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Theworldsrichestpeople2015YahooFinanceUK

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Theworldsrichestpeople2015
ByKerryA.DolanandLuisaKroll|Forbes16hoursago

Despiteplungingoilpricesandaweakenedeuro,theranksoftheworldsrichestdefiedglobaleconomicturmoiland
expandedyetagain.Forbesfoundarecord1,826billionaireswithanaggregatenetworthof$7.05trillion,upfrom$6.4
trillionayearago.Thetotalincludes290newbillionairesandarecord197women,upfrom172lastyear.
BillGatesisonceagaintherichestpersonontheplanet,atitlehe'sheldfor16ofthepast21years.Hisfortunegrew$3.2
billionsincelastyearto$79.2billion,inspiteagiftof$1.5billioninMicrosoftsharestoTheBill&MelindaGates
FoundationinNovember2014.CarlosSlimHelofMexicocomesinagainatNo.2whilereveredAmericaninvestor
WarrenBuffetttookbacktheNo.3spotfromSpainsAmancioOrtega(nowNo.4)Buffettwasthelistsbiggestgainer,up
$14.5billionto$72.7billion,thankstoBerkshireHathawaysrisingshareprice.FacebooksMarkZuckerbergmovesup5
spotstonumber16,hisfirsttimerankedamongtheworlds20richest.
Related:TheWorldsYoungestBillionaires
Atage30Zuckerbergisalsotheleaderinayouthrevolutionthathasmintedagrowingnumberofbillionairesunderthe
ageof40.TheyoungestbillionaireintheworldisEvanSpiegel,24,cofounderofphotomessagingappSnapchat.Silicon
ValleytechcompanieshavespawnedotheryoungnewbillionairesincludingcofoundersofcarhailingserviceUber,Travis
KalanickandGarrettCamp,andtheirfirstemployeeRyanGraves.ElizabethHolmes,whorunsbloodtestingfirm
Theranos,debutsonthegloballistastheyoungestselfmadewomanatage31.
Gainersoutnumberedlosers:819billionairesarericherthanayearagowhile519arepoorer.Theyearsbiggestloserin
dollartermsisAlikoDangoteofNigeria,whosefortunedroppedto$14.7billionfrom$25billionlastyear,propelled
downwardbyaweakerNigeriancurrencyandshrinkingdemandforcement,hislargestasset.Hestillretainsthetitleof
Africasrichestman.AmericasbiggestloserwascasinomogulSheldonAdelson,whofelloutoftheTopTentoNo.18
amidadropinthepriceofLasVegasSandsshares.
Onehundredthirtyeightpeoplefromthe2014listdroppedoutoftheranks,includingfashiondesignerMichaelKors,
ZulilysMarkVadonandmanyRussians.ThenumberoftenfigurefortunesinRussiaplungedto88from111lastyeardue
totheweakrubleandloweroilprices.Guatemalahasabillionaireforthefirsttime,andIcelandreturnstotheclubaftera
sevenyearabsence,theresultofacomebackbyThorBjorgolfsson,whosstilltheonlybillionaireinthecountryshistory.
Related:NewBillionairesFor2015
Theresnodoubtthatentrepreneurshipisthrivingglobally.Fully1,187membersofthelistareselfmadebillionaires,
whilejust230inheritedtheirwealth.Another403inheritedatleastaportionbutarestillworkingtoincreasetheir
fortunes.
OurestimatesshowasnapshotofwealthonFeb.13,whenwelockedinstockpricesandexchangeratesfromaroundthe
world.Ifastockmarketwasntopenonthatday,weusedthestockpricefromtheprevioustradingday.
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BillGates
Rank:#1
NetWorth:$79.2billion(+$3.2billionvs2014)
Citizenship:UntiedStates

REUTERS/EdgarSu

BillGatesisonceagaintherichestpersonontheplanet,atitlehe'sheldfor16outofthelast21years.Herecapturedthe
topspotinMarch2014afterafouryearrunbyMexico'sCarlosSlimHeluasNo.1.Earlyon,thestellarperformanceof
Microsoft,whichhecofoundedin1975,boostedhisnetworth,buthe'sbeensteadilysellinghissharesinthesoftware
companyforatleast15years.Heunloadedonethirdofhisremainingstakeoverthe12monthsthroughFebruary2015.
Thatincludedagiftofsharesworth$1.5billiontotheBill&MelindaGatesFoundationinNovember2014,whichbrought
hislifetimegivingupto$30.7billion.Gates,whospendsmostofhistimefocusedonphilanthropy,laidoutsomedecisive
goalsforthefoundationinhisannualJanuaryletter.WhilecontinuingtoworkonimprovingU.S.educationandglobal
health,thefoundationisalsocommittedtogettingAfricatofeeditselfandwantstohelpspreadmobilebanking,whichit
believescanhelptransformthelivesofthepoor.
CarlosSlimHelu&family
Rank:2
Networth:$77.1billion(+$5.1bvs.2014)
Citizenship:Mexico

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APPhoto/JeremyPiper

CarlosSlimHeluremainstheworld'snumbertworichestpersondespitechangesintheMexicantelecomlandscape,
wherehehasprosperedgreatlyoverthepasttwodecades.AnewantimonopolylawisdrivingsomeoftheshiftsInJune
2014,hespent$5.6billiontobuyoutAT&T's8.3%stakeinpanLatinAmericanwirelesscarrierAmericaMovilbyfar
Slim'smostvaluableasset.Heandhischildrenownamajorityofthecompany.AT&TthenbecameanAmericaMovil
competitorinMexico,whenitpurchasedwirelesscarrierGrupoIusacellfromMexicanbillionaireRicardoSalinasPliego
inJanuary2015.Outsideoftelecom,Slimtookprivatehislistedrealestatecompany,InnmeublesCarso,payingminority
shareholders$450millioninDecember2014.Amonthlater,hebecamethelargestshareholderofTheNewYorkTimes,
withanearly17%stake,byexercisingwarrantstobuymoreshares.Slimalsoholdsacontrollinginterestinindustrial
conglomerateGrupoCarso,financialventureGrupoFinancieroInbursaandinfrastructuredevelopmentandoperating
companyIdeal.
WarrenBuffett
Rank:3
Networth:$72.7billion(+$14.5billionvs.2014)
Citizenship:UnitedStates

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REUTERS/CarlosBarria

WarrenBuffettiswealthierthaneverthankstothestellarperformanceofhisdiversifiedholdingcompany,Berkshire
Hathaway.ItscovetedClassAstock,whichisthemostexpensiveofanypublicU.S.company's,eclipsed$200,000per
shareforthefirsttimeinAugust2014.BuffettmovedtoNo.3onFORBES'2015listoftheworld'srichest,upfromthe
fourthpositionin2014.Withdozensofsubsidiaries,includinginrailroads,insuranceandenergy,BerkshireHathaway
posted$182billionin2013revenueand$19.5billioninnetincome.Stillinkingbigdeals,BerkshireHathawaybought
batterymakerDuracellfromProcter&GambleinNovember2014for$4.7billion.Agenerousphilanthropist,Buffett
bestedhisowngivingrecordinJuly2014,givingawayBerkshiresharesworth$2.8billion,primarilytotheBill&Melinda
GatesFoundationbutalsotohischildren'sfoundations,bringinghislifetimegivingtonearly$23billion.Buffettsayshis
bestinvestmenteverwasbuyingBenjaminGraham'sbookTheIntelligentInvestorin1949.Helaterstudiedunder
GrahambeforemovinghometoNebraskaandacquiringastrugglingtextilescompanyin1962,BerkshireHathaway.In
earlyFebruary2015,itwasthefourthmostvaluablepubliccompanyintheU.S.,withamarketcapitalizationof$355
billion.
AmancioOrtega
Rank:4
Networth:$64.5billion(+$500millionvs.2014)
Citizenship:Spain

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GettyImages/DidierBaverel

SpaniardAmancioOrtegagrewupthesonofarailwayworkerandisnowtheworld'srichestretailer.HecofoundedZara
in1975withlingerieandbathrobesheandhisformerwifeRosaliaMeramadeintheirlivingroom.Bythemid1980s,he
hadtakenZaraalloverSpainandwasreadytoexpandoverseas.Ashisempiregrew,Ortegacaughttheretail
establishmentbysurprise,limitingadvertising,expandingaggressivelyandcontrollingmuchofhisownsupplychain.
LouisVuittonfashiondirectorDanielPietteoncecalledInditex"possiblythemostinnovativeanddevastatingretailerin
theworld."OrtegapoweredthroughtheSpanishfinancialcrisis,personallygaining$45billionfrom2009to2014ashis
sharesofInditexdefiedtherestoftheSpanishstockmarket.InthelastdecadehehastakenbillionsinInditexdividends
andreinvestedthemoneyintorealestateinmarqueecities,includingMadrid,Barcelona,London,Chicago,Miamiand
NewYork.
LarryEllison
Rank:5
Networth:$54.3billion(+$6.3billionvs.2014)
Citizenship:UnitedStates

KimberlyWhite/GettyImages

LarryEllisonisarguablythefirstSiliconValleytechentrepreneurtolivelargeandfast.Henevermethisbiologicalfather
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andwasraisedinamiddleclassChicagohomebyhisgreataunt.AfterbuildingdatabasesfortheCIA,Ellisonfounded
databasesoftwarefirmOraclein1977andhasoverseenitstremendousgrowthrevenuesinfiscal2014grewto$38.3
billion.InSeptember2014,EllisonshockedthebusinessworldbyannouncingplanstostepdownasCEOheisstayingon
asOracle'schairmanandchieftechnologyofficer.Asailingfanatic,he'sthemainbackerofAmerica'sCupwinnerOracle
TeamUSA.EllisonhascontinuedtogobbleuppropertiesontheHawaiianislandofLanai,whichheboughtforareported
$300millionin2012,andissaidtoowneveryhotelroomontheisland.HisdaughterMeganEllisonhasfoundsuccessas
afilmproducerherAnnapurnaPicturesproducedhitslikeZeroDarkThirtyandAmericanHustle.
CharlesKoch
Rank:6
Networth:$42.9billion(+$2.9billionvs2014)
Citizenship:UnitesStates

APPhoto/TheWichitaEagle,BoRader

CharlesandDavidKoch'sspheresofinfluencespanbusiness,philanthropyandpolitics.Thelightningrodcapitalist
brotherscontinuetoaddtotheirempire,plunkingdownmorethan$5billiononacquisitionsin2014.Charleshasbeen
chairofKochIndustriessince1967,overseeingmassivegrowthofwhatisnowthesecondbiggestprivatecompanyin
America,behindcommoditiesgiantCargill.Theirreachextendsfromoilpipelines,refineriesandmanufacturersof
buildingmaterialstopapertowelsandevenDixieCups.Theywererelativepikersinthe2014midtermelections,spending
about$2.5millioneachonRepublicanraces,buttheWashingtonPostreportedthattheyhaveexhortedtheirconservative
compatriotstoraisealmost$1billionforthe2016presidentialelection.TheKochsarealsoactivephilanthropists.Inmid
2014,a$25milliongiftfromKochIndustriesandtheCharlesKochFoundationtotheUnitedNegroCollegeFundsparked
discussionacrossthepoliticalspectrum.
DavidKoch
Rank:6
Networth:$42.9billion(+$2.9billionvs2014)
Citizenship:UnitedStates

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APPhoto/TheWichitaEagle,TravisHeying

NewYorkCity'srichestresidentDavidKochsharescontrolof$115billion(sales)KochIndustrieswithhisolderbrother
Charles.America'ssecondlargestprivatecompany,KochIndustrieshasinterestsinoilpipelines,refineries,building
materials,papertowelsandDixiecups,andmademorethan$5billioninacquisitionsin2014includinginkmakerFlint
Groupforareported$3billionandPetroLogisticsfor$2.1billion.TheMetropolitanMuseumofArtinNewYork
dedicatedtheDavidH.KochPlazainSeptember2014,partofa$65millionrenovationhefunded.KochIndustries
pouredmorethan$3millionintothe2014midtermelections.AudiorecordingsleakedfromnotsosecretKoch
organizedmeetingsinJune2014revealedRepublicansincludingSen.MitchMcConnell(RKy.)layingouttheirstrategy
forthwartingObama'slegislativeagendaiftheRepublicansgainedcontroloftheSenatein2014,whichdidindeed
happen.TheKochsarealsoactivephilanthropists.Inmid2014,a$25milliongiftfromKochIndustriesandtheCharles
KochFoundationtotheUnitedNegroCollegeFundsparkeddiscussionontheleftandright.
ChristyWalton&family
Rank:8
Networth:$41.7billion(+$5billionvs.2014)
Citizenship:UnitedStates

GettyImages

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ChristyWaltonisthewealthiestwomantheworld,atitleshehasheldforfiveoutofthepastsixyears.Shemarriedinto
whatbecametherichestfamilyintheworldtheWaltonsandinheritedherwealthwhenherhusbandJohnWalton,a
formerGreenBeretandVietnamwarmedic,diedinanairplanecrashin2005.SheisthewealthiestoftheWaltonsthanks
toaninvestmentJohnmadeinsolarpanelmakerFirstSolar.ThebulkofherholdingsareinWalMart,thehugeretailer
foundedbyherfatherinlawSamWaltonandhisbrotherJamesin1962.Christyreceived$470millioninWalMart
dividendsaftertaxesin2014.SheleadsaveryprivatelifeinJackson,Wyoming,butin2013hadararebitofpublicity
whenshewasgivenanawardbytheImagenFoundationforproducingthefilmBlessMe,Ultima,basedonthebookby
RudolfoAnaya,whoisconsideredthefatherofChicanoliterature.Hersonsuccessfullybattledcancerwhenhewasjust3
yearsoldandsheherselffoughtacaseofpneumoniathatnearlykilledher,accordingtotheImagenFoundation.
JimWalton
Rank:9
Networth:$40.6billion(+$5.9billionvs.2014)
Citizenship:UnitedStates

JimWaltonandAliceWalton(APPhoto/AprilL.Brown)

JimWalton,aboardmemberofWalMart,istheyoungestchildofthesuperstore'slegendaryfounderSamWalton.The
companygenerated$473billionin2014revenuesfromwithmorethan11,000storesin27countries.InFebruary2015,
WalMartannounceditwouldraiseitswagesintheU.S.toatleast$9anhourin2015andatleast$10anhourin2016.
Laboradvocateshadcalledforajumpto$15anhour.OutsideofWalMart,JimWaltonischairmanandCEOofthe
familyfoundedArvestBank,whichhasbranchesinArkansas,Kansas,OklahomaandMissouri.Thebankhasassetsof
nearly$15billionandhadnetprofitsofnearly$130millionin2013.
LilianeBettencourt&family
Rank:10
Networth:$40.1billion(+$5.6billionvs2014)
Citizenship:France

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REUTERS/BenoitTessier

L'OrealgranddameLilianeBettencourtgrewevenricherin2014thankstoadealinwhichshepurchasedanadditional
8%stakeinthecosmeticsempirefromNestl,raisingherandherfamily'schunkofL'Orealstockto33%.Herfather,
EugeneSchueller,foundedL'Orealin1907.Bettencourthasnotbeeninvolvedinrunningthecompanyforseveralyearsa
legalbattlewithherdaughterFranoiseBettencourtMeyersendedin2011withLilianedeclaredunfittomanageher
affairs.Theelderlywidow,whosuffersfromdementia,wasreplacedonthecompany'sboardbyher25yearoldgrandson
JeanVictorMeyersin2012.AtrialoftenpeoplewhoallegedlystolehundredsofmillionsofeurosfromBettencourt
beganinJanuary2015.SheremainstherichestwomaninEurope.
Seethefulllist:TheWorldsBillionaires2015
MorefromForbes:
SeemoreofTheWorldsBillionaires2015
RichestInTechFor2015
The20RichestWomenInTheWorld

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