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World's 10 richest people, Bill Gates is No 1

Last updated on: February 04, 2015 15:12 IST

One of the world’s biggest philanthropists, Bill Gates is the richest man as well.

Image: Bill Gates is the world’s richest man. Photograph: Reuters

Bill Gates has retained the title of the world’s richest person in 2015.

The Hurun Global Rich List 2015 ranked 2,089 billionaires from 68 countries, in a record-breaking year for the world’s billionaires.

Among these, 649 people saw their wealth increase and 341 are new entrants. While the ranks of 230 remained unchanged, 869 individuals saw their wealth decrease and 95 of them dropped out of last year’s rich list.

Interestingly, half of the world’s billionaires are from United States and China.

Image: Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett (R) watches Bill Gates prepare to throw a newspaper in a competition just before Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting in Omaha. Photograph: Rick Wilking/Reuters

Bill Gates

Wealth: $85 billion

Change (YoY): 25%

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates saw his wealth rise by $17 billion as a result of steady gains on his investments.

According to Hurun report, one quarter of his wealth is invested in Warren Buffett’s companies, besides his stake in Microsoft. Other investments include $3.5 billion in Facebook.

Image: Carlos Slim Helu. Photograph: Reuters

Carlos Slim Helu & family

Wealth: $83 billion

Change (YoY): 38%

Carlos Slim Helu has bagged the second rank in the rich list with a 38 per cent surge in his fortune.

Slim is the chairperson and chief executive of telecommunications companies Telmex and America Movil.

Image: Warren Buffett. Photograph: Reuters

Warren Buffet

Wealth: $76 billion

Change (YoY): 19%

Another famous philanthropist, Warren Buffett, chairman & CEO of Berkshire Hathaway saw his wealth shoot up by $12 billion. He donated $2.8 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation last year.

Interestingly, 99 percent of his wealth was earned after he turned fifty, says Hurun report.

Image: Amancio Ortega. Photograph: Reuters

Amancio Ortega

Wealth: $55 billion

Change (YoY): -11%

For the first time in 3 years, Amancio Ortega, founding chairman of the Inditex fashion group, best known for its chain of Zara clothing, is out of the top three rich list.

He saw a 11 per cent decline in wealth.

Image: Larry Ellison. Photograph: Reuters

Larry Ellison

Wealth: $54 billion

Change (YoY): 13%

Larry Ellison, executive chairman and Chief Technology Officer of Oracle Corporation, saw his wealth increase by 13 per cent.

Ellison, a signatory of The Giving Pledge, has committed to donate more than half his wealth to philanthropic causes.

Image: Bernard Arnault. Photograph: Reuters

Bernard Arnault

Wealth: $45 billion

Change (YoY): -2%

Bernard Arnault, chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LVMH since 1989 is ranked 6th in the list.

Image: Mark Zuckerberg. Photograph: Reuters

Mark Zuckerberg

Wealth: $44 billion

Change (YoY): 42%

A self-made billionaire Mark Zuckerberg has the distinction of being the youngest person in the top 10 list.

The founder of Facebook saw his wealth soar by 42 per cent last year, securing a position in the top 10.

The next 3 person are all ranked at 8th position as their wealth stands at $36 billion.

Image: David Koch (L) and Charles Koch. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters & Koch Industries

Charles Koch & David Koch

Wealth: $36 billion

Brothers Charles and David H. Koch each own 42 per cent stake in Koch Industries.

Image: Dieter Schwarz (inset)

Dieter Schwarz

Wealth: $36 billion

Change % (YoY): 29%

Dieter Schwarz is also ranked at 8th position.

German entrepreneur and owner of the Schwarz-Gruppe, saw a 29 per cent rise in wealth.

The retail group owns and operates the Lidl and Kaufland brands.