The rich are getting richer, but Microsoft chief Bill Gates is still the richest person in the world with a fortune valued at $90 billion, according to the US magazine Forbes Global.
But the combined wealth of the world's top 200 billionaires is worth more than one $1 trillion, more than double what they were worth a decade ago, the magazine says in its July 5th issue.
As of April 30th, 1999 - Forbes' cut-off date for the list - the seven richest people in the world were American, followed by Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal ($15 billion); Germany's Albrecht family ($13.6 billion); and Hong King promoter Li Kashing ($12.7 billion).
Trailing behind Gates were Americans Warren Buffett ($36 billion); Paul Allen ($30 billion); Steve Ballmer ($19.5 billion); Philip Anschutz ($16.5 billion); Michael Dell ($16.5 billion); and S. Robson Walton ($15.8 billion).
"In 1990, we had a lot of Japanese and only two Americans" in the top 10, said Kerry Dolan, one of the journalists who worked on the report.
Nevertheless, Forbes gave its cover to Japanese businessman Masayoshi Yon, who claims to have a larger slice of the Internet economy than anyone else in the world.
As the founder of the company Softbank, Yon is worth $6.4 billion dollars.
While the billionaires have valuable assets, they do not keep much pocket change. And the magazine did not even look at their tax returns.
Gates' huge increase in wealth last year came largely from his Microsoft stock. For last year's ranking, Microsoft was trading at about $42 per share on the Nasdaq.
