Gates, the world’s richest, gets richer

THE WORLD’S richest person got even richer this year. Forbes said yesterday that Bill Gates’s net worth rose to $79.2 billion (R923bn) in 2015 from $76bn last year. That put him at the top of the list of the world’s billionaires for the second consecutive year. The co-founder of Microsoft has topped the list for 16 of the last 21 years. In second place is Mexican telecoms mogul Carlos Slim Helu, with a net worth of $77.1bn. He topped the list in 2013. Third was Warren Buffett, who moved up one slot this year with a net worth of $72.7bn. Fourth was Amancio Ortega, the Spanish co-founder of clothing retail chain Zara, with a net worth of $64.5bn. Rounding out the top five was Larry Ellison, the founder of technology company Oracle, with $54.3bn. The highest-ranking woman was Christy Walton, the widow of John Walton, a son of the founder of Wal-Mart Stores, with $41.7bn. – Sapa-AP