The rich keep getting richer. Forbes Monday released its annual list of the 400 richest people in America, and for the 21st straight year Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was No. 1, report agencies.
Gates' net worth was pegged at $81 billion - up $9 billion from 2013, due in large part to a strong performance by Microsoft shares and the stock market in general.
Gates' friend, Warren Buffett, chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway, was second (the spot he's occupied since 2001) with a net worth of $67 billion.
Larry Ellison, who announced earlier this month that he is stepping down as CEO of Oracle, was No. 3 with a net worth of $50 billion.
The combined wealth of Forbes' 2014 ranking is $2.29 trillion, up from $2.02 trillion in 2013 and the highest ever.
It's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to make the Forbes 400 list of America's wealthiest.
At $1.55 billion, the minimum net worth to be included this year was so high that 113 US billionaires were left off. It was, in fact, the highest price of entry since the business magazine started tracking wealth in the US in 1982.
As expected, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg secured his place on the list with $35 billion.
Ever the businessman, Bloomberg returned to run the company that bears his name less a year out of office.
Facebook wunderkind Mark Zuckerberg's collection of cash skyrocketed to $34 billion, a $15 billion increase since last year, making him this year's bigger dollar gainer. Still, he was a spot shy of the top 10.
Another young businessperson, Stanford University dropout Elizabeth Holmes (30), is among the most interesting newcomers to the list.
She founded blood testing company Theranos, which has an estimated value of $9 billion.
This makes her the world's youngest self-made female billionaire.
Bill Gates tops Forbes 400 list of US wealthiest
FE Team | Published: October 01, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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