This 26th year of tracking global wealth was one to remember, with an all-time high . The 2012 Forbes Billionaires List breaks two records: total number of listees (1,226) and combined wealth ($4.6 trillion). This horde surpasses the gross domestic product of Germany, one of only six nations to have fewer billionaires this year.
No. 1 Carlos Slim Helú
Net Worth:
$69 billion – As of March 2012
Source: Telecom , Age: 72 , Citizenship: Mexico
No. 2 Bill Gates
Net Worth:$61 billion – As of March 2012
Source: Microsoft, self-made , Age: 56 , Citizenship: U.S.
No. 3 Warren Buffett
Net Worth:$44 billion – As of March 2012
Source: Berkshire Hathaway, self-made , Age: 81 , Citizenship: U.S.
No. 4 Bernard Arnault
Net Worth:$41 billion – As of March 2012
Source: LVMH, inherited and growing , Age: 63 , Citizenship: France
No. 5 Amancio Ortega
Net Worth:$37.5 billion – As of March 2012
Source: Zara, self-made , Age: 75 , Citizenship: Spain
No. 6 Larry Ellison
Net Worth:$36 billion – As of March 2011
Source: Oracle, self-made , Age: 67 , Citizenship: U.S.
No. 7 Eike Batista
Net Worth:$30 billion – As of March 2012
Source: Mining, oil, self-made , Age: 55 , Citizenship: Brazil
No. 8 Stefan Persson
Net Worth:$26 billion – As of March 2012
Source: Hennes & Mauritz , Age: 64 , Citizenship: Sweden
No. 9 Li Ka-shing
Net Worth:$25.5 billion – As of March 2012
Source: Diversified, self-made , Age: 83 , Citizenship: Hong Kong
No. 10 Karl Albrecht
Net Worth:$25.4 billion – As of March 2012
Source: Aldi, self-made , Age: 92 , Citizenship: Germany
No. 11 Charles Koch (tie)
Net Worth:$25 billion – As of March 2012
Source: Diversified, inherited and growing , Age: 76, Citizenship: United States
No. 11 David Koch (tie)
Net Worth:$25 billion – As of March 2012
Source: Diversified, inherited and growing , Age: 71 , Citizenship: United States
No. 13 Sheldon Adelson
Net Worth:$24.9 billion – As of March 2012
Source: Casinos, self-made , Age: 78 , Citizenship: United States
No. 14 Jim Walton
Net Worth:$23.7 billion – As of March 2012
Source: Walmart, inherited , Age: 64 , Citizenship: United States
No. 15 R. Robson Walton
Net Worth:$23.1 billion – As of March 2012
Source: Walmart, inherited , Age: 68 , Citizenship: United States
No. 16 Mukesh Ambani
Net Worth:
$22.3 billion – As of March 2012
Source: petrochemicals, oil & gas, inherited and growing, Age: 54 , Citizenship: India
No. 17 Michael Bloomberg
Net Worth:$22 billion – As of March 2012
Source: Bloomberg PL, self-made , Age: 70 , Citizenship: USA
[See full list on Forbes.com]
