Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates tops Forbes richest Americans list

PanARMENIAN.Net - Forbes Magazine released the list of 400 richest Americans.And at the top of the list is the Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. According to Forbes, Gates’ 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.

Oracle CEO 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.

Some 262 people on the list saw their fortunes grow, while 72 saw a decline, the magazine said.

This year, entrepreneurs dominate the list at an all-time high of 70%, Forbes said.

All told, 18 people made it to the Forbes 400 for the first time this year, including Napster co-founder Sean Parker, who ranked 200th, and John Henry, majority owner of the Boston Red Sox and the Liverpool soccer team, at No. 375.

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.