Forbes List: Bill Gates (Microsoft Co-Founder) Is The World's Richest Man 2009

On Wednesday 11 march 2009, Forbes released it’s hotly anticipate list of the world’s richest people and someone stole the top spot from Warren Buffett. Software Czar Bill Gates has regained his position as the world's wealthiest man from his friend and legendary investor Warren Buffett, even as the economic crisis wiped off USD two trillion from the wealth of billionaires across the world.

This Microsoft Corp. co-founder reclaimed the title of richest man in the world, with a total net worth of $40 billion. He confessed that himself lost USD 18 billion in the past one year. At the second position is followed by Buffett (USD 37 billion) and Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim (USD 35 billion) at the third position as per the World's Billionaires list released by the US magazine Forbes.
Buffett was ranked as the richest person in the world in last year's list (2008), followed by Carlos Slim and Gates at second and third positions respectively.

Here’s a list of the billionaires who claimed the 10 top spots as ranked by Forbes.

1. William Gates III
Net Worth: $40.0 bil
Fortune: self made
Source: Microsoft
Age: 53
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: Medina, Washington
Industry: Software
Education: Harvard University, Drop Out,
Marital Status: married, 3 children

2. Warren Buffett
Net Worth: $37.0 bil
Fortune: self made
Source: Berkshire Hathaway
Age: 78
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: Omaha, Nebraska
Industry: Investments
Education: University of Nebraska Lincoln, Bachelor of Arts / Science, Columbia University, Master of Science
Marital Status: widowed, remarried, 3 children

3. Carlos Slim Helu
Net Worth: $35.0 bil
Fortune: self made
Source: telecom
Age: 69
Country Of Citizenship: Mexico
Residence: Mexico City
Industry: Telecommunications
Education: NA,
Marital Status: widowed, 6 children

4. Lawrence Ellison
Net Worth: $22.5 bil
Fortune: self made
Source: Oracle
Age: 64
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: Redwood City, California
Industry: Software
Education: University of Illinois, Drop Out,
Marital Status: married, 2 children

5. Ingvar Kamprad
Net Worth: $22.0 bil
Fortune: self made
Source: Ikea
Age: 83
Country Of Citizenship: Sweden
Residence: Lausanne
Industry: Retail
Education: NA,
Marital Status: married, 4 children

6. Karl Albrecht
Net Worth: $21.5 bil
Fortune: self made
Source: Aldi
Age: 89
Country Of Citizenship: Germany
Residence: Mulheim an der Ruhr
Industry: Retail
Education: NA,
Marital Status: married, 2 children

7. Mukesh Ambani
Net Worth: $19.5 bil
Fortune: inherited and growing
Source: petrochemicals
Age: 51
Country Of Citizenship: India
Residence: Mumbai
Industry: Manufacturing
Education: University of Bombay, Bachelor of Arts / Science, Stanford University, Drop Out
Marital Status: married, 3 children

8. Lakshmi Mittal
Net Worth: $19.3 bil
Fortune: inherited and growing
Source: steel
Age: 58
Country Of Citizenship: India
Residence: London
Industry: Steel
Education: St Xavier's College Calcutta, Bachelor of Arts / Science,
Marital Status: married, 2 children

9. Theo Albrecht
Net Worth: $18.8 bil
Fortune: self made
Source: Aldi, Trader Joe's
Age: 87
Country Of Citizenship: Germany
Residence: Foehr
Industry: Retail
Education: NA,
Marital Status: married, 2 children

10. Amancio Ortega
Net Worth: $18.3 bil
Fortune: self made
Source: Zara
Age: 73
Country Of Citizenship: Spain
Residence: La Coruna
Industry: Retail
Education: NA,
Marital Status: married, 3 children