Who is the richest man on earth?
(m) Bill Gates is still the richest man in America, with a personal fortune worth $58bn (£35bn). His share in software giant Microsoft increased in value by $18bn this year – and by some $20bn the year before. But his net worth dropped by $9bn since the stock market fall. He tops the list in Forbes magazine’s new survey of the 400 wealthiest individuals in the United States. While Forbes does not measure the wealth of those outside the US, Bill Gates is also still believed to be the richest person in the world ahead of monarchs such as the Sultan of Brunei and other business tycoons.
