The richest people on the planet

The ranks of the world’s billionaires, as monitored and tallied by our global wealth team, have yet again reached all-time highs. The 2013 Forbes Billionaires list now boasts 1 426 names, with an aggregate net worth of US$5,4 trillion, up from US$4,6 trillion. We found 210 new 10-figure fortunes. Once again the US leads the list with 442 billionaires, followed by Asia-Pacific (386), Europe (366), the Americas (129) and the Middle East and Africa (103).

Resurgent asset prices are the driving force behind the rising wealth of the super-rich around the globe. While last year almost as many fortunes fell as rose, this year gainers outnumbered losers by four-to-one. Many new names made the list thanks to free-spending consumers. To name a few: Diesel jeans mogul Renzo Ross at US$3 billion, retailer Bruce Nordstrom at US$1,2 billion and designer Tory Burch at US$1 billion.

Carlos Slim is once again the world’s richest person, followed by Bill Gates. Amancio Ortega of Spanish retailer Zara moves up to number three for the first time. He is the year’s biggest gainer, adding US$19,5 billion to his fortune in one year. He stepped down as chairman of Inditex, best known for its Zara brand, in 2011, but still owns nearly 60 percent of its shares, which soared 50 percent year-over-year on record profits. Ortega also has a real estate portfolio, much of it acquired at bargain prices. He moves ahead of Warren Buffett, despite the fact that the US investing legend added US$9,5 billion to his fortune. This is the first year since 2000 that Buffett has not been among the top three. The year’s biggest loser is Brazilian Eike Batista, whose fortune dropped by US$19,4 billion, or equivalent to about US$50 million a day. His rank falls from No. 7 to No. 100 in the world.

Methodology
This is our 27th year publishing the Forbes Billionaires list. Though we’ve been at it a long time, it is never an easy task. Our reporters dig deep and travel far. To compile net worths, we value individuals’ assets – including stakes in public and private companies, real estate, yachts, art and cash–and account for debt. We attempt to vet these numbers with all billionaires. Some co-operate; others don’t. We also consult an array of outside experts in various fields.

The Forbes Billionaires ranks individuals rather than large, multi-generational families who share large fortunes.

So Maja Oeri, who has a disclosed stake in pharmaceutical firm Roche, makes the list, but her eight relatives who, with a non-profit foundation, share a us$16 billion fortune do not. In some cases we list siblings together if the ownership breakdown among them isn’t clear, but here, too, they must be worth a minimum of us$2 billion together, or equivalent to us$1 billion apiece, to make the cut. We split up these fortunes when we get better information, as we did with the Matte and Rausing families this year. Children are listed with their parents when one person is the founder and in control. Those fortunes are identified as “& family”.

We do not include royal family members or dictators who derive their fortunes entirely as a result of their position of power, nor do we include royalty who, often with large families, control the riches in trust for their nation. Over the years Forbes has valued the fortunes of these wealthy despots, dictators and royals but have listed them separately as they do not truly reflect individual, entrepreneurial wealth that could be passed down to a younger generation or truly given away. Our estimates are a snapshot of wealth on February 14, when we locked in stock prices and exchange rates from around the world. If a stock market wasn’t open on that day — as was the case with Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, Shanghai and Shenzhen — the stock price is from the previous trading day.

At a glance
1. Carlos Slim Helu & family
Net worth — US$73 Billion
Honorary Chairman, América Móvil
Age: 73
Source of Wealth: telecom, self-made
Residence: Mexico City, Mexico
Country of Citizenship: Mexico
Education: Bachelor of Arts / Science, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
Marital Status: Widowed
Children: 6

2.    Bill Gates
Net worth — US$72 Billion
Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Age: 58
Source of Wealth: Microsoft, self-made
Residence: Medina, WA
Country of Citizenship: United States
Education: Dropout, Harvard University
Marital Status: Married
Children: 3

3.    Amancio Ortega
Net worth — US$57 billion
Age: 77
Source of Wealth: Zara, self-made
Country of Citizenship: Spain
Marital Status: Married
Children: 3

4. Warren Buffet
CEO, Berkshire Hathaway
Age: 83
Source of Wealth: Berkshire Hathaway, self-made
Residence: Omaha, NE
Country of Citizenship: United States
Education: Bachelor of Arts / Science, University of Nebraska Lincoln; Master of Science, Columbia University
Marital Status: Widowed, Remarried

5. Larry Ellison
CEO, Oracle
Age: 69
Source of Wealth: Oracle, self-made
Residence: Woodside, CA
Country of Citizenship: United States
Education: Dropout, University of Illinois at Urbana; Dropout, University of Chicago
Marital Status: Divorced
Children: 2  — forbes.com