Bill Gates leads US rich list for a 14th year in a row

21 September 2007

Mumbai: Microsoft founder Bill Gates is America''s richest person for the 14th year in a row, with Warren Buffett coming second, the Forbes magazine said in its latest list of the wealthiest Americans.

Both Gates and Buffett saw their fortunes grow by $6 billion in the past year, Forbes said, with Gates` fortune rising to $59 billion and Buffett''s to $52 billion.

Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson ($28 billion) and Oracle Corp chief executive Larry Ellison ($26 billion) remain at No. 3 and No. 4 on the 25th annual ranking of 400 rich Americans, which now requires a minimum net worth of $1.3 billion for inclusion.

"The collective net worth of those listed on the 400 this year rose $290 billion to $1.54 trillion," Forbes said. "Despite market jitters, nearly half of the 45 new members come from hedge fund and private equity investments."

Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page is No. 5 with fortunes of $18.5 billion, while brothers Charles and David Koch, who run Koch Industries, the world`s second largest private company, with fortunes of $17 billion each, earned 9th place.

Investor Kirk Kerkorian, who saw his fortune rising by more than $9 billion in the past year to USD 18 billion, debuted at No. 7 — up from No. 26 last year.