Forbes released its annual list of the world's billionaires in 2010, ranking 1,011 individuals with a combined net worth of $3.6 trillion.
The list was compiled based on the estimated fortunes of individuals as of March 2010.
The rankings were determined by a formula that took into account the net worth of each individual, which was calculated by subtracting liabilities from assets.
The net worth of the top 10 billionaires on the list ranged from $22.6 billion to $54.7 billion.
The List
A total of 1,011 people made the 2010 list, up from 793 the year before, but short of the all-time record of 1,125. The United States accounted for 403 billionaires, followed by China with 89 and Russia with 62.
The world's youngest billionaire was Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who was just 25 years old. Christy Walton was the highest ranking woman, placing 12th overall, with an inherited fortune of $22.5 billion.
Here's a breakdown of the top 10 billionaires in 2010:
The combined net worth of the list was $3.6 trillion, up 50% from 2009's $2.4 trillion.
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Rankings and Visualizations
The World's Billionaires 2010 have some fascinating rankings and visualizations that are worth exploring. There are 8 'couples' whose combined assets touch 1 billion or more.
The total asset value of the 105 Families is a staggering 2990.4 Billion $. The top 3 countries with the most rich families are the US, China, and India. These countries have 25, 9, and 7 families respectively.
The combined wealth of all the Billionaires is close to 3567.8 Billion $. The top 5 countries in terms of the highest net worth of the Billionaires are the USA, Russia, India, Germany, and China. The USA has a whopping 1349.3 billion dollars in net worth.
Here are the top 5 most 'successful' billionaires, where success is defined as those whose age/wealth factor is as close to 1:
Notable Billionaires
Among the world's billionaires in 2010, Bill Gates was the richest, with an estimated net worth of $53 billion. His fortune was largely built on the success of Microsoft.
Warren Buffett, with a net worth of $47 billion, ranked second on the list. He made his fortune through his investment firm Berkshire Hathaway.
Carlos Slim Helú was third on the list, with a net worth of $40 billion. His wealth was built on his telecommunications empire in Mexico.
The top 10 billionaires in the world in 2010 were all men, with no women making the cut. This was a reflection of the male-dominated business world at the time.
The richest self-made billionaire in 2010 was Carlos Slim Helú, who built his fortune from scratch.
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Forbes Lists
The Forbes Lists are a great way to see who's made it big in the world of business and finance.
The 2010 list featured a record-breaking 1,011 billionaires, up from 793 the year before, but short of the all-time record of 1,125.
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The top spot was taken by Carlos Slim, a Mexican telecommunication mogul, who narrowly eclipsed Bill Gates to become the world's richest person for the first time. His estimated worth surged $18.5 billion to $53.5 billion as shares of America Movil rose 35%.
The United States accounted for 403 billionaires, followed by China with 89 and Russia with 62. It was the first time China, which includes Hong Kong, placed second.
The combined net worth of the list was $3.6 trillion, up 50% from 2009's $2.4 trillion, while the average net worth was $3.5 billion.
The 2010 list featured 164 re-entries and 97 true newcomers, with Asia accounting for more than 100 of the new entrants.
Only 12% of the list lost wealth since 2009, and 30 people fell off the list. Thirteen others died.
The top 10 richest people in the world included Carlos Slim Helu, a telecoms tycoon from Mexico, who controlled a string of companies, including Telmex and America Movil.
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