Bill Gates America's richest for 14th year in a row
By: Michelle Nichols
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Microsoft founder Bill Gates is the richest person in America for the 14th year in a row, followed by investor Warren Buffett, according to Forbes magazine's latest list of the wealthiest Americans.
The pair's fortunes each grew by $6 billion in the past year, Forbes said on Thursday, with Gates' fortune $59 billion and Buffett $52 billion.
Buffett has pledged 85 percent of his net worth to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and family charities.
Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson ($28 billion), head of Las Vegas Sands Corp, and software tycoon Larry Ellison ($26 billion), chief executive of Oracle Corp, remain at No. 3 and No. 4 on the 25th annual ranking of 400 rich Americans, which now requires a minimum net worth of $1.3 billion for inclusion.
"The collective net worth of those listed on the 400 this year rose $290 billion to $1.54 trillion," Forbes said. "Despite market jitters, nearly half of the 45 new members come from hedge fund and private equity investments."
|
|
|
For the first time since 1989 there are no members of the Walton family, descendants of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. founder Sam Walton, in the top 10. Four members -- Jim, Christy, Robson and Alice -- slipped to 12th and 15th place.
The Waltons were displaced by Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, who came in at No. 5 with fortunes of $18.5 billion, and brothers Charles and David Koch, who run Koch Industries, the world's second largest private company, and are each valued at $17 billion, earning them 9th place.
Investor Kirk Kerkorian was the biggest gainer on the list, his fortune rising by more than $9 billion in the past year to $18 billion. He debuted in the top 10 at No. 7 -- up from No. 26 last year.
Michael Dell, chief executive of Dell Inc, the world's second-largest PC maker, was No. 8 on the list with a fortune of $17.2 billion.
Of the top 400 richest Americans, Forbes said 270 were entirely self-made, 74 inherited their wealth and 39 are women. There were 82 American billionaires who did not make the list.
The youngest member, and new to the list, is 33-year-old hedge fund manager John Arnold, who came in at No. 317 with a $1.5 billion wealth, while the oldest is 98-year-old John Simplot, valued at $3.6 billion and No. 214 on the list.