topped $100 billion in sales 2008; now America's second-largest private company. Father, Fred C. Koch (d. 1967), invented method of turning heavy oil into gasoline. Sons Charles, David, Frederick and William inherited Koch Industries after father's death. Charles and David bought out William and Frederick for $1.1 billion in 1983. Today company has stakes in pipelines, refineries, fertilizer, fibers and polymers, forest and consumer products, chemical technology. Employs 70,000 workers in 60 countries. Purchased Invista, maker of Lycra and Coolmax fabric, in 2004 for $4.2 billion. Dropped $21 billion on paper and building-supply vendor Georgia-Pacific the following year. Brothers each own 42%. Charles is chief executive. Studied nuclear and chemical engineering at MIT; cofounder of conservative think tank Cato Institute.
#24 David Koch
Net Worth: $17.5 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: manufacturing, energy
Age: 69
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: New York, New York
Education: MIT, Bachelor of Arts / Science; MIT, Master of Science
Marital Status: Married, 3 children
Koch Industries topped $100 billion in sales 2008; now America's second-largest private company. Father, Fred C. Koch (d. 1967), invented method of turning heavy oil into gasoline. Sons Charles, David, Frederick and William inherited Koch Industries after father's death. Charles and David bought out William and Frederick for $1.1 billion in 1983. Today company has stakes in pipelines, refineries, fertilizer, fibers and polymers, forest and consumer products, chemical technology. Employs 70,000 workers in 60 countries. Purchased Invista, maker of Lycra and Coolmax fabric, in 2004 for $4.2 billion. Dropped $21 billion on paper and building-supply vendor Georgia-Pacific the following year. Brothers each own 42%. David is executive vice president. Holds chemical engineering degrees from MIT; pledged $100 million to alma mater for cancer research last year. Pledged another $100 million to New York's Lincoln Center July 2008.
#24 Larry Page
Net Worth: $17.5 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: Google
Age: 37
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: San Francisco, California
Education: Stanford U, Master of Science; U of Michigan, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Marital Status: Married
Tech darling on a hot streak in past year; Google fortune up $5.5 billion in 12 months. Shares of search giant up 70% in past year. Unveiled smartphone Nexus One in January; operates with Android software. Announced upgraded version of Chrome browser in March; gaining market share since November 2008. Raised in Michigan, met future partner Sergey Brin at Stanford; duo dropped out of computer science Ph.D. program in 1998. Started Google in friend's garage. K. Ram Shriram, Andy von Bechtolsheim, professor David Cheriton provided initial financing; venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Sequoia Capital soon injected another $25 million. Public 2004. Annual sales: $23.7 billion. Introduced goats to Google campus lawn last year; animals less harmful to the environment than lawn mower.
#28 Michele Ferrero & family
Net Worth: $17.0 bil
Fortune: Inherited and Growing
Source: chocolates
Age: 83
Country Of Citizenship: Italy
Residence: Monte Carlo
Education: NA
Marital Status: Married, 2 children
Secretive chocolate chief mulled jumping into bid over British rival Cadbury; backed off in January. Richest man in Italy owns privately held Ferrero, chocolatier that makes such brands as Ferrero Rocher, Nutella, Tic Tac and Kinder Eggs. Sales in 2008: $8.4 billion. Runs 18 factories, more than 21,000 employees worldwide. Introduced Gran Soleil, a ready-to-freeze dessert that is stored at room temperature; after shaking and placing in freezer for several hours, turns into an ice cream-like substance. Reportedly told Italian media that Gran Soleil will be bigger than Nutella. Lives in Monte Carlo, Monaco; sons live in Belgium.
#28 Kwok family
Net Worth: $17.0 bil
Fortune: Inherited
Source: real estate
Age: NA
Country Of Citizenship: Hong Kong
Residence: Hong Kong
Education: NA
Marital Status: NA
Family behind one of Hong Kong's most storied real estate firms has benefited from rebound in property prices. Eldest brother Walter, who stepped down from 18-year chairmanship of Sun Hung Kai Properties in May 2008 after disputing with his 2 younger siblings, Raymond and Thomas, dropped his lawsuit alleging improper dismissal; he is now a nonexecutive director. Mother Kwong Siu-hing, 80, took over as chairman. Firm is finishing construction of Hong Kong's tallest building, the International Commerce Center. Family also owns interests in telecom SmarTone-Vodafone and city bus operator KMB. Deeply religious brothers, opened replica of Noah's Ark in Hong Kong in May 2009 as tourist attraction.
#28 Azim Premji
Net Worth: $17.0 bil
Fortune: Inherited and Growing
Source: software
Age: 64
Country Of Citizenship: India
Residence: Bangalore
Education: Stanford U, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Marital Status: Married, 2 children
Software czar chairs $5.5 billion (revenues) Wipro, country's third-largest software exporter. Reported jump in net profits in last 2 quarters, signaling a rebound for U.S.-dependent outsourcing giant. Recently disclosed that an executive in the finance division embezzled $4 million from Wipro. In November, company's consumer care division signed a $46 million deal to buy the Asian business of personal care brand Yardley from U.K.'s Lornamead. Is reportedly also negotiating for Lornamead's Nigeria unit. His private equity arm PremjiInvest has 10% stake in bankrupt discount retailer Subhikhsa. The Azim Premji Foundation, his charitable arm, plans to set up the Azim Premji University. He co-chaired the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos this year. Eldest son, Rishad, a Harvard grad, is Wipro's general manager for treasury and investor relations.
#31 Theo Albrecht
Net Worth: $16.7 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: Aldi, Trader Joe's
Age: 88
Country Of Citizenship: Germany
Residence: Foehr
Education: NA
Marital Status: Married, 2 children
Owns discount supermarket group Aldi Nord. With estimated sales of $34 billion still a sector leader but lost ground this year as flat sales and strong rivals in some of its European markets pushed profits down. Has been more successful with his U.S. holding, discount food chain Trader Joe's, whose 340 stores have attracted cost-conscious customers during the recession. After World War II he and brother Karl transformed their mother's corner grocery into Aldi, for Albrecht Discount. 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 the northern Germany stores and the rest of Europe. Also owns stake in Supervalu. Became a recluse after being kidnapped for 17 days in 1971; said to collect old typewriters; loves golf.
#32 Vladimir Lisin
Net Worth: $15.8 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: steel
Age: 53
Country Of Citizenship: Russia
Residence: Moscow
Education: Russian Academy Econ, Doctorate; Siberian Metallurgical, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Marital Status: Married, 3 children
Russia's richest is a proletarian success story. First job was as a mechanic in a coal mine. After college in Siberia worked as steelworker. In 1991, when his boss was appointed minister of metallurgy, Lisin came with him to Moscow. In 1992 he joined up with tough group of traders called Trans-World Group; they came to dominate Russia's aluminum and steel exports. He managed the factories, and when the partners went their separate ways in 2000, Lisin got majority stake in Russia's giant Novolipetsk steel mill as his share. Constructed one of the largest shooting-range complexes in Europe—Lisya Nora, which is close to Moscow. Publishes the loss-making newspaper Gazeta; last summer bought the business-news radio station Business FM.
#33 Steven Ballmer
Net Worth: $14.5 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: Microsoft
Age: 54
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: Seattle, Washington
Education: Harvard U, Bachelor of Arts / Science; Stanford U, Master of Business Administration
Marital Status: Married, 3 children
A year after failing to buy Yahoo for $44.6 billion, manic Microsoft chief finally cut a deal with the second-fiddle search engine outfit. Companies agreed last July to band together to take on Google; Microsoft will pay for search technology, Yahoo will use Bing as its default engine. Investors, techies mixed on how agreement actually fights Google. Says Ballmer: "People haven't figured it out." Detroit native dropped out of Stanford M.B.A. program to join Harvard classmate Bill Gates 1980 as employee number 30. Became chief exec 2000. Famous for impassioned stage antics: pretended to stomp on an iPhone at company event last year after an employee snapped a picture with Apple's offending device.
#33 Robert Kuok
Net Worth: $14.5 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: diversified
Age: 86
Country Of Citizenship: Malaysia
Residence: Hong Kong
Education: Raffles C, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Marital Status: Married, 8 children
Onetime rice and sugar trader heads multinational Kuok Group, with interests ranging from shipping to real estate to media. In 2007 merged extensive Malaysian, Indonesian palm oil interests with Singapore's Wilmar International, run by his nephew; now his most valuable holding. Also has stakes in Kerry Properties, Shangri-la hotels, company that publishes the South China Morning Post. Once known as the Sugar King of Asia, his Kuok Group sold two of its sugar businesses in Malaysia for $365 million, signaling an exit from the industry where he got his start.
#35 George Soros
Net Worth: $14.0 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: hedge funds
Age: 79
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: Westchester, New York
Education: London Sch Econ, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Marital Status: Divorced, 5 children
America's wealthiest hedge fund manager stepping up philanthropy: in January gave $4 million to Haiti. Last year pledged $35 million to help New York State buy school supplies for 850,000 underprivileged children. Also donating $100 million to recession-torn countries in central Europe. Has given away $7 billion since 1979, much through his Open Society Institute. Survived Nazi occupation of Hungary; procured scholarship at London School of Economics. Launched Quantum Fund 1969. With Stanley Druckenmiller shorted England's currency, "broke" British pound 1992; said to have made $1 billion in one day when Bank of England stopped fixing exchange rate. Closed fund to new investors several years later. Today manages nest egg via Quantum Endowment Fund. Assets: $27 billion. Came out of retirement in 2007, returned 32% on bearish bets. Fund was up 8% in 2008, 29% last year net of fees.
#36 Anil Ambani
Net Worth: $13.7 bil
Fortune: Inherited and Growing
Source: diversified
Age: 50
Country Of Citizenship: India
Residence: Mumbai
Education: U Bombay, Bachelor of Arts / Science; U of Penn Wharton, Master of Business Administration
Marital Status: Married, 2 children
Along with older brother Mukesh, inherited fortune from their late father, renowned industrialist Dhirubhai Ambani. But the brothers started squabbling and in 2005 their mother brokered a peace settlement breaking up the family's assets. His Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group has interests in telecom, power, infrastructure, financial services and entertainment. Is embroiled in a gas supply dispute with his brother. Created a stir when he went public with the allegation that India's petroleum minister was partial to Mukesh's Reliance Industries. Government denied any favoritism. Matter awaits Supreme Court's final judgment. His Reliance Power plans to build 13 power plants for $25 billion by 2014. Group's infrastructure arm is investing $5 billion in new roads and metro systems to be completed by 2012. His entertainment unit has committed $825 million to Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks Studios to coproduce films; first one likely to be a movie on Martin Luther King Jr. He's also bidding for debt-burdened studio MGM. Marathon runner. His wife, Tina, oversees a hospital in Mumbai named after his mother.
#37 Paul Allen
Net Worth: $13.5 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: Microsoft, investments
Age: 57
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: Mercer Island, Washington
Education: Washington State U, Drop Out
Marital Status: Single
Washington State dropout founded software giant Microsoft with buddy Bill Gates in 1975; left in 1983 after Hodgkin's disease diagnosis. Sold off much of his stake to lose huge sums on far-off visions through holding company, Vulcan. Recently launched software outfit Xiant, whose product Filer helps users keep track of e-mails in Microsoft's Outlook. A rare foray into software since Microsoft, Xiant began as a personal project. Owns football's Seattle Seahawks and basketball's Portland Trailblazers. No longer chairs Charter Communications; company recently emerged from bankruptcy. Still controls 35% of voting interest in the cable outfit. Philanthropist diagnosed with lymphoma; undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
#37 Michael Dell
Net Worth: $13.5 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: Dell
Age: 45
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: Austin, Texas
Education: U of Texas Austin, Drop Out
Marital Status: Married, 4 children
Leader of the world's second-largest PC maker looking to claw way back to top; completed purchase of IT services outfit Perot Systems in November. Returned 2 years ago to helm of the computer maker after PC sales shrunk, competition increased and global market share slipped. Turnaround underway with new management, restructured divisions, and plans to enter China. Dell stock slipped nearly 10% in past six months; revenue fell 13% in year ended January 2010. Started company out of U. of Texas dorm; established business with direct-sales method, took public 1988. Michael & Susan Dell Foundation funds education, childhood health, and recently bought valuable modern Magnum Photos collection.
#39 Mikhail Prokhorov
Net Worth: $13.4 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: investments
Age: 44
Country Of Citizenship: Russia
Residence: Moscow
Education: Moscow State Institute of, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Marital Status: Single
Bachelor billionaire making moves in the U.S. Last fall his Onexim signed an agreement to buy 45% of the Atlantic Yards development project, a stadium and apartment complex in New York, for $200 million; he will also get an 80% stake in the New Jersey Nets basketball team. Planning to produce a completely new, inexpensive "people's" car for Russia. Able to do so because he cashed out his 25% stake in Norilsk Nickel, the world's largest producer of nickel and palladium in the spring of 2008 before the financial crisis, unloading the holding to fellow billionaire Oleg Deripaska in exchange for cash and a stake in UC Rusal. With fellow billionaire Vladimir Potanin built holding company Interros by winning over the corporate customers of two huge Soviet-era banks in 1992. The group had interests in metals, engineering, agriculture and media. Soon after his highly publicized arrest (and release without charges) in the French ski town of Courchevel in early 2007, he and Potanin announced they were dividing up their holdings in Interros. Recently lost case against billionaire Lily Safra to get back his $53 million down payment on $525 million bid for her French Riveria villa; deal collapsed but Safra kept down payment, promising to donate it to charity. Prokhorov will likely appeal.
#40 Birgit Rausing & family
Net Worth: $13.0 bil
Fortune: Inherited
Source: packaging
Age: 86
Country Of Citizenship: Sweden
Residence: Vaud
Education: NA
After death of her husband Gad Rausing in 2000, with her 3 children, inherited packaging giant Tetra Laval. In 1944 her father-in-law founded the company ,which revolutionized the packaging of liquids such as juices and milk. Today sales are $15.3 billion. All of her children sit on Tetra Laval's board; son Jorn is head of mergers and acquisitions. Son Finn is chairman of the board of the Swedish R.R. Institute of Applied Economics. Daughter Kirsten is a horse breeder in the U.K. Birgit lives quietly in Switzerland.
#40 Shashi & Ravi Ruia
Net Worth: $13.0 bil
Fortune: Inherited and Growing
Source: diversified
Age: 66
Country Of Citizenship: India
Residence: Mumbai
Education: NA
Marital Status: Married, 2 children
Brothers' $15 billion (revenues) Essar Group has weathered downturn and embarked on an expansion drive in all its businesses, including steel, oil and power. As part of a global push, refiner Essar Oil bought 50% in Kenya Petroleum Refineries and is negotiating with Royal Dutch Shell to acquire 3 refineries with a total refining capacity of 25 million tons. May offer 10% stake in Essar Oil as part payment. In November clinched $350 million deal with Dhabi Group's Warid Telecom to acquire majority stake in its units in Uganda and Congo. Brothers raised $920 million, using part of their 33% stake in Vodafone Essar, India's third-largest mobile phone operator, as collateral. Recently sold telecom infrastructure business for $450 million to American Tower Corp. Recently acquired American coal mining firm Trinity Coal for $600 million. Also mulling listing of oil and energy businesses on the London stock Exchange
#42 Mikhail Fridman
Net Worth: $12.7 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: oil, banking, telecom
Age: 45
Country Of Citizenship: Russia
Residence: Moscow
Education: Moscow Institute Steel, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Marital Status: Divorced, 2 children
His Alfa Group, which he shares with fellow billionaires German Khan and Alexei Kuzmichev, buoyed by rising oil prices; stake in TNK-BP up twofold over the past year. Interest in Alfa Bank also up; the bank recovered most of its money from borrowers like fellow billionaire, Oleg Deripaska. Ukraine native moved to Moscow to study; with college buddies Khan and Kuzmichev started a commodities trading outfit, Alfa-Eco, in 1989; two years later they established the bank, which is now the biggest private bank by capital in Russia. Bought Tyumen Oil from the state in the late 1990s and merged it with BP's Russian assets into TNK-BP. The group has stakes in two Russian cellular companies and owns the biggest retailer, X5.
#43 Jeffrey Bezos
Net Worth: $12.3 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: Amazon
Age: 46
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: Seattle, Washington
Education: Princeton U, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Marital Status: Married, 4 children
Lord of the world's largest online bookshop now working furiously to make printed tomes—and perhaps anything else you can read on paper—obsolete. Fortune up $5.5 billion in past year; Amazon shares up 100% in that time. Launched Kindle digital book reader 2007. Secret: "e-ink," which spares users from staring at an eye-straining backlit display. Debuted Kindle 2 in 2008. Net income increased 40% as the economy crashed in 2009; bargain-hunters flocked to online marketplace for convenience, low prices. Acquired online shoe retailer Zappos in July 2009 for $800 million in stock. Former Wall Streeter quit hedge funds before 30th birthday to sell books online from Seattle garage. Founded Amazon.com 1994, public 3 years later; didn't turn profit until late 2001.
#44 Savitri Jindal
Net Worth: $12.2 bil
Fortune: Inherited
Source: steel
Age: 60
Country Of Citizenship: India
Residence: Delhi & Hisar
Education: NA
Marital Status: Widowed, 9 children
Nonexecutive chair of the O.P. Jindal Group, a steel and power conglomerate founded by her late husband, Om Prakash Jindal in 1952. Took over as group head after he died in a helicopter crash in 2005. In his lifetime, patriarch had handed down operations to their 4 sons Prithviraj, Sajjan, Ratan and Naveen, who today run their independent units. Net worth up $9.5 billion in past year, mainly due to Naveen's Jindal Steel & Power whose market capitalization soared more than threefold in 2009. Sajjan took his JSW Energy public, raising $830 million; his JSW Steel forged an alliance with Japan' s JFE Steel. Savitri got re-elected in the assembly elections in Haryana, her home state.
#45 Donald Bren
Net Worth: $12.0 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: real estate
Age: 77
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: Newport Beach, California
Education: U of Washington, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Marital Status: Married, 7 children
Orange County real estate tycoon's fortune flat despite meltdown thanks to new information previously unavailable. Attended U. of Washington on skiing scholarship; dropped Olympics bid after injury 1956. Joined Marines, then built first house on $10,000 loan 1958. Planned and developed 10,000-acre Rancho Mission Viejo in California, sold to Philip Morris 1967. With partners, bought 145-year-old real estate master planner and developer Irvine Co. for $337 million 1977. Became firm's principal owner 1996. Developed central Orange County, Irvine and half of Newport Beach. Today owns 475 office buildings, 115 apartment communities, 41 retail centers, resort properties, new housing communities in Orange County, San Diego, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley. Has permanently protected more than half of 93,000-acre Irvine Ranch, creating public parks and trails.
#45 Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor & family
Net Worth: $12.0 bil
Fortune: Inherited and Growing
Source: real estate
Age: 58
Country Of Citizenship: United Kingdom
Residence: Chester
Education: Harrow C of Higher Educat
Marital Status: Married, 4 children
The sixth Duke of Westminster is the U.K.'s wealthiest landowner. His Grosvenor property group has valuable holdings on 5 continents: Posh Mayfair and Belgravia neighborhoods of London; additional land in London via private family trusts; farmland in Northern England and Scotland. Officer in Britain's reserve forces and Chancellor of University of Chester.
#45 John Paulson
Net Worth: $12.0 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: hedge funds
Age: 54
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: New York, New York
Education: Harvard U, Master of Business Administration; New York U, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Marital Status: Married, 2 children
Bear market billionaire keeps getting richer: Paulson Advantage fund returned 38% in 2008, 13.8% last year net of fees. New York native earned M.B.A. at Harvard. Worked at Odyssey Partners, then Bear Stearns. Launched Paulson & Co. in 1994. Started exploiting perceived real estate bubble by devising debt trades, betting against ABX (mortgage) index in 2006. Personally pocketed $3.5 billion shorting subprime in 2007; Credit Opportunities fund soared 590% net of fees that year. Now betting on gold, banks. Largest public holdings in December: Bank of America, Citigroup, AngloGold Ashanti. Assets: $32 billion.
#48 Abigail Johnson
Net Worth: $11.5 bil
Fortune: Inherited and Growing
Source: Fidelity
Age: 48
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: Boston, Massachusetts
Education: Harvard U, Master of Business Administration; Hobart and William Smith, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Marital Status: Married, 2 children
With father controls Fidelity Investments, America's largest mutual fund company. Firm also boasts large brokerage business, insurance outfit. Father Ned joined his father's company as analyst 1957, president 15 years later. Abby ran her first diversified fund 1993. Ned trimmed ownership 1995, Abby inherited 24% stake; rumored to have sold some shares back to family members years later. Ownership a mystery: family owns 49% of Fidelity, but size of individual stakes unknown. Abby runs personal and workplace investing division; believed by some to be father's chosen successor.
#48 Jorge Paulo Lemann
Net Worth: $11.5 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: beer
Age: 70
Country Of Citizenship: Brazil
Residence: Sao Paulo
Education: Harvard U, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Marital Status: Married, 5 children
Smart investment in a Brazilian brewer in 1989 put Lemann on the path to his current status: one of the largest shareholders of Anheuser-Busch Inbev, the world's biggest brewer. Group was formed in Nov. 2008 when Inbev acquired Anheuser-Busch for $52 billion. Shares control of beer behemoth with his former investment banking partners (and fellow Brazilian billionaires) Marcel Telles and Carlos Alberto Sicupira, as well as with the Belgian families who controlled Inbev's predecessor, Interbrew. The Brazilian trio also controls retailer Lojas Americanas. His first big success was at investment bank Banco Garantia, which he founded 1971 and sold to Credit Suisse First Boston in 1998 for $675 million. Tennis player, once played in Wimbledon. Donated $16.5 million to University of Illinois, set up Lemann Institute for Brazilian Studies.
#50 Roman Abramovich
Net Worth: $11.2 bil
Fortune: Self Made
Source: steel, investments
Age: 43
Country Of Citizenship: Russia
Residence: Moscow
Education: NA
Marital Status: Divorced, 6 children
Fortune up on steel price recovery; stake in steel giant Evraz up nearly threefold. Also celebrating birth of son with girlfriend and art enthusiast Dasha Zhukova. Threw New Year's bash for his friends and partners on St. Barts, which cost a reported $5 million; Beyonce, Prince and Gwen Stefani performed. Orphaned as a child, Abramovich dropped out of college, then made fortune in a series of controversial oil export deals in early 1990s. Teamed up with Boris Berezovsky to take over oil giant Sibneft at a fraction of its market value. In 2003 to 2004, sold stake in Russian Aluminum to Oleg Deripaska. Sold 73% stake in Sibneft to gas titan Gazprom for $13 billion in 2005. Later bought stake in Evraz. Sold part of his stake in Highland Gold, a U.K. mining company with operations in Russia, to two of his business partners. Owns UK soccer team, Chelsea.
(to be continued.....)
Thanks and Credit to the source: Forbes.com
The 50 Richest People In The World 2010
