| 1. At number one is Bill Gates, who is instantly | | | | world and the richest in Europe. He is the founder of |
| recognisable the world over as the man behind | | | | furnishing retail giant, Ikea and worth $22 billion. |
| Microsoft, at the forefront of the personal computer | | | | Although retired, at 83 he still works at the company. |
| revolution. He is currently worth $40 billion. He is also a | | | | Despite his wealth he remains frugal, shunning an |
| keen philanthropist donating large amounts of money | | | | extravagant lifestyle. |
| to charity. He is known as a 'creative capitalist'; | | | | 6. Karl Albrecht is the richest man in Germany and |
| reinforcing the idea that companies should balance the | | | | number 6 in the world, worth $21.5 billion. He founded |
| pursuit of making profit with doing well. | | | | the supermarket chain Aldi with his brother. Very little is |
| 2. Warren Buffet comes in at number 2, worth $37 | | | | known about him as he has retired and withdrawn |
| billion. He is an American businessman, investor and | | | | from public life. |
| philanthropist - in fact one of the most successful | | | | 7. Mukesh Ambani is worth $19.5 billion, inherited wealth |
| investors in the world. He is CEO of Berkshire | | | | from petrochemicals which continues to grow. His |
| Hathaway. A proponent of value investing, Buffet buys | | | | father founded Reliance Industries, today India's most |
| stocks he believes that the market has undervalued. | | | | valuable company and Ambani is its chairman, |
| He has pledged to give away 85% of his wealth to | | | | managing director and largest shareholder. |
| the Gates Foundation and is renowned for his personal | | | | 8. Lakshmi Mittal is at number 8. His inherited wealth, |
| frugality. | | | | currently standing at $19.3 billion comes from heading |
| 3. The Mexican, Carols Slim Helu is at number 3. Worth | | | | the world's largest steel company, ArcelorMittal. In |
| $35 billion he currently controls 90% of Mexico's | | | | 2007 he was named one of the 100 most influential |
| telephone landlines and has a $16 billion stake in | | | | people by Time magazine. |
| America Movil, Latin America's largest mobile phone | | | | 9. Theo Albrecht, Karl Albrecht's brother is at number |
| company. He has assets in media, energy and retail. | | | | 9, worth $18.8 billion from discount supermarket Aldi |
| His sage advice is to 'Maintain austerity in times of fat | | | | Nord. Theo controls the stores in Northern Germany |
| cows'. | | | | and the rest of Europe; also creating Trader Joe's in |
| 4. Lawrence (Larry) Ellison, CEO and co-founder of | | | | order to operate in America. |
| software giant Oracle is at number 4. He started | | | | 10. Amancio Ortega is worth $18.3 billion, a self made |
| Oracle in 1977, contributing just $1400 of his own | | | | fortune from clothing retail giant Zara. He started out |
| money. Oracle has accumulated 49 new acquisitions in | | | | making dressing gowns and lingerie in his living room |
| the last 4 years. | | | | with his then wife. He also has investments in gas, |
| 5. Ingvar Kamprad is the 5th wealthiest person in the | | | | banks, tourism and real estate. |