TOP TEN RICHEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD- 2010

According to Forbes, the richest person in the world is now Mr.Carlo Slim Helu, a Mexican in 2010. There’s always an enthrallment with the richest people in the world. According to IMF statistics his wealth of $53.5 billion is roughly equal to the GDP of both Sudan $57 billion and Slovenia $ billion!!! (Ranked 69th in list of GDP by country 2008)It has been a good year for billionaires as stock markets have generally risen from the slumps of 2008 in the midst of the financial crisis.


Top Ten Richest People in the World- 2010

1. Carlo Slim Helu – Mexico $53.5 billion, up $18.5 billion in 12 months. Shares of America Movil (OIL, MEXICO) Telecom tycoon who pounced on privatization of Mexico’s national telephone company in the 1990s becomes world’s richest person for first time. Last year he was got the third place. Net worth up $18.5 billion in a year. Recently received regulatory approval to merge his fixed-line assets into American Movil, the biggest mobile phone company at Latin America.

2. Bill Gates, US $53 billion who had held the title of world’s richest 14 of the past 15 years. (MICROSOFT, US) Software visionary is now the world’s second-richest man. Net worth still up $13 billion in a year as Microsoft shares rose 50% in 12 months, value of investment vehicle Cascade swelled. More than 60% of the fortune held outside Microsoft; investments include Four Seasons hotels, Televisa, Auto Nation. Stepped down from day-to-day duties at Microsoft in 2008 to focus on philanthropy.

3. Warren Buffett – US – $47 billion- (Berkshire Hathaway Warren Buffet) Warren Buffet invested wisely in Goldman Sachs during the worst parts of 2008. (INVESTMENTS, US) America’s favorite investor up $10 billion in past 12 months on surging Berkshire Hathaway shares; says U.S. has survived economic "Pearl Harbor," but warns recovery will be slow. Shrewdly invested $5 billion in Goldman Sachs and $3 billion in General Electric amid 2008 market collapse and recently acquired railroad giant Burlington Northern Santa Fe for $26 billion.

4. Mukesh Ambani India $29.0 (PETROCHEMICALS, OIL & GAS, INDIA). Global ambitions: His Reliance Industries, already India’s most valuable company, recently bid $2 billion for 65% stake in troubled Canadian oil sands outfit Value Creations. Firm’s $14.5 billion offer to buy bankrupt petrochemicals maker LyondellBasell was rejected. Since September Company has sold Treasury shares worth $2 billion to be used for acquisitions. Late father, Dhirubhai, founded Reliance and built it into a massive conglomerate.

5. Lakshmi Mittal India 59 $28.7 (STEEL, INDIA) London’s richest resident oversees ArcelorMittal, world’s largest steel maker. Net profits fell 75% in 2009. Mittal took 12% pay cut but improved outlook pushed stock up one-third in past year. Looking to expand in India; wants to build steel mills in Jharkhad and Orissa but has not received government approval. Earned $1.1 billion for selling his interest in a Kazakh refinery in the month of December-2009.

6. Lawrence Ellison United States $28.0 (ORACLE, US) Oracle founder’s fortune continues to rise; shares up 70% in the past one year. Database giant has bought 57 companies in the past five years!! Completed $7.4 billion buyout of Sun Microsystems in the month of January and acquired BEA Systems for $8.5 billion in 2008. Studied physics at University of Chicago; didn’t graduate. Started Oracle 1977; took public a day before Microsoft in 1986.

7. Bernard Arnault - $27.5 (LUXURY GOODS, FRANCE) Bling is back, helping fashion icon clutch title of richest European as shares of his luxury goods outfit LVMH–maker of Louis Vuitton, Moet & Chandon–surge 57%. LVMH is developing upscale Shanghai commercial property, L’Avenue Shanghai, with Macau billionaire Stanley Ho.

8. Eike Batista Brazil $27.0 (MINING & OIL, BRAZIL) It is vowing to become world’s richest man–and he may be on his way to conquer. This year’s biggest gainer added $19.5 billion to his personal balance sheet!! S/o. Brazil’s revered former mining minister who presided over mining giant Companhia Vale do Rio Doce got his start in mining and gold trading.

9. Amancio Ortega Spain $74 (FASHION RETAIL, SPAIN) Style maven lords over Inditex; fashion firm, which operates under several brand names including like Massimo Dutti, Zara and Stradivarius, has 4,500 stores in 73 countries including new spots in Mexico and Syria!! Set up joint venture with Tata Group subsidiary to enter India in 2010. Betting on Florida real estate: bought Coral Gables office tower that is currently home to Bacardi USA.

10. Karl Albrecht Germany $23.5 (SUPERMARKETS, GERMANY) Owns discount supermarkets giant Aldi Sud, one of Germany’s and Europe’s dominant grocers. Have 1,000 stores in U.S. across 29 states!! Their estimated sales: $37 billion. Plans to open New York City store this year with younger brother, Theo, transformed mother’s corner grocery store into Aldi after World War II. Brothers split ownership in 1961; Karl took the stores in southern Germany, plus the rights to the brand in the U.K., Australia and the U.S. Theo got northern Germany and the rest of Europe.