The Top 10 Richest People On World

No. 1: Bill Gates / $40 billion / Microsoft

Software visionary regains title as the world's richest man despite losing $18 billion in the past 12 months. Stepped down from day-to-day duties at Microsoft last summer to devote his talents and riches to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Organization's assets were $30 billion in January. Dedicated to fighting hunger in developing countries, improving education in America's high schools and developing vaccines against malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS. Gates remains Microsoft chairman. Sells shares each quarter, redeploys proceeds via investment vehicle Cascade; more than half of fortune invested outside Microsoft. Stock down 45% in past 12 months.
No. 2: Warren Buffett / $37 billion / Investments

No. 3: Carlos Slim Helú / $35 billion / Telecoms

No. 4: Lawrence Ellison / $22.5 billion / Oracle

No. 5: Ingvar Kamprad / $22 billion / Ikea

No. 6: Karl Albrecht / $21.5 billion / Supermarkets

No. 7: Mukesh Ambani / $19.5 billion / Petrochemicals

No. 8: Lakshmi Mittal / $19.3 billion / Steel

No. 9: Theo Albrecht /$18.8 billion / Supermarkets

No. 10: Amancio Ortega / $18.3 billion / Fashion