1. Bill Gates
Net worth: $53 billion
Despite
his net worth rising $13 billion since last year, software visionary
Gates dropped in rank to the world’s second richest man, beaten by
Mexican telecom mogul Carlos Slim Helu. A big reason for Gates’ larger
fortune: Microsoft shares rose 50% in the last 12 months. Other
investments include Four Seasons hotels, Televisa and AutoNation. Gates
stepped down from day-to-day duties at Microsoft in July 2008 to focus
on philanthropy at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
2. Lawrence Ellison
Net worth: $28 billion
Oracle
founder’s fortune climbed $5.5 billion as his company’s shares rocketed
up 70% in past 12 months. Oracle has bought 54 companies in the past
five years, including the recent purchase of Sun Microsystems for $7.4
billion and BEA Systems for $8.5 billion in 2008. Ellison owns a 52%
stake in business software company NetSuite; his shares are worth $480
million. The racing junkie also owns a 453-foot yacht "Rising Sun" with
pal David Geffen, and won the America’s Cup in February.
3. Sergey Brin
Net worth: $17.5 billion
The
Google cofounder’s hot streak brings him up a couple of rankings to
24th richest in the world. His fortune grew $5.5 billion as shares of
the search giant rose 70% in past year. Google revenues hit $23.7
billion. Unveiled smart phone Nexus One in January; operates with
Android software. Announced upgraded version of Chrome browser in March.
Emigrated from Russia, met future partner Larry Page at Stanford; duo
dropped out of computer science Ph.D. program in 1998. Brin introduced
goats to Google’s campus last year, since animals are less harmful to
the environment than lawn mowers.
4. Larry Page
Net worth: $17.5 billion
The
surge in Google stock pushed up cofounder Page’s fortune by $5.5
billion and lands him as 24th richest. Google continues to dominate
search, though it has seen Microsoft’s Bing search engine–launched in
2009–take a slice of its market share. The company has moved into mobile
phones and mobile software with the January launch of its Nexus One
smart phone, which uses its Android operating system software. Google
Apps–including Google Docs and Google Calendar–are a $750 million piece
of the overall business and growing. Page met Brin at Stanford, where
the pair founded Google.
5. Azim Premji
Net worth: $17 billion
Software
czar’s net worth jumped more than $11 billion in the past year, while
his ranking among billionaires went from 83rd to 28th this year. Premji
chairs Wipro, India’s third-largest software exporter, which reported
net profits in the last two quarters, signaling a rebound for the
U.S.-dependent outsourcing giant. The Azim Premji Foundation, his
charitable arm, plans to set up Azim Premji University. He co-chaired
the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos this year. Eldest son
Rishad, a Harvard grad, is Wipro’s general manager for treasury and
investor relations.
6. Steve Ballmer
Net worth: $14.5 billion
Ballmer’s
net worth increased $3.5 billion in the last year, as Microsoft’s
shares climbed 50%. In 2009 the manic Microsoft chief finally cut a deal
with Yahoo (after failed acquisition attempts) to pay for its search
technology. The company’s new operating system Windows 7, released in
October 2009, was hailed as much better than predecessor Vista. The
upcoming Windows Phone 7 Series mobile operating system surprised and
delighted pundits. Ballmer, famous for impassioned stage antics,
pretended to stomp on an iPhone at a company event last year, after an
employee snapped a picture with Apple’s offending device.
7. Paul Allen
Net worth: $13.5 billion
Microsoft
cofounder’s net worth rose $3 billion in the last year. Allen, who left
Microsoft long ago, recently launched software outfit Xiant, whose
product Filer helps users keep track of emails in Microsoft’s Outlook.
Though he no longer chairs Charter Communications, which recently
emerged from bankruptcy, Allen still controls 35% of voting interest in
the cable outfit. The philanthropist has been diagnosed with lymphoma
and is undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
8. Michael Dell
Net worth: $13.5 billion
Dell’s
net worth rose $1.2 billion from a year ago, but his ranking among
dropped to 37th from 25th last year. The leader of one of the world’s
largest PC-makers, trying to claw its way back to the top, completed a
purchase of IT services outfit Perot Systems in November 2009. Dell
returned to the company helm two years ago, brought new management,
restructured divisions. Dell introduced smart phone and tablet devices
in the past few months. The company’s stock slipped nearly 10% in the
past six months, however, and revenue fell 13% in the year ended January
2010.
9. Jeffrey Bezos
Net worth: $12.3 billion
Bezos’
fortune rose $5.5 billion in the past year, as Amazon shares climbed
100%. His rank on the billionaires list is 43rd this year, up from 68th
last year. Bezos launched the Kindle digital book reader in 2007; Kindle
2 debuted in 2008. Amazon’s net income increased 40% while the economy
crashed in 2009, as bargain-hunters flocked to its online marketplace
for low prices and convenience. It also acquired online shoe retailer
Zappos in July 2009 for $800 million in stock.
1o. Ernesto Bertarelli
Net worth: $10 billion
Net
worth of this Swiss mogul rose $2.3 billion in the last year.
Bertarelli inherited biotech firm Serono when his father passed away in
1998. He ran the firm for years, increasing revenue to $2.4 billion in
2006, fueled by blockbuster drug Rebif for multiple sclerosis therapy, a
drug with $1.4 billion in annual sales. Bertarelli sold the company to
Merck in 2007, and with his sister took home $9 billion. He launched
private equity fund Area Life Sciences in 2008, investing $680 million
in health care companies.
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