Forbes said on Monday that Bill Gates’ net worth rose to $79,2 billion (R904 billion) in 2015 from $76 billion (R890 billion) last year. This put him at the top of the magazine’s list of the world’s billionaires for the second consecutive year. The co-founder of Microsoft has topped the list for 16 of the last 21 years.
Basketball legend Michael Jordan joined the list for the first time this year, thanks to his ownership of basketball team, the Charlotte Hornets and payouts from his Nike brand – Jordans. Jordan had a net worth of $1 billion (R11,7 billion), the magazine said.
In second place is Mexican telecommunications mogul Carlos Slim Helu, with a net worth of $77,1 billion (R902 billion). He had topped the list in 2013.
Next is investor Warren Buffett, who moved up one slot this year with a net worth of $72,7 billion (R852 billion). In fourth place was Amancio Ortega, the Spanish co-founder of clothing retail chain Zara, with a net worth of $64,5 billion (R756 billion). Rounding out the top five was Larry Ellison, founder of technology company Oracle Corp, with $54,3 billion (R636 billion).
Forbes said there were 1 826 billionaires on its list this year, up from 1 645 in 2014. Added together, they were worth a combined $7,05 trillion, up from $6,4 trillion last year.
Twenty-nine Africans remain on the list as Nigerian business magnate Aliko Dangote retains the top spot as Africa’s richest man with a net worth of $14,7 billion (R172 billion) down sharply from $25 billion (R29 billion) in 2013. Tanzanian-born Mohammed Dewji made his debut on the list with a net worth of $1,25 billion (R14 billion) while Femi Otedola, 78%-owner of Forte Oil returned to the list after falling off in 2009, CNBC Africa reports.
According to the Forbes Africa’s Fifty Richest list released recently, the richest 29 Africans – from just nine of the 54 countries on the continent – are worth a combined $94 billion (R1,1 trillion).
The wealthiest group of Africans hail from South Africa with a combined net worth of $28,5 billion (R334 billion).
While men continue to dominate the latest rich list, 197 women featured on the list this year, up from 172 women last year.
The highest-ranking woman was Christy Walton, the widow of John Walton, a son of the founder of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. She has a net worth of $41,7 billion (R488 billion), according to Forbes.
The world’s youngest billionaire is 24-year-old Evan Spiegel, the CEO and co-founder of mobile messaging company Snapchat, with a net worth of $1,5 billion (R175 billion). Snapchat’s other co-founder, 25-year-old Bobby Murphy, had the same net worth as Spiegel. Other tech billionaire newcomers are two co-founders of taxi-ordering app Uber, and one of its executives. Three co-founders of Airbnb, the vacation-home rental website, also made the list.
This is the 29th year that Forbes has released its billionaires list. The magazine said it calculated each person’s wealth based on stock prices and exchange rates on 13 February 2015.
Sources: Sapa AFP
Basketball legend Michael Jordan joined the list for the first time this year, thanks to his ownership of basketball team, the Charlotte Hornets and payouts from his Nike brand – Jordans. Jordan had a net worth of $1 billion (R11,7 billion), the magazine said.
In second place is Mexican telecommunications mogul Carlos Slim Helu, with a net worth of $77,1 billion (R902 billion). He had topped the list in 2013.
Next is investor Warren Buffett, who moved up one slot this year with a net worth of $72,7 billion (R852 billion). In fourth place was Amancio Ortega, the Spanish co-founder of clothing retail chain Zara, with a net worth of $64,5 billion (R756 billion). Rounding out the top five was Larry Ellison, founder of technology company Oracle Corp, with $54,3 billion (R636 billion).
Forbes said there were 1 826 billionaires on its list this year, up from 1 645 in 2014. Added together, they were worth a combined $7,05 trillion, up from $6,4 trillion last year.
Twenty-nine Africans remain on the list as Nigerian business magnate Aliko Dangote retains the top spot as Africa’s richest man with a net worth of $14,7 billion (R172 billion) down sharply from $25 billion (R29 billion) in 2013. Tanzanian-born Mohammed Dewji made his debut on the list with a net worth of $1,25 billion (R14 billion) while Femi Otedola, 78%-owner of Forte Oil returned to the list after falling off in 2009, CNBC Africa reports.
According to the Forbes Africa’s Fifty Richest list released recently, the richest 29 Africans – from just nine of the 54 countries on the continent – are worth a combined $94 billion (R1,1 trillion).
The wealthiest group of Africans hail from South Africa with a combined net worth of $28,5 billion (R334 billion).
While men continue to dominate the latest rich list, 197 women featured on the list this year, up from 172 women last year.
The highest-ranking woman was Christy Walton, the widow of John Walton, a son of the founder of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. She has a net worth of $41,7 billion (R488 billion), according to Forbes.
The world’s youngest billionaire is 24-year-old Evan Spiegel, the CEO and co-founder of mobile messaging company Snapchat, with a net worth of $1,5 billion (R175 billion). Snapchat’s other co-founder, 25-year-old Bobby Murphy, had the same net worth as Spiegel. Other tech billionaire newcomers are two co-founders of taxi-ordering app Uber, and one of its executives. Three co-founders of Airbnb, the vacation-home rental website, also made the list.
This is the 29th year that Forbes has released its billionaires list. The magazine said it calculated each person’s wealth based on stock prices and exchange rates on 13 February 2015.
Sources: Sapa AFP
