The Forbes list of the World’s Richest Persons for the year 2011 is now out. Familiar names and faces dominate the Top 10, with one woman securing a spot after a drought of several years.
Mexican telecoms tycoon Carlos Slim Helu is still the world’s richest man, adding $20.5 billion to his net worth last year, thanks to a stronger Mexican peso, rising stock market, and profitable investments by Helu’s conglomerate firm.
Next is Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who also ranked 2nd to Helu in the 2010 World’s Richest list. Forbes Magazine says, however, that Bill Gates’ No. 2 position is due to his enormous philanthropic donations. It is estimated that Bill Gates has donated around one-third of his entire fortunes to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Had he not made those donations, his net worth would be around $80 billion, making him the world’s wealthiest man.