Worlds Billionaire

Carlos Slim Helu & family

Net Worth : $74 B As of March 2011

 

• Age: 71
• Source: telecom, self-made
• Residence: Mexico City, Mexico
• Country of Citizenship: Mexico
• Education: Bachelor of Arts / Science, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
• Marital Status: Widow
• Children: 6

 

 

The world's richest person for a second year in a row, the Mexican telecom mogul is also the year's biggest gainer, having added $20.5 billion to his fortune and widened the gap between him and no. 2, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, to $18 billion. A 19% rise in the Mexican stock market, a stronger peso, and successful mining and real estate spinoffs from conglomerate Grupo Carso all contributed to the astonishing increase. He also merged his fixed-line telecom company into America Movil, Latin America's largest wireless carrier; the Slim family stake in that holding accounts for 62% of his net worth. He has other holdings in retailer Saks and the New York Times. Recently opened a new building for his Soumaya Museum, which houses his vast art collection. It is open to the public for free.

 

Bill Gates

Net Worth : $59 B As of September 2011 

• Age: 55
• Source: Microsoft, self-made
• Residence: Medina, WA
• Country of Citizenship: United States
• Education: Drop Out, Harvard University
• Marital Status: Married
• Children: 3

 

The top mission for the world's most magnanimous human being Bill Gates (he's already given away $28 billion) is to end polio, which still exists in four countries and requires $1 billion a year for vaccinations; his foundation chips in $200 million. He's also tackling malaria by providing more bed nets and backing development of a low-cost vaccine. Slower progress on the education front: After delivering $2 billion-plus in grants to help high schools from 2000 to 2008, Gates admitted that efforts "fell short." Just one-fourth of his net worth is still held in Microsoft; the rest is in private equity, global stocks, bonds and private companies. With help from billionaire buddy Warren Buffett, he's convinced nearly 70 of the world's wealthiest to sign his "Giving Pledge," promising to donate the majority of their wealth to charity either during their lifetime or after death. In April toured Amazon ruins and jungles with wife, Melinda, and their children.

Warren Buffett

Net Worth : $39 B As of September 2011 

• Age: 81
• Source: Berkshire Hathaway, self-made   
• Residence: Omaha, NE
• Country of Citizenship: United States
• Education: Bachelor of Arts / Science, University of Nebraska Lincoln; Master of Science, Columbia University
• Marital Status: Widowed, Remarried
• Children: 3

Warren Buffett, the second richest man in America, thinks he and his fellow billionaires should be paying more money to Uncle Sam.In August Buffett penned an opinion piece in the New York Times arguing that tycoons need to pay more taxes:"While the poor and middle class fight for us in Afghanistan, and while most Americans struggle to make ends meet, we mega-rich continue to get our extraordinary tax breaks." That same month Buffett went bargain shopping and invested $5 billion in beleaguered Bank of America, a move similar to his backing of Goldman Sachs during the credit crisis. Buffett suffered a rare blemish this March after top executive and potential successor, David Sokol, resigned amidst allegations of self dealing; charges were never filed. Meanwhile shares of his conglomerate, Berkshire Hathaway, have fallen 10% since last August, while the S&P 500 climbed 10% over the same span. Along with billionaire buddy, Bill Gates, Buffett continues to push the Giving Pledge, wrangling new tycoons to agree to ultimately give away 50% of their fortunes. The son of Nebraska stockbroker met value investor Benjamin Graham while studying economics at Columbia. Took over textile firm Berkshire Hathaway in 1965, company now holds vast investments including banks, insurance, railroads and restaurants.

 

  

Bernard Arnault

Net Worth : $41 B As of March 2011

 

• Age: 62
• Source: LVMH
• Residence: Paris, France
• Country of Citizenship: France
• Education: Bachelor of Arts / Science, Ecole Polytechnique de Paris
• Marital Status: Married
• Children: 5

 The Lord of Luxe easily retains title of richest European. Fortune surged by $13.5 billion as shares of his luxury good outfit, LVMH, rose by more than half over the past year thanks to strong demand for luxuries like Dom Perignon champagne, Cognac Hennessy, Tag Heuer watches and Louis Vuitton accessories, particularly in Asian markets like Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh City. The group acquired 20% of Hermes last year; Arnault insists he is a friendly shareholder but Hermes sees it as hostile. In March the Bulgari family transferred its majority holding in its brand to LVMH in exchange for LVMH shares and board seats. LVMH fired Christian Dior designer John Galliano after he apparently made anti-semitic remarks. Renaissance man also owns yacht builder Royal Van Lent, a hotel in Courchevel; has stakes in French retailer Carrefour and French tour operator Go Voyages.

 

Larry Ellison

Net Worth : $33 B As of September 2011

 

• Age: 67
• Source: Oracle, self-made
• Residence: Woodside, CA
• Country of Citizenship: United States
• Education: Drop Out, University of Illinois at Urbana; Drop Out, University of Chicago
• Marital Status: Divorced
• Children: 2 

 Larry Ellison seems to be spending more time in court than on the water: Oracle has been battling German software firm SAP over alleged software theft and rival HP over Ellison's hiring of its former chief Mark Hurd. Oracle stock is unharmed -- up 15% from a year ago. Ellison sold his half-share in 453-foot yacht Rising Sun to co-owner David Geffen in late 2010. After quietly donating millions to medicine and education, Ellison joined the Giving Pledge at Buffett's behest in 2010.

Lakshmi Mittal

Net Worth : $31.1 B As of March 2011

 

• Age: 60
• Source: steel
• Residence: London, United Kingdom
• Country of Citizenship: India
• Hometown: India
• Education: Bachelor of Arts / Science, St Xavier''s College Calcutta
• Marital Status: Married
• Children: 2

 Net profits at his ArcelorMittal, world's largest steel-maker, are up 18-fold to $2.9 billion in 2010 due to recovery in steel demand and higher margins. Group spun off its stainless steel unit into Aperam, a new listed company, and also acquired Canadian miner Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation. It has funded a 377-foot sculpture called ArcelorMittal Orbit in London's Olympic Park for the 2012 Olympics. Europe's richest resident, he bought Alderbrook Park, a 340-acre country estate outside London, where he plans to build an eco-friendly country mansion for a reported $40 million. Daughter Vanisha acquired stake in Roc Capital Management, a New York hedge fund. Daughter-in-law Megha owns German fashion house Escada.

 

 

Amancio Ortega

Net Worth : $31 B As of March 2011

• Age: 75
• Source: Zara, self-made
• Residence: La Coruna, Spain
• Country of Citizenship: Spain
• Marital Status: Married
• Children: 3

Amancio Ortega stepped down as chairman of Inditex, the $15.8 billion (sales) fashion firm in January; he still gets 87% of his fortune from his stake in the publicly traded firm. The company, which operates under several brand names including Zara, Massimo Dutti and Stradivarius, has 5,000 stores in 77 countries. Ortega also owns properties in Florida, Madrid, London and Lisbon, a horse-jumping circuit, a stake in a soccer league; and has interests in gas, tourism and banks. Railway worker's son, he 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. Daughter Marta works for Inditex.

Eike Batista

Net Worth :$30 B 

 

• Age: 54
• Source: mining, oil, self-made
• Residence: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Country of Citizenship: Brazil
• Education: Drop Out, RWTH Aachen University
• Marital Status: Divorced
• Children: 2

 razil's richest man is gearing up to take over the world. Making a play for foreign investors, Batista announced this year the opening of an office in New York and his intention to list some of his companies on the London Stock Exchange. Through his holding company, EBX, Batista controls businesses spanning mining, shipbuilding, energy, logistics, tourism and entertainment. After months of discussions, he was triumphant in February in taking control of Canadian gold outfit Ventana. Two-thirds of his fortune comes from OGX, the oil-and-gas exploration company he founded in 2007 and took public a year later. He says the company will start producing oil this year. In rare recent setback, his planned IPO for his shipbuilding business (OSX), meant to be the world's largest IPO in 2010, was a disappointment and has had a lukewarm reception in the Brazilian market. The 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. Onetime champion offshore powerboat racer; formerly married to Playboy cover girl. In media interviews he's been warning Carlos Helú Slim that he'll soon take his spot as the world's richest man, but he still has a ways to go.

 

Mukesh Ambani

Net Worth :$27 B As of March 2011

 

• Age: 53
• Source: petrochemicals, oil & gas
• Residence: Mumbai, India
• Country of Citizenship: India
• Hometown: India
• Education: Drop Out, Stanford University; Bachelor of Arts / Science, University of Bombay
• Marital Status: Married
• Children: 3

His oil and gas conglomerate Reliance Industries, India's most valuable company, just forged a partnership with BP, selling 30% stake in 23 oil blocks in India for $7.2 billion and forming a marketing joint venture. The deal is being touted as one of biggest foreign investments in India. He's also betting on shale gas, having bought stakes in three American energy firms for $3.3 billion last year. He and wife Nita host parties at their recently completed 27-story sky palace in Mumbai, but have still to move in permanently.

 

Christy Walton & family

Net Worth : $24.5 B As of September 2011

 

• Age: 56
• Source: Wal-Mart
• Residence: Jackson, WY
• Country of Citizenship: United States
• Marital Status: Widow
• Children: 1

  The world's richest woman, Wal-Mart widow Christy Walton inherited her wealth when husband John Walton, a former Green Beret and Vietnam war medic, died in an airplane accident near his home in Wyoming in 2005. Her late husband's investment in First Solar also boosts her total net worth by nearly $2.7 billion. The bulk still comes from her holdings in Wal-Mart, the retailer founded by her father-in-law Sam Walton and his brother James in 1962. Walton received almost $300 million in Wal-Mart dividends since last year. The stock was up only 3% in the past year.

 

George Soros

Net Worth : $22 B As of September 2011

 

• Age: 81
• Source: hedge funds, self-made
• Residence: Katonah, NY
• Country of Citizenship: United States
• Education: Bachelor of Arts / Science, London School of Economics
• Marital Status: Divorced
• Children: 5

In July George Soros announced that he is turning his fund into a family office, returning just under $1 billion of his $25.5 billion assets to outside investors--dodging Dodd-Frank's registration mandate. In August his ex-girlfriend, 28, sued him for $50 million for an apartment she says he promised to buy her. Soros is best known for shorting England's currency, "breaking" the Bank of England in 1992 and reportedly making $1 billion in one day when Bank of England stopped fixing exchange rate. He has given away more than $8 billion since 1979 to human rights, public health and education groups. Last year he pledged $100 million to Human Rights Watch, in part to counteract America's loss of the "moral high ground." He's also given away $150 million to Roma Rights (Gypsies).

Sheldon Adelson

Net Worth : $21.5 B As of September 2011

 

• Age: 78
• Source: casinos, self-made
• Residence: Las Vegas, NV
• Country of Citizenship: United States
• Education: Drop Out, City College of New York
• Marital Status: Married
• Children: 5

Casino king Sheldon Adelson continues to enjoy a hot hand. His fortune is up $7 billion since last year, as his strong position in the casino-crazy Asian markets has pushed stock of Las Vegas Sands up roughly 50% to a recent $48. (Shares once traded as low as $1.50 in 2009.) Nearly 90% of its operating profit comes from Asia; the thriving Marina Bay Sands casino opened in Singapore last year. Through his majority-owned subsidiary Sands China, Adelson has 3 resorts in Macau. His goal is to push company shares back over $100, near their 2007 peak. Not that he'll spend the money on himself: "The richer I get, the more money goes to cancer research." The cabdriver's son created the computer industry's marquee event, Comdex, in the mid-1980s. He sold it to Japan's Softbank for $862 million 1995 and later built the $1.5 billion Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and the 1.2-million-square-foot Sands Convention Center in 1997 in Las Vegas. He opened the $1.9 billion Palazzo resort in 2008.