ISLAMABAD – Jeff Bezos remains the world’s richest person, ahead of BillGates and Warren Buffett, according to the latest Forbes list of the ultrawealthy, while far behind President Donald Trump jumped 51 spots in theranking.
While things are largely stable up on top of the list, Facebook founderMark Zuckerberg dropped three spots and former New York mayor MichaelBloomberg rose by two.
According to the list announced Tuesday by Forbes, the riches of Bezos, 55,have swelled by $19 billion in one year and he is now worth $131 billion.
Bezos, who holds 16 percent of Amazon and whose wealth now makes him atarget of the left wing of the US Democratic Party, has widened the moneygap between himself and Gates, the philanthropist and co-founder ofMicrosoft.
Gates, 63, has seen his wealth grow to $96.5 billion, up from 90 billionlast year, said Forbes. Third place is held by Buffett, 88 and longconsidered an investment guru, although he did get stung in late Februaryby a deep plunge in shares of US processed food maker Kraft Heinz, in whichhe had a large stake.
Buffett’s fortune slipped by $1.5 billion to $82.5 billion, the magazineestimated.
The 10 richest people in the world, according to Forbes magazine. Photo: AFP
It is more or less after this trio that things start to get shaken up onthe Forbes list.
The CEO of French luxury good company LVMH, Bernard Arnault, held on tofourth place. But Zuckerberg lost $9 billion in net worth and slipped fromfifth to eighth.
Ahead of Zuckerberg now are Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim, Zara and Inditexfounder Amancio Ortega of Spain, and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.Bloomberg rose from 11th to ninth place as his fortune increased to $55.5billion, from $50 billion, said Forbes. Americans still dominate the listwith 14 of the top 20 billionaires from the US.
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Non-Americans among the top 20 include India’s Mukesh Ambani, chairman ofReliance Industries, in 13th place, and China’s Ma Huateng, head of theChinese internet giant Tencent, who rounds out the top 20.
Donald Trump 715th richest
Forbes estimates Trump’s wealth at $3.1 billion, unchanged from last year.
While 994 people from last year’s ranking saw their wealth drop — a record,according to Forbes — Trump rose in the Forbes ranking from 766 last yearto 715 this year.
Trump’s nine New York skyscrapers, including the famous Trump Tower onFifth Avenue, account for nearly half of his wealth, while his clubs andgolf courses are valued at $550 million.
However, one of Trump’s Florida golf clubs, the National Doral Miami, tooka hit and has been depreciated by $26 million following a sharp drop inbookings attributed to disagreements with the president’s policies, Forbessaid.
Trump is not the richest US elected official: that honor goes to J.B.Pritzker, a Democrat who took office as governor of Illinois in January.Pritzker, heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune, was estimated to be worth $3.2billion. – APP/AFP
