http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/business/story/0,28124,25175182-36375,00.html
Bill Gates reclaims title as richest man in the world Kathy Shwiff | March 12, 2009 Article from: The Wall Street Journal THE global economic crisis has reduced the number of billionaires and made the richest people in the world poorer, according to Forbes magazine. World's richest man: Bill Gates of Microsoft. Picture: Bloomberg Forbes found 793 billionaires in 2009, down 30 per cent from a year earlier. This is the first decline since 2003. The total net worth of people on the magazine's list this year fell 46 per cent to $US2.4 trillion ($3.7 trillion). The average billionaire is now worth $US3 billion, 23 per cent less than in 2008. Despite losing $US18 billion in the past year, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates reclaimed the title of richest man in the world, with a total net worth of $US40 billion. Warren Buffett is number two, with $US37 billion. He lost $US25 billion in the past year as shares in his company, Berkshire Hathaway, dropped nearly a third in value. Mexican telecom titan Carlos Slim Helu, who lost $US25 billion, is third, and Oracle chief executive Larry Ellison is ranked number four. The latest list includes citizens of 52 countries and one principality. Americans hold 10 of the top 20 spots, compared with four last year. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, at number 17, is the only member of the top 20 whose net worth climbed during the past year. Bloomberg, who makes a salary of $US1 a year as mayor, benefited from a re-evaluation of his company, Bloomberg LP. He also bought a 20 per cent stake in his company from cash-strapped Merrill Lynch in July for $US4.5 billion. Thirty-two Russians made Forbes' list, down nearly two-thirds from the 2008 total. Anil Ambani, who owns Reliance Infrastructure -- previously known as Reliance Energy -- of India lost the most, $US32 billion, this year of any on the list after posting biggest increase last year. He came in at number 34. Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, number eight, lost $US25.7 billion during the past year. Among the billionaires last year who didn't qualify in 2009: former AIG chief executive Maurice "Hank" Greenberg, former Citigroup chief executive Sandy Weill and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
