Forbes: Slim World's Richest for 4th Year in a Row heraldonline.com
go to original March 4, 2013

This list of college dropout billionaires is based (where not otherwise noted) on an annual ranking of the world's wealthiest people compiled and published by Forbes. (Yummanai bunstia)

NEW YORK — Carlos Slim Helú (#1) is the world’s richest person on Forbes’ 27th annual ranking of the world’s billionaires. With a net worth of $73 billion, up from $69 billion in 2012, the telecom magnate from Mexico tops the list for the fourth year in a row. Bill Gates retains the #2 spot with a net worth of $67 billion. Zara’s Amancio Ortega (#3) moves up two spots from 2012, with a net worth of $57 billion, ahead of Warren Buffett (#4) with a net worth of $53.5 billion. This marks the first year Buffett has not been in the Top 3 since 2000, in spite of being the second biggest gainer this year, up $9.5 billion.

Rebounding equity markets and strong consumer brands drove a huge number of newcomers into the billionaire ranks.

This year 210 billionaires are new to the list, while 60 dropped off (still more died or split their fortunes with a family). A record 1,426 billionaires (up 200 from 1,226 in 2012) made the list, with an average net worth of $3.8 billion (up from $3.7 billion in 2012). Added together, the total net worth for this year’s billionaires is $5.4 trillion, up from $4.6 trillion last year. The U.S. leads the list, with 442 billionaires, followed by Asia-Pacific (386), Europe (366), The Americas (129) and the Middle East & Africa (103).

A total 138 women made the list this year, an increase of 34. With a net worth of $30 billion, Liliane Bettencourt (# 9) is now the richest woman in the world. Other women on the list include Miuccia Prada (# 78) of Italy, Anne Cox Chambers (#80) of the U.S., and new to the list, Margarita Louis-Dreyfus (#198) of Switzerland, with net worths of $12.4 billion, $12 billion and $6 billion, respectively.

Read the whole story at heraldonline.com

For the full list, videos and more, visit www.forbes.com/billionaires

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