14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates is at the top of an international platoon of billionaires worth an estimated $3.5 trillion. According to Forbes magazine's 2007 top of the richest people in the world, Bill Gates is still the number one billionaire on the globe. This despite the fact that the number of billionaires has increased in 2007 to a staggering 946 people controlling in excess of $3.5 trillion.
In 2006 alone, Bill Gates has increased his fortune by no less than $6 billion, and is now accounting for no less than $56 billion. The joint fortunes of Bill Gates and his friend Warner Buffet now surpass the $100 billion milestone. Buffet is currently occupying the number two position in the Forbes magazine's 2007 billionaires with $52 billion dollars and is breathing down Gates' neck in this aspect.
While Bill Gates only managed a $6 billion jump in 2006, Warren Buffet increased his fortune by over $10 billion the past year. The two men have retained their respective positions from the precedent Forbes ranking but they both come under the fire of Mexican telecom giant Carlos Slim Helu.
Helu's fortune experienced the fastest one-year gain in the last ten yeas, and has grown in 2006 by $19 billion dollars to a total of $49 billion. If Helu keeps up this growth rate, by 2008 he will dethrone Bill Gates after 13 years of absolute reign among the world's billionaires.
However, with Microsoft finally managing its main cash cows (Windows Vista and the 2007 Office System) available to the public, Bill Gates is going to put up a fight.