The richest Americans have further enriched themselves this year, with a few exceptions including President Donald Trump, whose wealth has melted away by about 600 million dollars and who has dropped 92 places on Forbes’ list, according to new data from the prestigious business magazine.
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At the top of the 400 richest Americans are three constant leaders: Microsoft founder Bill Gates, now best known for his health and education foundation, worth 81 billion dollars (+8 billion), Amazon chief Jeff Bezos who, after briefly surpassing Gates in July, returned to second place with 67 billion dollars (+14.5 billion), closely followed by Warren Buffett (87) with 65.5 billion (+12.5 billion).
The average wealth required to access this club continues to rise and this year stands at 2 billion dollars, or 18 percent more.
President Trump has reached 248th place with a wealth estimated at 3.1 billion dollars, down by 600 million. Forbes’ estimate, higher than Bloomberg’s, which recently estimated the American president’s wealth at 2.86 billion, represents a decline of about 200 million compared to last year.
The wealth of the former real estate magnate and reality show star is difficult to assess; the family holding, Trump Organization, which he entrusted to his sons during his presidency, is not valued on the stock market and Trump continues to refuse to release his tax returns.
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But the magazine reminds that his wealth is directly tied to six properties in downtown Manhattan where luxury real estate prices have recently fallen. Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook and Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle, are in 4th and 5th place on that list. For the first time since 2007, Ellison is not part of the leading trio, Forbes emphasizes, while his wealth has increased by 1.8 billion and now stands at 49.3 billion dollars.
No woman is among the top 10
Thirteenth is Alice Walton, daughter of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, who is involved in the arts and leaves the business management to her brothers. She is estimated to have 38.2 billion dollars as well as an art collection valued at several hundred million dollars.
