Gates tops US rich list with $48bn

[Nomad559]

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/business/articles/timid82829?source=

-Snip-

Bill Gates has topped the Forbes 400 list of the richest people in the US for the 11th year running, with $48bn (£26bn), up $2bn from 2003.

Despite the crash of technology stocks, the sector is well-represented in the top 10, with Gates joined by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen at number three with $20bn, computer-maker Michael Dell at nine with $14.2bn, overtaking Oracle's founder and chief Larry Ellison who saw his fortune fall to $13.7bn from $18bn last year on poor performance of his stock.

But legendary investor Warren Buffett, the so-called Sage of Omaha, maintains his second-place ranking, adding $5bn to his $41bn pile - the biggest gain of anyone on the list.

Members of the Walton family, whose fortune comes from the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart Stores, again took all positions from four to eight, with each having estimated wealth of $18bn.

[name not needed]

1. There's a shock

[Bronco69]

2. Just think

if Bill Gates and I were in the same room we would be worth an average of $24 billion each. :-)

[Endangered Specie]

8. Heh, if him and I were in the same room... well...

lets just leave that one to imagination, shall we.

[BlueJazz]

13. You're wrong Bronco69

The average would be 24,000,000,000.075

(You forgot about the 15 cents in your pocket) :)

[MichiganVote]

3. Do you think its time for him to sponsor a lottery?

I'll buy Bill.

[miss_kitty]

4. maybe he could give away some Pontiacs

that'd piss some people off!

[samplegirl]

5. Funny it forgot to mention Dick Cheney

but didnt forget Teresa Heinz

[IronLionZion]

11. Teresa is richer than Cheney, Bush, Kerry, and Edwards put together

I think

[Deja Q]

6. Rewarding unscrupled opportunistic crooks is the American way

What's left to say? :shrug:

[jwirr]

7. I do not mind people

being too rich. What I mind is people being too poor.

[kokomo]

9. more billionaires for Bush.....proves the economy is better for some folks

There are now 313 billionaires in the country, the largest number ever and a huge jump (20%) over the 262 counted last year. Poor Donald Trump's net worth edged up $100 MILLION last year to make him worth $2.6 BILLION, yet he slipped three ranks on the list, falling from #71 to #74.

What happened to the five Walton siblings? Last year their net worth was $100 BILLION, and this year it was only $90 BILLION. Class action suits for sex descrimination and zoning battles costing them a little? Or are the Chinese jacking up their wholesale prices.

[IronLionZion]

10. Teresa is number 400 on that list with $750 million

yes, that Teresa, with all 57 flavors of saucy opinionated goodness. mmm...

[Endangered Specie]

12. Ugh...

[elperromagico]

14. Is IKEA Man still number one worldwide?

I don't know his name, but last year he was number one worldwide due to the devalued American dollar.