2010’s Richest Men of the World
The richest person in the world this year is not anymore Bill Gates or Warren Buffet.
It is Mexican Carlos Slim Helu — the first man from a developing country to grab that top spot since Forbes Magazine started the list.
There are 1,011 billionaires in the 2010 Forbes list of The World’s Billionaires, with the US claiming 403, followed by China and Russia, both with 62. Germany has 53, India has 49, Hong Kong has 41, France has 37, Turkey has 28, Taiwan and Brazil both have 18 billionaires.
The Philippines has 2 — Henry Sy at #201 (US$4.2 billion) and Lucio Tan at #582 (US$1.7 billion).
The Top 10 list of the world’s wealthiest people below.
Top 10 Richest People in 2010
#1. Carlos Slim Helu
Age: 70
Fortune: Self made
Source: Telecom
Net Worth: $53.5 billion
Country of Citizenship: Mexico
Industry: Communications
Marital Status: widowed, 6 children
Telecom tycoon who pounced on privatization of Mexico’s national telephone company in the 1990s becomes world’s richest person for first time after coming in third place last year. Net worth up $18.5 billion in a year. Recently received regulatory approval to merge his fixed-line assets into American Movil, Latin America’s biggest mobile phone company. His construction conglomerate, Impulsora del Desarrollo y el Empleo, builds roads and energy infrastructure. Son of a Lebanese immigrant also owns stakes in financial group Inbursa, Bronco Drilling, Independent News & Media, Saks and New York Times Co.
#2. William Gates III
Age: 54
Fortune: Self made
Source: Microsoft
Net Worth: $50.0 billion
Country of Citizenship: United States
Industry: Software
Marital Status: Married, 3 children
Last year’s #1 billionaire, Bill Gates is now the world’s second-richest man. Net worth still up $13 billion in a year as Microsoft shares rose 50% in 12 months, value of investment vehicle Cascade swelled. More than 60% of fortune held outside Microsoft; investments include Four Seasons hotels, Televisa, Auto Nation. Stepped down from day-to-day duties at Microsoft in 2008 to focus on philanthropy. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation dedicated to fighting hunger, improving education in America’s high schools, developing vaccines against malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS.
#3. Warren Buffett
Age: 79
Fortune: Self made
Source: Berkshire Hathaway
Net Worth: $47.0 billion
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Industry: Investments
Marital Status: widowed, remarried, 3 children
Top 2 billionaire in 2009 slipped one spot, although his net worth is up $10 billion in past 12 months on surging Berkshire Hathaway shares. Shrewdly invested $5 billion in Goldman Sachs and $3 billion in General Electric amid 2008 market collapse. Recently acquired railroad giant Burlington Northern Santa Fe for $26 billion. Son of Nebraska stockbroker met value investor Benjamin Graham while studying economics at Columbia. Took over textile firm Berkshire Hathaway in 1965, used company as a vehicle to invest in insurance (Geico), food (Dairy Queen), utilities (MidAmerican Energy) and recently green tech (electric-car maker BYD).
#4. Mukesh Ambani
Age: 52
Source: Petrochemicals, Oil & Gas
Net Worth: $29.0 billion
Country of Citizenship: India
Marital Status: Married, three children
His Reliance Industries, already India’s most valuable company, recently bid $2 billion for 65% stake in troubled Canadian oil sands outfit Value Creation. Firm’s $14.5 billion offer to buy bankrupt petrochemicals maker LyondellBasell was rejected. Since September company has sold treasury shares worth $2 billion to be used for acquisitions. Late father, Dhirubhai, founded Reliance and built it into a massive conglomerate. After he died, Mukesh and his brother, Anil, ran the family business together for a brief time. But siblings feuded over control; mother eventually brokered split of assets, with Mukesh getting oil and gas and petrochemicals businesses. Still at odds with Anil over gas supply agreement; awaiting Supreme Court’s final ruling. Has yet to move out of the family’s high-rise, which he shares with his brother, into his new 27-story home in downtown Mumbai. Owns cricket team Mumbai Indians.
#5. Lakshmi Mittal
Age: 59
Source: Steel
Net Worth: $28.7 billion
Country of Citizenship: India
Marital Status: Married, two children
Indian immigrant heads world’s largest steel company; ArcelorMittal was formed via hostile takeover three years ago. Stock in company makes up bulk of his fortune; shares at a four-year low, with steel prices down 75% since last summer. Arcelor posted $2.6 billion loss in most recent quarter; announced plans to slow acquisitions, cut capital expenditures, pay down debt. Started in family steel business in the 1970s, branched out on his own in 1994. Also owns pieces of Mumbai’s Indiabulls Group, London’s RAB Capital; owns stake in, sits on board of Goldman Sachs.
#6. Lawrence Ellison
Age: 65
Source: Oracle
Net Worth: $28.0 billion
Country of Citizenship: United States
Marital Status: Thrice divorced, remarried; two children
Oracle founder’s fortune continues to soar; shares up 70% in past 12 months. Database giant has bought 57 companies in the past five years. Completed $7.4 billion buyout of Sun Microsystems in January; acquired BEA Systems for $8.5 billion in 2008. Studied physics at U. of Chicago; didn’t graduate. Started Oracle in 1977; took public a day before Microsoft in 1986. Owns 52% stake in business-software company NetSuite; shares worth $480 million. Racing junkie owns 453-foot yacht Rising Sun with friend David Geffen.
#7. Bernard Arnault
Age: 61
Source: Louis Vuitton, Moet & Chandon
Net Worth: $27.5 billion
Country of Citizenship: France
Marital Status: Married; five children
Bernard Arnault is the richest European, as shares of his luxury goods outfit LVMH – maker of Louis Vuitton, Moet & Chandon, surge 57%. LVMH is developing upscale Shanghai commercial property, L’Avenue Shanghai, with Macau billionaire Stanley Ho. Renaissance man owns French tour operator Go Voyages, yacht builder Royal Van Lent; has a stake in French retailer Carrefour. Built Le Cheval Blanc in ski resort town of Courchevel, France, where he likes to spend New Year’s Eve. Father, Jean, who died in January, made small fortune in construction; sale of that business later helped fund Arnault’s move into real estate and eventually into luxury goods. Still a family affair: son Antoine, 32, and daughter Delphine, 34, sit on LVMH’s board.
#8. Eike Batista
Age: 53
Source: Mining, Oil
Net Worth: $27.0 billion
Country of Citizenship: Brazil
Marital Status: Divorced, two children
This year’s biggest gainer added $19.5 billion to his personal balance sheet. Son of Brazil’s revered former mining minister who presided over mining giant Companhia Vale do Rio Doce got his start in gold trading and mining. Insists Dad didn’t help: “All my businesses started from zero. My father was a problem for me because he never let me near Vale.” Made a pile in resources and other services, but two-thirds of his fortune comes from relatively new source, OGX, the oil-and-gas exploration company he founded in 2007 and took public a year later. Police raided his home in 2008, alleging Batista smuggled gold and unfairly influenced the acquisition of a railroad. He denied all wrongdoing, emerged unscathed. New IPO for shipbuilding business (OSX) could raise $5.6 billion later this month—world’s largest IPO so far this year. Onetime champion offshore powerboat racer; formerly married to Playboy cover girl. Provided financing to Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic committee, helping the city win its bid for 2016 Olympic Games.
#9. Amancio Ortega
Age: 74
Source: Zara
Net Worth: $25.0 billion
Country of Citizenship: Spain
Marital Status: Married; three children
Spain’s richest man is founder and chairman of the Inditex Group which operates under several brand names including Zara, Massimo Dutti and Stradivarius, has 4,500 stores in 73 countries including new spots in Mexico and Syria. Set up joint venture with Tata Group subsidiary to enter India in 2010. Betting on Florida real estate: bought Coral Gables office tower that is currently home to Bacardi USA. Also owns a luxury apartment complex in Miami; properties in Madrid, Paris, London and Lisbon, a horse-jumping circuit, an interest in a soccer league; has investments in gas, tourism and banks. Railway worker’s son started as a gofer in a shirt store. With then-wife Rosalia Mera, also a billionaire, started making dressing gowns and lingerie in living room.
#10. Karl Albrecht
Age: 90
Source: Aldi / Supermarkets
Net Worth: $23.5 bil
Country of Citizenship: Germany
Marital Status: Married, two children
Germany’s richest person owns discount supermarket giant Aldi Sud, one of Germany’s (and Europe’s) dominant grocers. Has 1,000 stores in U.S. across 29 states. Estimated sales: $37 billion. Plans to open New York City store this year. With younger brother, Theo, transformed mother’s corner grocery store into Aldi after World War II. Brothers split ownership in 1961; Karl took the stores in southern Germany, plus the rights to the brand in the U.K., Australia and the U.S. Theo got northern Germany and the rest of Europe. Retired from daily operations. Fiercely private: little known about him other than that he apparently raises orchids and plays golf.
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Whoa! Someone has stolen the top spot from the business giant BILL GATES! And for two Indian men who were included in this elite circle- that’s awesome considering India is one of the poorest nation.
And to our very own Henry Sy and Lucio Tan–paburger naman kayo!
I’ll be in this list too–next year..lolz!
Mami Mo Mikuto 
As we are all discussing 2010′s Richest Men of the World Mami Mo Mikuto, Whether or not you start a dwelling business enterprise or traditional “brick n’ mortar” organization, just do it! Commence a small business and you’ll be walking inside the exact same footsteps as Bill Gates and Warren Buffet. Now, that’s exciting!