This 25th year of tracking global wealth was one to remember. The 2011 Forbes Billionaires List breaks two records: total number of listees (1,210) and combined wealth ($4.5 trillion). This horde surpasses the gross domestic product of Germany, one of only six nations to have fewer billionaires this year.
BRICs led the way: Brazil, Russia, India and China produced 108 of the 214 new names. These four nations are home to one in four members, up from one in 10 five years ago. Before this year only the U.S. had ever produced more than 100 billionaires. China now has 115 and Russia 101.
20 No. 1 Carlos Slim Helú & family
Net Worth Last Calculated: March 2011
Source: Telecom
Age: 71 , Citizenship: Mexico
19 No. 2 Bill Gates
Net Worth Last Calculated: March 2011
Source: Microsoft, self-made
Age: 55 , Citizenship: U.S.
18 No. 3 Warren Buffett
Net Worth Last Calculated: March 2011
Source: Berkshire Hathaway, self-made
Age: 80 , Citizenship: U.S.
17 No. 4 Bernard Arnault
Net Worth Last Calculated: March 2011
Source:LVMH, inherited and growing
Age: 62 , Citizenship: France
16 No. 5 Larry Ellison
Net Worth Last Calculated: March 2011
Source: Oracle, self-made
Age: 66 , Citizenship: U.S.
15 No. 6 Lakshmi Mittal
Net Worth Last Calculated: March 2011
Source: Steel, inherited and growing
Age: 60 , Citizenship: India
14 No. 7 Amancio Ortega
Net Worth Last Calculated: March 2011
Source: Zara, self-made
Age: 74 , Citizenship: Spain
13 No. 8 Eike Batista
Net Worth Last Calculated: March 2011
Source: Mining, oil, self-made
Age: 54 , Citizenship: Brazil
12 No. 9 Mukesh Ambani
Net Worth Last Calculated: March 2011
Source: petrochemicals, oil & gas, inherited and growing
Age: 53 , Citizenship: India
11 No. 10 Christy Walton & family
Net Worth Last Calculated: March 2011
Source: Walmart, inherited
Age: 56 , Citizenship: U.S.
10 No. 11 Li Ka-shing
Net Worth Last Calculated: March 2011
Source: Diversified, self-made
Age: 82 , Citizenship: Hong Kong
9 No. 12 Karl Albrecht
Net Worth Last Calculated: March 2011
Source: Aldi, self-made
Age: 91 , Citizenship:Germany
Germany's richest man, owns discount-supermarket giant Aldi Sud (estimated sales: $40 billion). Younger brother, Theo, also a billionaire, died in July 2010.
8 No. 13 Stefan Persson
Net Worth Last Calculated: March 2011
Source: Hennes & Mauritz
Age: 63 , Citizenship: Sweden
Cheap chic mogul is chairman of Hennes & Mauritz (H&M). Retailer is known for bringing on big names like Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney to design affordable collections for its 2,200 stores
7 No. 14 Vladimir Lisin
Net Worth Last Calculated: March 2011
Source: Steel, self-made
Age: 54 , Citizenship: Russia
6 No. 15 Liliane Bettencourt
Net Worth Last Calculated: March 2011
Source: L'Oreal, inherited
Age: 88, Citizenship: France
5 No. 16 Sheldon Adelson
Net Worth Last Calculated: March 2011
Source: Casinos, self-made
Age: 77 , Citizenship: United States
4 No. 17 David Thomson & family
Net Worth Last Calculated: March 2011
Source: media, inherited
Age: 53, Citizenship: Canada
3 No. 18 Charles Koch (tie)
Net Worth Last Calculated: March 2011
Source: Diversified, inherited and growing
Age: 75, Citizenship: United States
2 No. 18 David Koch (tie)
Net Worth Last Calculated: March 2011
Source: Diversified, inherited and growing
Age: 70 , Citizenship: United States
1 No. 20 Jim Walton
Net Worth Last Calculated: March 2011
Source: Walmart, inherited
Age: 63 , Citizenship: United States
Source: Forbes Magazine
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