Forbes list of billionaires is an annual ranking of the world's wealthiest people, compiled and published by the American national business magazine Forbes. The total net worth of each individual on the list is estimated, in United States dollars, based on their assets and accounting for debt. The list only represents each person's valuation on a single day, due to daily fluctuations among exchange rates and stock valuations.[1]
Statistics
![[icon]](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg/20px-Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg.png) |
This section requires expansion. (March 2012) |
The Internet bubble created the most paper wealth for some billionaires. However, once the dotcom bubble burst the new rich saw their fortunes disappear.[2] Billionaires' fortunes have been hit even harder by the global financial crisis. 2009 was the first time in five years that the world had a net loss in the number of billionaires.[3] The strong performance of the financial markets and global economic recovery have erased financial assets losses. Most of the richest people on the planet have seen their fortunes soar in the past few years.[4][5]
| Year |
Number of billionaires |
Group's combined net worth |
| 2013 |
1,426 |
$5.4 trillion |
| 2012 |
1,226 |
$4.6 trillion |
| 2011 |
1,210 |
$4.5 trillion |
| 2010 |
1,011 |
$3.6 trillion |
| 2009 |
793 |
$2.4 trillion |
| 2008 |
1,125 |
$4.4 trillion |
| 2007 |
946 |
$3.5 trillion |
| 2006 |
793 |
$2.6 trillion |
| 2005 |
691 |
$2.2 trillion |
| 2004 |
587 |
$1.9 trillion |
| 2003 |
476 |
$1.4 trillion |
| 2002 |
497 |
$1.5 trillion |
| 2001 |
538 |
$1.8 trillion |
| 2000 |
470 |
$898 billion |
Source: Forbes Magazine.[6]
Annual listing
Legend
| Icon |
Description |
 |
Has not changed from the previous ranking. |
 |
Has increased from the previous ranking. |
 |
Has decreased from the previous ranking. |
| Source: Forbes.[7] |
2013 Top 10
| No. |
Name |
Net worth (USD) |
Age |
Citizenship |
Source(s) of wealth |
70001000000000000001  |
Gates, BillBill Gates |
$72.7 billion  |
57 |
United States |
Microsoft |
70002000000000000002  |
Slim, CarlosCarlos Slim |
$72.1 billion  |
73 |
Mexico |
Telmex, América Móvil, Grupo Carso |
70003000000000000003  |
Ortega, AmancioAmancio Ortega |
$57.0 billion  |
76 |
Spain |
Inditex Group |
70004000000000000004  |
Buffett, WarrenWarren Buffett |
$53.5 billion  |
82 |
United States |
Berkshire Hathaway |
70005000000000000005  |
Ellison, LarryLarry Ellison |
$43.0 billion  |
68 |
United States |
Oracle Corporation |
70006000000000000006  |
Koch, CharlesCharles Koch |
$34.0 billion  |
77 |
United States |
Koch Industries |
70007000000000000007  |
Koch, DavidDavid Koch |
$34.0 billion  |
72 |
United States |
Koch Industries |
70008000000000000008  |
Ka-shing, LiLi Ka-shing |
$31.0 billion  |
84 |
Hong Kong/ Canada |
Cheung Kong Holdings |
70009000000000000009  |
Bettencourt, LilianeLiliane Bettencourt |
$30.0 billion  |
90 |
France |
L'Oréal |
700110000000000000010  |
Arnault, BernardBernard Arnault |
$29.0 billion  |
63 |
France |
LVMH Moët Hennessy • Louis Vuitton |
2012 Top 10
| No. |
Name |
Net worth (USD) |
Age |
Citizenship |
Source(s) of wealth |
70001000000000000001  |
Slim, CarlosCarlos Slim |
$69.0 billion  |
72 |
Mexico |
Telmex, América Móvil, Grupo Carso |
70002000000000000002  |
Gates, BillBill Gates |
$61.0 billion  |
56 |
United States |
Microsoft |
70003000000000000003  |
Buffett, WarrenWarren Buffett |
$44.0 billion  |
81 |
United States |
Berkshire Hathaway |
70004000000000000004  |
Arnault, BernardBernard Arnault |
$41.0 billion  |
63 |
France |
LVMH Moët Hennessy • Louis Vuitton |
70005000000000000005  |
Ortega, AmancioAmancio Ortega |
$37.5 billion  |
75 |
Spain |
Inditex Group |
70006000000000000006  |
Ellison, LarryLarry Ellison |
$36.0 billion  |
67 |
United States |
Oracle Corporation |
70007000000000000007  |
Batista, EikeEike Batista |
$30.0 billion  |
55 |
Brazil |
EBX Group |
70008000000000000008  |
Stefan Persson |
$26.0 billion  |
64 |
Sweden |
H&M |
70009000000000000009  |
Ka-shing, LiLi Ka-shing |
$25.5 billion  |
83 |
Hong Kong/ Canada |
Cheung Kong Holdings |
700110000000000000010  |
Albrecht, KarlKarl Albrecht |
$25.4 billion  |
92 |
Germany |
Aldi |
2011 Top 10
| No. |
Name |
Net worth (USD) |
Age |
Citizenship |
Source(s) of wealth |
70001000000000000001  |
Slim, CarlosCarlos Slim |
$74.0 billion  |
71 |
Mexico |
Telmex, América Móvil, Grupo Carso |
70002000000000000002  |
Gates, BillBill Gates |
$56.0 billion  |
56 |
United States |
Microsoft |
70003000000000000003  |
Buffett, WarrenWarren Buffett |
$50.0 billion  |
81 |
United States |
Berkshire Hathaway |
70004000000000000004  |
Arnault, BernardBernard Arnault |
$41.0 billion  |
62 |
France |
LVMH Moët Hennessy • Louis Vuitton |
70005000000000000005  |
Ellison, LarryLarry Ellison |
$39.5 billion  |
66 |
United States |
Oracle Corporation |
70006000000000000006  |
Mittal, LakshmiLakshmi Mittal |
$31.1 billion  |
60 |
India |
Arcelor Mittal |
70007000000000000007  |
Ortega, AmancioAmancio Ortega |
$31.0 billion  |
74 |
Spain |
Inditex Group |
70008000000000000008  |
Batista, EikeEike Batista |
$30.0 billion  |
53 |
Brazil |
EBX Group |
70009000000000000009  |
Ambani, MukeshMukesh Ambani |
$27.0 billion  |
53 |
India |
Reliance Industries |
700110000000000000010  |
Walton, ChristyChristy Walton |
$26.5 billion  |
55 |
United States |
Walmart |
2010 Top 10
| No. |
Name |
Net worth (USD) |
Age |
Citizenship |
Source(s) of wealth |
70001000000000000001  |
Slim, CarlosCarlos Slim |
$53.5 billion  |
70 |
Mexico |
Telmex, América Móvil, Grupo Carso |
70002000000000000002  |
Gates, BillBill Gates |
$53.0 billion  |
54 |
United States |
Microsoft |
70003000000000000003  |
Buffett, WarrenWarren Buffett |
$47.0 billion  |
80 |
United States |
Berkshire Hathaway |
70004000000000000004  |
Ambani, MukeshMukesh Ambani |
$29.0 billion  |
53 |
India |
Reliance Industries |
70005000000000000005  |
Mittal, LakshmiLakshmi Mittal |
$28.7 billion  |
60 |
India |
Arcelor Mittal |
70006000000000000006  |
Ellison, LarryLarry Ellison |
$28.0 billion  |
66 |
United States |
Oracle Corporation |
70007000000000000007  |
Arnault, BernardBernard Arnault |
$27.5 billion  |
61 |
France |
LVMH Moët Hennessy • Louis Vuitton |
70008000000000000008  |
Batista, EikeEike Batista |
$27.0 billion  |
53 |
Brazil |
EBX Group |
70009000000000000009  |
Ortega, AmancioAmancio Ortega |
$25.0 billion  |
74 |
Spain |
Inditex Group |
700110000000000000010  |
Albrecht, KarlKarl Albrecht |
$23.5 billion  |
90 |
Germany |
Aldi Süd |
2009 Top 10
| No. |
Name |
Net worth (USD) |
Age |
Citizenship |
Source(s) of wealth |
70001000000000000001  |
Gates, BillBill Gates |
$40.0 billion  |
53 |
United States |
Microsoft |
70002000000000000002  |
Buffett, WarrenWarren Buffett |
$37.0 billion  |
78 |
United States |
Berkshire Hathaway |
70003000000000000003  |
Slim, CarlosCarlos Slim |
$35.0 billion  |
69 |
Mexico |
Telmex, América Móvil |
70004000000000000004  |
Ellison, LarryLarry Ellison |
$22.5 billion  |
64 |
United States |
Oracle Corporation |
70005000000000000005  |
Kamprad, IngvarIngvar Kamprad |
$22.0 billion  |
83 |
Sweden |
IKEA |
70006000000000000006  |
Albrecht, KarlKarl Albrecht |
$21.5 billion  |
89 |
Germany |
Aldi Süd |
70007000000000000007  |
Ambani, MukeshMukesh Ambani |
$19.5 billion  |
51 |
India |
Reliance Industries |
70008000000000000008  |
Mittal, LakshmiLakshmi Mittal |
$19.3 billion  |
58 |
India |
Arcelor Mittal |
70009000000000000009  |
Albrecht, TheoTheo Albrecht |
$18.8 billion  |
87 |
Germany |
Aldi Nord, Trader Joe's |
700110000000000000010  |
Ortega, AmancioAmancio Ortega |
$18.3 billion  |
73 |
Spain |
Inditex Group |
2008 Top 10
| No. |
Name |
Net worth (USD) |
Age |
Citizenship |
Source(s) of wealth |
70001000000000000001  |
Buffett, WarrenWarren Buffett |
$62.0 billion  |
78 |
United States |
Berkshire Hathaway |
70002000000000000002  |
Slim, CarlosCarlos Slim |
$60.0 billion  |
68 |
Mexico |
Telmex, América Móvil |
70003000000000000003  |
Gates, BillBill Gates |
$58.0 billion  |
52 |
United States |
Microsoft |
70004000000000000004  |
Mittal, LakshmiLakshmi Mittal |
$45.0 billion  |
57 |
India |
Arcelor Mittal |
70005000000000000005  |
Ambani, MukeshMukesh Ambani |
$43.0 billion  |
50 |
India |
Reliance Industries |
70006000000000000006  |
Ambani, AnilAnil Ambani |
$42.0 billion  |
48 |
India |
Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group |
70007000000000000007  |
Akhmetov, Rinat Rinat Akhmetov |
$31.1 billion  |
41 |
Ukraine |
SCM Holdings |
70008000000000000008  |
Kamprad, IngvarIngvar Kamprad |
$31.0 billion  |
81 |
Sweden |
IKEA |
70009000000000000009  |
Pal Singh, KushalKushal Pal Singh |
$30.0 billion  |
76 |
India |
DLF Group |
700110000000000000010  |
Deripaska, OlegOleg Deripaska |
$28.0 billion  |
40 |
Russia |
Rusal |
2007 Top 10
| No. |
Name |
Net worth (USD) |
Age |
Citizenship |
Source(s) of wealth |
70001000000000000001  |
Gates, BillBill Gates |
$56.0 billion  |
51 |
United States |
Microsoft |
70002000000000000002  |
Buffett, WarrenWarren Buffett |
$52.0 billion  |
76 |
United States |
Berkshire Hathaway |
70003000000000000003  |
Slim, CarlosCarlos Slim |
$49.0 billion  |
67 |
Mexico |
Telmex, América Móvil, Grupo Carso |
70004000000000000004  |
Ingvar Kamprad |
$33.0 billion  |
80 |
Sweden |
IKEA |
70005000000000000005  |
Mittal, LakshmiLakshmi Mittal |
$32.0 billion  |
56 |
India |
Arcelor Mittal |
70006000000000000006  |
Adelson, SheldonSheldon Adelson |
$26.5 billion  |
73 |
United States |
Las Vegas Sands |
70007000000000000007  |
Arnault, BernardBernard Arnault |
$26.0 billion  |
58 |
France |
LVMH |
70008000000000000008  |
Ortega, AmancioAmancio Ortega |
$24.0 billion  |
71 |
Spain |
Inditex Group |
70009000000000000009  |
Ka-shing, LiLi Ka-shing |
$23.0 billion  |
78 |
Hong Kong/ Canada |
Cheung Kong Holdings, Hutchison Whampoa |
700110000000000000010  |
David Thomson |
$22.0 billion  |
49 |
Canada |
Thomson Corporation |
2006 Top 10
| No. |
Name |
Net worth (USD) |
Age |
Citizenship |
Source(s) of wealth |
70001000000000000001  |
Gates, BillBill Gates |
$52.0 billion  |
50 |
United States |
Microsoft |
70002000000000000002  |
Buffett, WarrenWarren Buffett |
$42.0 billion  |
75 |
United States |
Berkshire Hathaway |
70003000000000000003  |
Slim, CarlosCarlos Slim |
$30.0 billion  |
66 |
Mexico |
Telmex |
70004000000000000004  |
Kamprad, IngvarIngvar Kamprad |
$28.0 billion  |
79 |
Sweden |
IKEA |
70005000000000000005  |
Mittal, LakshmiLakshmi Mittal |
$23.5 billion  |
55 |
India |
Mittal Steel Company |
70006000000000000006  |
Allen, PaulPaul Allen |
$22.0 billion  |
53 |
United States |
Microsoft |
70007000000000000007  |
Arnault, BernardBernard Arnault |
$21.5 billion  |
57 |
France |
LVMH Moët Hennessy • Louis Vuitton |
70008000000000000008  |
Al-Waleed, PrincePrince Al-Waleed |
$20.0 billion  |
49 |
Saudi Arabia |
Kingdom Holding Company |
70009000000000000009  |
Thomson, KennethKenneth Thomson |
$19.6 billion  |
82 |
Canada |
The Thomson Corporation |
700110000000000000010  |
Shing, Li KaLi Ka Shing |
$18.8 billion  |
77 |
Hong Kong/ Canada |
Cheung Kong Group, Hutchison Whampoa |
2005 Top 10
| No. |
Name |
Net worth (USD) |
Age |
Citizenship |
Source(s) of wealth |
70001000000000000001  |
Gates, BillBill Gates |
$46.5 billion  |
49 |
United States |
Microsoft |
70002000000000000002  |
Buffett, WarrenWarren Buffett |
$44.0 billion  |
74 |
United States |
Berkshire Hathaway |
70003000000000000003  |
Mittal, LakshmiLakshmi Mittal |
$25.0 billion  |
54 |
India |
Mittal Steel Company |
70004000000000000004  |
Slim, CarlosCarlos Slim |
$23.8 billion  |
65 |
Mexico |
Telmex |
70005000000000000005  |
Al-Waleed, PrincePrince Al-Waleed |
$23.7 billion  |
49 |
Saudi Arabia |
Kingdom Holding Company |
70006000000000000006  |
Kamprad, IngvarIngvar Kamprad |
$23.0 billion  |
79 |
Sweden |
IKEA |
70007000000000000007  |
Allen, PaulPaul Allen |
$21.0 billion  |
52 |
United States |
Microsoft |
70008000000000000008  |
Albrecht, KarlKarl Albrecht |
$18.5 billion  |
85 |
Germany |
Aldi Süd |
70009000000000000009  |
Ellison, LarryLarry Ellison |
$18.4 billion  |
60 |
United States |
Oracle Corporation |
700110000000000000010  |
Walton, S. RobsonS. Robson Walton |
$18.3 billion  |
61 |
United States |
Walmart |
2004 Top 10
| No. |
Name |
Net worth (USD) |
Age |
Citizenship |
Source(s) of wealth |
70001000000000000001  |
Gates, BillBill Gates |
$46.6 billion  |
48 |
United States |
Microsoft |
70002000000000000002  |
Buffett, WarrenWarren Buffett |
$42.9 billion  |
73 |
United States |
Berkshire Hathaway |
70003000000000000003  |
Albrecht, KarlKarl Albrecht |
$23.0 billion  |
84 |
Germany |
Aldi Süd |
70004000000000000004  |
Al-Waleed, PrincePrince Al-Waleed |
$21.5 billion  |
47 |
Saudi Arabia |
Kingdom Holding Company |
70005000000000000005  |
Allen, PaulPaul Allen |
$21.0 billion  |
51 |
United States |
Microsoft |
70006000000000000006  |
Walton, AliceAlice Walton* |
$20.0 billion  |
55 |
United States |
Wal-Mart |
70007000000000000007  |
Walton, HelenHelen Walton* |
$20.0 billion  |
84 |
United States |
Wal-Mart |
70008000000000000008  |
Walton, JimJim Walton* |
$20.0 billion  |
56 |
United States |
Wal-Mart |
70009000000000000009  |
Walton, JohnJohn Walton* |
$20.0 billion  |
58 |
United States |
Wal-Mart |
700110000000000000010  |
Walton, S. RobsonS. Robson Walton* |
$20.0 billion  |
60 |
United States |
Wal-Mart |
- Each hold an essentially equal share in Wal-Mart. If alive as of 2004, Sam Walton would have been the world's wealthiest person.
2003 Top 10
| No. |
Name |
Net worth (USD) |
Age |
Citizenship |
Source(s) of wealth |
70001000000000000001  |
Gates, BillBill Gates |
$40.7 billion  |
47 |
United States |
Microsoft |
70002000000000000002  |
Buffett, WarrenWarren Buffett |
$30.5 billion  |
72 |
United States |
Berkshire Hathaway |
70003000000000000003  |
Albrecht, KarlKarl Albrecht |
$25.6 billion  |
83 |
Germany |
Aldi Süd |
70004000000000000004  |
Allen, PaulPaul Allen |
$20.1 billion  |
50 |
United States |
Microsoft |
70005000000000000005  |
Al-Waleed, PrincePrince Al-Waleed |
$17.7 billion  |
46 |
Saudi Arabia |
Kingdom Holding Company |
70006000000000000006  |
Ellison, LarryLarry Ellison |
$16.6 billion  |
58 |
United States |
Oracle Corporation |
70007000000000000007  |
Walton, AliceAlice Walton* |
$16.5 billion  |
54 |
United States |
Wal-Mart |
70008000000000000008  |
Walton, HelenHelen Walton* |
$16.5 billion  |
83 |
United States |
Wal-Mart |
70009000000000000009  |
Walton, JimJim Walton* |
$16.5 billion  |
55 |
United States |
Wal-Mart |
700110000000000000010  |
Walton, JohnJohn Walton* |
$16.5 billion  |
57 |
United States |
Wal-Mart |
700110000000000000010  |
Walton, S. RobsonS. Robson Walton* |
$16.5 billion  |
59 |
United States |
Wal-Mart |
- Each hold an essentially equal share in Wal-Mart. If alive as of 2004, Sam Walton would have been the world's wealthiest person.
2002 Top 10
| No. |
Name |
Net worth (USD) |
Age |
Citizenship |
Source(s) of wealth |
70001000000000000001  |
Gates, BillBill Gates |
$52.8 billion  |
46 |
United States |
Microsoft |
70002000000000000002  |
Buffett, WarrenWarren Buffett |
$35.0 billion  |
71 |
United States |
Berkshire Hathaway |
70003000000000000003  |
Albrecht, KarlKarl Albrecht |
$26.8 billion  |
82 |
Germany |
Aldi Süd |
70004000000000000004  |
Allen, PaulPaul Allen |
$25.2 billion  |
49 |
United States |
Microsoft |
70005000000000000005  |
Ellison, LarryLarry Ellison |
$23.5 billion  |
57 |
United States |
Oracle Corporation |
70006000000000000006  |
Walton, JimJim Walton* |
$20.8 billion  |
54 |
United States |
Wal-Mart |
70007000000000000007  |
Walton, JohnJohn Walton* |
$20.7 billion  |
56 |
United States |
Wal-Mart |
70008000000000000008  |
Walton, AliceAlice Walton* |
$20.5 billion  |
53 |
United States |
Wal-Mart |
70009000000000000009  |
Walton, S. RobsonS. Robson Walton* |
$20.5 billion  |
58 |
United States |
Wal-Mart |
700110000000000000010  |
Walton, HelenHelen Walton* |
$20.4 billion  |
82 |
United States |
Wal-Mart |
- Each hold an essentially equal share in Wal-Mart. If alive as of 2004, Sam Walton would have been the world's wealthiest person.
2001 Top 10
| No. |
Name |
Net worth (USD) |
Age |
Citizenship |
Source(s) of wealth |
70001000000000000001  |
Gates, BillBill Gates |
$58.7 billion  |
45 |
United States |
Microsoft |
70002000000000000002  |
Buffett, WarrenWarren Buffett |
$32.3 billion  |
70 |
United States |
Berkshire Hathaway |
70003000000000000003  |
Allen, PaulPaul Allen |
$30.4 billion  |
48 |
United States |
Microsoft |
70004000000000000004  |
Ellison, LarryLarry Ellison |
$26.0 billion  |
56 |
United States |
Oracle Corporation |
70005000000000000005  |
Albrecht, KarlKarl Albrecht |
$25.0 billion  |
81 |
Germany |
Aldi Süd |
70006000000000000006  |
Al-Waleed, PrincePrince Al-Waleed |
$20.0 billion  |
44 |
Saudi Arabia |
Kingdom Holding Company |
70007000000000000007  |
Walton, JimJim Walton* |
$18.8 billion  |
53 |
United States |
Wal-Mart |
70008000000000000008  |
Walton, JohnJohn Walton* |
$18.7 billion  |
55 |
United States |
Wal-Mart |
70009000000000000009  |
Walton, S. RobsonS. Robson Walton* |
$18.6 billion  |
57 |
United States |
Wal-Mart |
700110000000000000010  |
Walton, AliceAlice Walton* |
$18.5 billion  |
52 |
United States |
Wal-Mart |
700110000000000000010  |
Walton, HelenHelen Walton* |
$18.5 billion  |
81 |
United States |
Wal-Mart |
- Each hold an essentially equal share in Wal-Mart. If alive as of 2004, Sam Walton would have been the world's wealthiest person.
2000 Top 10
| No. |
Name |
Net worth (USD) |
Age |
Citizenship |
Source(s) of wealth |
| 70001000000000000001 |
Gates, BillBill Gates |
$60.0 billion |
44 |
United States |
Microsoft |
| 70002000000000000002 |
Ellison, LarryLarry Ellison |
$47.0 billion |
55 |
United States |
Oracle Corporation |
| 70003000000000000003 |
Allen, PaulPaul Allen |
$28.0 billion |
47 |
United States |
Microsoft |
| 70004000000000000004 |
Buffett, WarrenWarren Buffett |
$25.6 billion |
69 |
United States |
Berkshire Hathaway |
| 70005000000000000005 |
Albrecht, KarlKarl Albrecht |
$20.0 billion |
80 |
Germany |
Aldi Süd |
| 70006000000000000006 |
Al-Waleed, PrincePrince Al-Waleed |
$20.0 billion |
43 |
Saudi Arabia |
Kingdom Holding Company |
| 70007000000000000007 |
Walton, S. RobsonS. Robson Walton |
$20.0 billion |
57 |
United States |
Wal-Mart |
| 70008000000000000008 |
Son, MasayoshiMasayoshi Son |
$19.4 billion |
43 |
Japan |
Softbank Capital, SoftBank Mobile |
| 70009000000000000009 |
Dell, MichaelMichael Dell |
$19.1 billion |
46 |
United States |
Dell |
| 700110000000000000010 |
Thomson, KennethKenneth Thomson |
$16.1 billion |
77 |
Canada |
The Thomson Corporation |
References
- ^ Dolan, Kerry A. (March 7, 2012). "Methodology: How We Crunch The Numbers". Forbes. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ^ Special Report on The New Rich, The Economist, 14 June, 2001.
- ^ Special Report on The Rich, The Economist, 4 April, 2009.
- ^ Global Wealth Report 2011, The Boston Consulting Group, 31 May, 2011.
- ^ World Wealth Report 2011, Capgemini and Merrill Lynch, 22 June, 2011.
- ^ The World's Billionaires 25th Anniversary Timeline.
- ^ Forbes Rich List: Ten Years of Top Tens.
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