For the third time in three years, the world has a new richest man, announced Forbes magazine. This is Mexican telecommunications tycoon Carlos Slim Helu, whose wealth is estimated at $53.5 billion. Bill Gates ranks second with $53 billion.
Thanks to the rise in shares of his various telecom holdings, Helu has surpassed Americans Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to become the richest person in the world and has climbed to the top of Forbes’ billionaire list. Slim’s wealth is estimated at $53.5 billion, having increased by $18.5 billion in the last 12 months. Gates ranks second with $53 billion. He is $13 billion richer than a year ago, and Microsoft shares have risen by 50 percent in 12 months. Buffett ranks third, with his wealth jumping by $10 billion to $47 billion, due to the rise in shares of his holding company Berkshire Hathaway. Buffett, the legendary investor nicknamed the Oracle of Omaha, cleverly invested $5 billion in Goldman Sachs and $3 billion in General Electric amid the market collapse in 2008. He also recently purchased the railroad Burlington Northern Santa Fe for $26 billion. (hrt.hr)
