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Buffet Unseats Gates as Richest Man on Earth

He's worth $62B; Gates is now third with $58B.

By Zach Samalin,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 5, 2008 7:44 PM CST

(Newser) – Bill Gates has passed the gilded torch: Warren Buffett and Mexican telecom mogul Carlos Slim have ended the Microsoft founder's 13-year reign as richest man on earth, Forbes reports. Buffett's fortune grew $10 billion this year to $62 billion, while Slim weighs in with an estimated $60 billion. Gates trails with a piddling $58 billion.

Gates' total increased $2 billion since last year; that growth, however, was stymied by Microsoft's recent $45 billion bid to purchase Yahoo, which hurt the software company's share price. Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway spiked to $150,000 a share in December, before leveling out at $137,000 this week. Buffett has reserved a majority of his fortune for the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, after his death.

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett speaks in New York in this June 26, 2007 file photo. With an estimated valued of $62 billion, Buffett is now the richest man on earth. (AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano, file)
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett speaks in New York in this June 26, 2007 file photo. With an estimated valued of $62 billion, Buffett is now the richest man on earth. (AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano, file)   (Associated Press)
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates speaks at Memorial Auditorium at Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008. Valued at $58 billion, Gates is now only the third richest man in the world. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates speaks at Memorial Auditorium at Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008. Valued at $58 billion, Gates is now only the third richest man in the world....   (Associated Press)
Mexican telecommunications billionaire Carlos Slim, speaks during a press conference prior to a meeting with Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, at the Presidential Palace, in Brasilia, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007. Valued at roughly $60 billion, Slim occupies the number two seat among the world's richest people. (AP Photo/Eraldo...
Mexican telecommunications billionaire Carlos Slim, speaks during a press conference prior to a meeting with Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, at the Presidential Palace, in Brasilia, Wednesday,...   (Associated Press)
Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007, about the federal estate tax. He is officially the richest man in the world. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)
Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007, about the federal estate tax. He is officially the richest man in the world. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)   (Associated Press)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
entzyemilcar
May 7, 2010 12:03 AM CDT
These people who are so rich why don't they help those folks who are about to lose their homes for not being able to make payment on their mortgages for 3 months or so, this is an SOS for all those who are in need of saving their houses. Everyone needs a place, and a home is the most excellent place of all, where love lives. Entzy Emilcar, homeownew who's trying to keep her house. If someone cares enough please
help!
I am a nursing student @ Fortis college in Tampa, fl, trying to finish my RN. Today on my way to school my car broke down right there on BBD and Dona Michell ave, on the day I have a Pharmacology exam. I need a reliable car for school, for clinical rotations and to go to church Plz. help a nursing student out! 813 841-9176 Thank you and be blessed!

A look at some of the younger billionaires
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Microsoft • Bill Gates • wealth • Warren Buffett • Fortune 500 • Carlos Slim • billionaire • Berkshire Hathaway • wealthy men • richest man in the world • Forbes billionaire list

 
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