Carlos Slim is the new richest person in the world as the rich get richer

[Nugget]

Slim fortune tops world rich list

Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim is the world's richest person, knocking Microsoft founder Bill Gates into second spot, as the wealth of the world's billionaires grew by 50 per cent over the last year, Forbes magazine said today.

It is only the second time since 1995 that Mr Gates has lost the crown, the magazine said, estimating Slim's net worth at $53.5 billion, compared to Gates's $53 billion fortune, while investor Warren Buffett came in at number 3 with $47 billion.

The trio regained $41.5 billion of the $68 billion they had lost the previous year, Forbes said.

The number of billionaires around the world has nearly recovered in 2010 after dropping by a third last year during the global financial crisis. There are now 1,011 billionaires, compared with 793 last year and 1,125 in 2008.

The net wealth of those billionaires grew to $3.6 trillion from $2.4 trillion last year, but is still down from 2008's $4.4 trillion, according to the 24th annual Forbes list, which took a snapshot of wealth on February 12th to compile its ranking.

The average billionaire is now worth $3.5 billion, up $500 million from last year. And the number of women on the list rose to 89 from 72 last year.


Slim fortune tops world rich list - The Irish Times - Thu, Mar 11, 2010

[roc_]

Bleuugh. I feel sick.

Approx. 1/7,000,000 of the world's population owns over three and a half times this

[Ecoguy]

I'm so happy for him - isn't modern capitalism just great ie. socialism of losses and privitisation of profits

[Cassandra Syndrome]

The House of Rothschild is the wealthiest family in the world. They are Trillionaires at this stage. They have been the richest since the early 19th century.

[trekkypj]

If I was lucky enough to have been that successful, I wouldn't begrudge myself! So I won't condemn them for being rich. Good luck to them all. A lot of the people on that list are valued according to their shares in companies they helped found, by the way. It's not all cash by any means.

You do realise that of the top three on that list, both Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have pledged to leave their fortunes to charitable foundations?

There will always be inequality, even if there is a societal transfer of wealth. Some people will make more money, even under a centrally planned economy.

There's no point in begrudging the rich their good fortune; rather society should look to see how they can pay their fair share of taxes, while encouraging them to invest in new businesses which create jobs.

I have no problem with there being rich people. They just have to pay their share in tax, either through income tax or corporate taxation of profits. If they do that, and they don't dodge their responsibilities, then I don't care if they are rich.

[MadAsHell]

Can we sell him an Irish passport??

[Breadan O'Connor]

The House of Rothschild is the wealthiest family in the world. They are Trillionaires at this stage. They have been the richest since the early 19th century.

The mainstream media seem very reluctant to discuss the wealth of the Rothschilds. But if it's true they are trillionaires then it is staggering. I believe the GDP of Great Britain is less than $2 trillion for comparison.

[Nugget]

The House of Rothschild is the wealthiest family in the world. They are Trillionaires at this stage. They have been the richest since the early 19th century.

If that's true then their line should be ended like the Romanovs and their wealth redistributed.

[Breadan O'Connor]

If that's true then their line should be ended like the Romanovs and their wealth redistributed.

If one is a trillionaire then one can control billionaires. Entire nations can be controlled with that sort of wealth. Western "democracy" may be an illusion designed to fool us.

[rockofcashel]

Carlos Slim eh.. he sounds like someone I'd be watching on late night Sky in the World Series of Poker

Also, I have to admit, I'm astonished at what drives people who have a billion, or even ten billion, to want more billions... I'd be more than happy with a measly couple of hundred million