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His position as the world's highest net-worth individual may have been usurped by a Mexican telecom tycoon, but Microsoft chairman Bill Gates can at least say he's still the wealthiest person in the United States.
Gates' fortune now stands at $59 billion, according to Forbes magazine's list of the 400 richest Americans, which was published this week. That's a comfortable, $7 billion lead over Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffet. Earlier this year, Mexican Web site Sentido Comun reported that telecom tycoon Carlos Slim had surpassed Gates as the world's richest man. Following big gains in his investment portfolio, Slim's total worth now stands at about $62.9 billion, according to Sentido Comun. In recent years, Gates has donated significant portions of his wealth to fund research to prevent and cure AIDS and other diseases. He's credited with inspiring similar philanthropic urges in other tycoons. Proving that the dot.com meltdown didn't eliminate tech as a path to riches for the brainy and the entrepreneurial, the Forbes 400 is dominated by computer industry players. Comdex founder Sheldon Adelson ranks third behind Gates and Buffett. He's followed by Oracle chairman Larry Ellison. Google's Sergey Brin and Larry Page rank fifth and sixth, respectively. Build-to-order PC magnate Michael Dell checks in at No. 8 on the list. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen failed to crack the top 10, ranking 11th with a net worth of $16.8 billion. Steve Ballmer, the software maker's current CEO, ranks 16th with personal wealth of $15.2 billion, according to Forbes. |