Warren Buffett The World's Richest Man: Forbes

Warren Buffett is the richest man on the planet.

Riding the surging price of Berkshire Hathaway (nyse: BRKA - news - people ) stock, America's most beloved investor has seen his fortune swell to an estimated $62 billion, up $10 billion from a year ago. That massive pile of scratch puts him ahead of Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) co-founder Bill Gates, who was the richest man in the world for 13 straight years.

Gates is now worth $58 billion and is ranked third in the world. He is up $2 billion from a year ago, but would have been perhaps as rich--or richer--than Buffett had Microsoft not made an unsolicited bid for Yahoo! (nasdaq: YHOO - news - people ) at the beginning of February.

Keep reading

See Forbes' full list of the world's billionaires.

-- OR --

Read about how the Yahoo bid may have cost Gates his "World's Richest" title.

Comments

[avraamjack]

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This may be a cause for celebration in the Gates household.
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The hateful, sanctimoneous and envious will have to find another target.
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[AndriaSmith]

These two men are always going up and down with eachother in a financial comparison. Just like the Euro dollar. It'll change and Gates will be back on top. Just a matter of "when". Probably when the Euro falls - which could be in the next 15 minutes. ha ha

[melann830]

If the Europeans have their way, it will never fall because they do not want us to have supremacy over them in any way including economically. They have even stated this on Charlie Rose. This is why they are all hoping Obama is the next president. So sad and transparent that Europe is cheering Obama on because they want to see us grovel, not because they respect him.

[AndriaSmith]

Of course it will fall again. The American Dollar's strength is in GOLD.

[Rule Of Law]

And not one of them can enjoy a sunset, or a kitten, or the camaraderie of friends and family any more than I can.

[Pdubya]

true: but they can do so more often if they choose.

[falco]

Hard to believe David Rockefeller, any Rothschild, or the Queen of England has less money than Warren Buffett. How about Saudi Royalty? I get soooo sick of being lied to, not on a daily basis anymore, but on an hourly basis. I feel sorry for you treasonous bassturds - you filthy rich people who fleece the world. You think you will be saved in the end while we all go down? That's like trusting a liar. People are waking up and are going to start doing crazy things like buy American, grow their own food so we aren't as poisoned, ignore laws like this ridiculous National ID card (can't fly if you don't? Oh well!) , form small groups to help each other and get on the same page as to how to deal with life without supporting the treasonous bassturds mentioned above. Can't wait! This is an exciting and historical time!

[Rule Of Law]

I read once that old John D. Rockefeller's fortune in today's dollars would be worth about 300 Billion! That is how wealthy he was. I guarantee that money didn't just evaporate when he died, either. Hey, we know who the enemy is. The amounts are incidental!

[melann830]

Warren Buffet has made tremendous contributions to the world and so have Bill and Melinda Gates. You Obama supporters should stop hating the rich because without these creative business geniouses many people would be without employment. I would gladly take a Warren Buffet any day than someone who thinks as inanely as you do. Go grassroots on your own if you like, but don't expect the rest of us to follow, because you can not live on love. Love is not going to pay your bills. Yes, many will be saved because they have chosen to do good with their money and not hoard it.

[Troubledgoodangel]

Mr. Warren Buffett should have the guts to give the American people his E-mail address. We have many interesting ideas for him. I for one would want to know whether he helps individual Americans to make the world better? There are so many of us who do nothing else but to try to weed out evil from the world. But we are destitute! Perhaps he can trace me by my Troubledgoodangel nickname. I will explain why I said what I said better in private.

[hardrain77]

How about sharing some of that wealth with the impoverished world--and I don't mean your shady U.N. hunger programs that are just population control and reduction programs?

[rudiy]

Jealousy is ugly. I suppose all the Russians, Indians and the one Mexican billionaire made their money in much more scrupulous way than Bill Gates. Of course their charitable giving’s and treatment of their workers are legendary!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!

[melann830]

First of all Slim Helu is really Lebanese background. His father was Lebanese. He was only born in Mexico. Slim is really Carlos Salim Helu. His father was Yousef Salim Haddad, a businessman. So technically he isn't really Mexican. Furthermore, wealthy Americans do more for the world than the average wealthy person from other countries. I haven't read one thing about Mr. Helu helping to pull Mexico out of the poverty they are immersed in with all of his Billions. I read about him trying to acquire Sprint, Univision which he has etc.., but why can't he help the Mexican Economy. I am sure that with his saavy, he could help pull themselves out of the mess they are in, but it seems as if he is not even concerned with it. This devil may care attitude is why Mexico will never be financially independent and prosperous.

[paixa3]

The point I admire about Bill and Melinda Gataes is THEY DO NOT CARE. I wish more business people were like them.

[EBaby]

Mister Gates I b po' is it too late 2 draw up adoption papers? Even if ur not THE richest man in the world I can still learn 2 love u! Hugs and kissies me wanting to b u for a day!

[whatsthatsound]

Putting that much money in perspective, with either of those two fortunes you could build a city the size of Atlanta, GA. Skyscrapers, highways, subway routes, schools and hospitals; the whole kit and kaboodle.
Amazing, huh?

[helonias]

Neither one will get into the kingdom of heaven though.

[paixa3]

Wrong, both give BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to charities. Now, the ones NOT going to heaven will be the wall street gang and other corporate thieves. You think because someone has wealth, they will get into heaven? Not if you give huge amounts to help others.....

[racom]

Are we to believe that one can buy their way into heaven? I don't think so.

[dairyair]

And those that judge others probably won't get there either.

[racom]

Supreme judge you are not unless God is now posting on this site.

[BPCentrisAmerican]

My heart breaks for this little nerd, and his operating systems suck to.

[KCFreedom]

Bill Gates got his fortune from lying and heavy-handed sleazeball tactics.

All we get out of the MSM is what a wonderful "people's billionaire" Warren Buffett is.
Have you ever heard any negative publicity about him from MSM?

I guarantee you Buffett is dirty too. He just has a populist outer shell. Nobody got that
rich from being honest.

[Pdubya]

that is a ridiculous statement.

read some history about warren buffet. he comes from humble beginnings and is a very hard working man.

how has he become this rich? he is brilliant and follows a basic rule to conservative, long-term, investing:

"when people get greedy, I get nervous. when people get nervous, I get greedy."

i respect the man. he sets his principles, with integrity, into action and demands it of his employees.

[joja]

I always thought Bill Gates was an over-rated, opportunistic sleaze-ball, who succeeded more thru his lack of ethics and unscrupulous business techniques, than any inspirational entrepreneurial talents.

All you have to do is power-up your computer and find all the Microsoft bullshit that's been loaded onto it every morning, to see how fucked up their business practices are. It's so frustrating to have to cancel out all their crap, just to get on the Internet -- and trying to get to sites/programs that Microsoft has blocked is so frustrating!

Eat shit and die, Bill! Now that you've crushed all your competition, you must feel real good about yourself! Asshole!

[jewforobama]

Gee-what a positive, healthy attitude toward the person who has donated the most money in all the world to charity! You eat shit and die,asshole!!!

[instagladiator]

Bravo!! Well done my friend.

[joja]

jew --

And why do you think he donates that money, moron? It's all PR!

If he was really serious about the world's problems, he would be doing a lot more than he is. What he gives to charity is just chump-change to him!

[jewforobama]

Who's your hero in business----Dick Cheney when he led Halliburton or Eric Prince who runs the Blackwater terror organization????Or was it George Bush when he bankrupted his failed oil company in Texas???

[joja]

jew --

My hero? I don't remember his name, but the was the guy who had a textile business in New England that burned down a few years ago, and rather than taking the jobs overseas, he decided to rebuild it in the same place, so his employees would still have jobs.

Doing the right thing was more important than making a buck, to him. something that is obviously lost on someone with your lack of integrity.

Cheney, Bush, Prince, AND Bill Gates couldn't find their way out of a wet paper bag if it wasn't for the tax breaks they've engineered for themselves over the years. That's the key to success in business in the US nowadays.

[pandarzan]

Joja, If you are having that much trouble with your MS products, might I suggest serices of "The Video Professor" and then some anger management therapy aided by a nice bottle of Xanax.

Damn! *hand slapping forehead* I could've had a mac!

[Purple Girl]

Anyone who thinks when a Politician is saying th ewords "Tax Breaks" that he/she is talking to you is delusional. 'Trickle Down = 'Sh*t Rolls Down Hill', and "Cream Float to the Top".
the corps have been handed not only our money but our rights and freedoms.
They control our so called "Federal Reserve", our Stock Market /Economy including Futures on necessary natural resources and human labor, Our right to Privacy, Freedom of Speech, Due process of law, Free elections, A Military and gov't assistance in times of hardship, not even Oversight is provided by Our Gov't. We pay a higher % of our Personal income gained through our TRADE of Labor for pay (No Profit Margin), and For Profit Entities pay less. How does this work? Control the resources, control the Labor (Free Market?) control the Masses. We not only want our Money back, but all our rights with a good dose of Retribution for the Financial and Violent crimes against US, Humantiy, and the Planet that sustains Us All. Buffett & Gates could always opt to pay more taxes since it is really on a volunteer basis- for corps only of course. WE THE PEOPLE, are charged, fined and imprisoned for failing to report a 'bonus' on our personal income tax forms. From the pitance we have earned, not had to repay due to credit necessary to make ends meet every month- the Indentured slave syndrome on a Global level.
I Could Not be More Disgusted with My Countries currrent 'Leaders'/­representa­tives/ Public Servants"- they have failed their prime objective to Protect and Defend the citizens and the Constitution.

[atlantajoe]

purple liar, can you give any example where Bill gates or any other ceo has taken away you right to free speech.