Bill Gates Still Richest Man in America

This year’s list contains a record number of billionaires, 313 to be precise. Last year’s list contained only 262 billionaires. The total worth of all 400 people on the list surpassed $1 trillion.

Software mogul Gates retained the top spot by virtue of his $48 billion net worth. As it was last year, famous investor Warren Buffet followed Gates. Buffet, owner of Berkshire Hathaway, added $5 billion to his fortune over the past year to climb to $41 billion.

Although he lost $2 billion compared to last year, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen held on to third place, albeit a distant third with only $20 billion to his name.

Five members of Walton family, owners of the Walmart chain of superstores, grabbed places four through eight with their $18 billon fortune. The family members are Alice, Helen, Jim, John, and S. Robson Walton.

The only change in the top ten this year was Dell Computer founder Michael Dell’s overtaking of Oracle founder Lawrence Ellison. Ellison’s fortune dropped form $18 billion last year to $13.7 billion this year. Dell had a net worth of $14.2 billion this year.

The youngest billionaires on the list were Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry E. Page, who placed 43rd.

Forbes Senior Editor Peter Newcomb recorded that the growth in the US economy was reflected in the list. He said that wealthy people from many sectors of business, including food, industry, finance, and software, were included on the list.

The richest 10 Americans (Billion Dollar)

1. Bill Gates – Microsoft: 48

2. Warren Buffett – Berkshire Hathaway: 41

3. Paul Allen – the co-founder of Microsoft: 20

4. Alice Walton – Walmart : 18

5. Helen Walton – Walmart: 18

6. Jim Walton – Walmart: 18

7. John Walton – Walmart: 18

8. S. Robson Walton – Walmart: 18

9. Michael Dell – Dell: 14.2

10. Lawrence Ellison – Oracle: 13.7