LOS ANGELES — The nation’s economic woes don’t appear to be hurting Bill Gates, who tops Forbes’ list of the 400 richest Americans for the 18th year in a row.
The magazine said Wednesday that the Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist’s wealth amounts to $59 billion, ranking him ahead of all the other billionaires who make up this year’s list.
Gates’ fortune swelled by $5 billion from a year ago, outpacing No. 2 on the list, Warren Buffett, whose net worth is $39 billion, Forbes said.
Buffett — who wrote in a recent piece for The New York Times that the tax rate he paid last year was lower than that paid by any of the other 20 people in his office — was the only person among the top 20 on Forbes’ list to see his fortune shrink from a year ago. The Berkshire Hathaway Inc. chairman and chief executive’s fortune decreased by $6 billion — the largest dollar-amount loss by anyone on the Forbes 400 this year, the magazine said.
Oracle chief executive Larry Ellison rounds out the top three richest Americans with a net worth of $33 billion, $6 billion more than last year.
Financier George Soros took seventh place, his first time among the top 10. Forbes estimates his wealth at $22 billion.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was the biggest dollar gainer on the list, with a net worth of $17.5 billion, which earned him the No. 14 spot.
There were 42 women on the list, including media mogul Oprah Winfrey at No. 139, with a net worth of $2.7 billion.
Coloradans on the Forbes 400 list of the richest people in the U.S.
PHILIP ANSCHUTZ
Rank: 39
Age: 71
Net worth: $7 billion
Residence: Denver
Source: investments
CHARLES ERGEN
Rank: 46
Age: 58
Net worth: $6.4 billion
Residence: Denver
Source: Echo Star/Dish Network
JOHN MALONE
Rank: 69
Age: 70
Net worth: $4.5 billion
Residence: Elizabeth
Source: Liberty Media
JAMES LEPRINO
Rank: 139
Age: 73
Net worth: $2.7 billion
Residence: Indian Hills
Source: cheese
GARY MAGNESS
Rank: 312
Age: 57
Net worth: $1.4 billion
Residence: n/a
Source: cable, investments
PAT STRYKER
Rank: 331
Age: 55
Net worth: $1.3 billion
Residence: Fort Collins
Source: medical technology
