According to Sentido Comun, Carlos Slim Helu has surpassed Bill gates as the world’s wealthiest person. The Mexican magazine estimates Slim to be worth about $67.8 billion, while Gates is estimated at “just” $59.2 billion.

Slim, who controls Teléfonos de Mexico (Telmex), has been climbing up the ladder over the past months and was recently ranked at #2 on Forbes’ list of the world’s richest people. Sentido Comun believes that the sharp price increase of Telmex stock - +27% between March and June of this year – was the single most important reason that allowed 67-year old Slim to reach the top spot.

Besides Telmex, Slim's holdings include five insurance companies, a retail chain, mining companies, an auto parts manufacturing company, a bank and a tobacco company. He also has an investment history in the U.S. where he owns CompUSA and Saks Fifth Avenue.

???

Jul 03, 2007 10:46     

how can a guy who sells telephone cards be more wealthy than mr. M$ himself? strange.
tom report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

So what?!

Jul 03, 2007 10:48     

Bill Gates donates his moneys did this Mexican dude donate his money?! Probably not, so that does not count him as #1 most richest!
asdfds report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

wow!

Jul 03, 2007 11:29     

Another person figured out how to overcharge the population to the tune of tens of billions for their own personal benefit! The free market works for not only Bill Gates, but for Slim as well! I'm sure Mexico doesn't have anything better to do with that kind of cash, so it's all good. Now if they could only get clean water...
Camille report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

DAMN

Jul 03, 2007 11:47     

Now that is rich...damn Wonder what happens when this Mexican guy dies? Where does all his money go then? He should help out mexico, get them some damn clean water and free buritos for all.
Jason report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

*smack*

Jul 03, 2007 11:52     

Take that, Bill!
Eddie report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

Corruption at its finest

Jul 03, 2007 12:10     

One of the big reasons he is so rich, the telecomm company he owns is basically the only one allowed in Mexico. He runs pretty much the entire country's phone system. It would be like if the U.S. shut down Apple and all the Linux companies completely so Microsoft had the entire market.
Tim. report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

i guess, we need somebody else to hate

Jul 03, 2007 12:19     

Since Bill of M$ is not the richest man anymore, we can target another person to hate/envy *chuckle*. At least Bill will donate over 90% of his whealth after his death on his will and already single handedly donate big sums of money to the charity of his foundation. I haven't heard anything from $lim yet, have you?
Justin report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Free Market?

Jul 03, 2007 12:54     

Telemex does not opperate in a free market. It's a government sponsored monopoly. Were Mexico to open up it's telecommunications market like the US has, his net worth would probably drop well below Bill's as the article indicates his increase in measured wealth is largely on paper due to stock value increases.
geod report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Poor Bill.

Jul 03, 2007 13:59     

We all need to pitch in and give him some advice on how to live on a budget. Ramen is cheep. You might try taking your lunch with you to work. That could save a few dollars.
RalfTheDog report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

good points from some of you

Jul 03, 2007 14:42     

Just like some lazy asses monarch kiddies becoming rich because, they have people working (mostly from foreign countries) for them to drill the freaking oil. No other companies allow to supply the oil except them, coz' the country has their last name stamped on it.
Justin report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

asdfds

Jul 03, 2007 19:31     

actually asdfds.... Being the worlds richest man has nothing to do with how much money you donate. So yes, he is the richest it would seem.
qwerew report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Just 59.2 billion! Can't believe that. Is it after ...

Jul 03, 2007 20:51     

Just 59.2 billion! Can't believe that. Is it after he donated his money.
bonelyfish report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

TelMex

Jul 03, 2007 23:59     

Bill gives away alot of money. Also he's not a greed monger like other billionaires out there. When I was in mexico a few years back I noticed TelMex was the biggest rip off there...believe it or not. Way over priced long distance. Raping the system basically. $30 for a 5 minute call. Never do collect. NEVER...stupid on my part too. But it was a 1:34minute call to tell my family I made it. And they rounded up to 5:00min on the bill. Amazing. But thats why that guy is richer than gates.

Lee report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

CompUSA

Jul 04, 2007 10:51     

There is an old saying that states, ...Behind every great fortune is a great crime. Slim is no exception. I beleive CompUSA was part of an investigation into laundered drug money from Mexico. His bank has also been under investigation for laundering cartel drug money and he is a master of greasing the plams of high ranking Mexican officials to keep the monopoly he has as Mexico's one and only telephone company.

Earl report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

He does make donations. Or so says the BBC.

Jul 04, 2007 14:16     

"Bill Gates donates his moneys did this Mexican dude donate his money?! Probably not, so that does not count him as #1 most richest!" In the interest of fairness, when they mentioned this news in the BBC they talked about donations. Plus, you never heard of the guy, how can you assume crap like that? Be fair. Other than that, screw him, no one deserves that much money.
Pedro Almada report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

people are dying everywhere and your all obsessed w...

Jul 04, 2007 22:23     

people are dying everywhere and your all obsessed with who has the most money in the world.
joe report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

How about sharing that wealth with me?

Jul 05, 2007 02:17     

Its interesting on how the wealthy kind of battle out,but they are just doing their work. Well I would like to be wealthy too and I am seeking assistance on raising a million dollars,anyone with links to the billionaiares and millionaires,hook me up so that I can sell my idea to them. I welcome comments and ideas on the same and my address is This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it I will be so happy to live this dream for it will help me and my community too whose members are suffering alot! Thank you guys!

owen report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

PWN3D!!!!111ONEONE

Jul 06, 2007 02:52     

Looks like ol' Bill got TeH SmAcKdOwN from Mexico!
Austin report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Telecommunication

Jul 06, 2007 06:05     

It worth realizing that most of the rich people have interests in telecommunication industry. It's therefore apparent that the medium through which free flow of information can be attained across the world is yet to be achieved. In Kenya (a small economy in East Africa), the most profitable company (Safaricom) is in the telecommunication industry.
Chrispines report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Bodyweightculture solutes you

Jul 06, 2007 16:28     

Can't say it enough. Thank you to both Mr. Gates and Mr. Slim for inspiring the younger generations.
Bodyweightculture report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Bah

Jul 06, 2007 16:34     

Bill Gates obviously owns Carlos' Soul : )
Steven report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Surpassing Billy wasn't a good thing for Slim

Jul 09, 2007 15:11     

July 9 (Bloomberg). "Slim's Companies to Face Antitrust Probe in Mexico" http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aLuETuNNQS3o&refer=home Short-lived empire!
Xmas report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

None

Jul 09, 2007 16:18     

How much does TelMex pay their employees? At 5USD a day min wage, I doubt they pay all that well. Couple that with 1st world rates for making telephone calls, no wonder he is rich. I paid $4 a minute to call Canada from Mexico. Damn I felt raped after that call.
MX Pays like crap report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

dinkar

Jul 11, 2007 04:23     

Bechara Bill Gates, Ab uske neeche utarne ke din aa gaye hai...
div report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

nooo how could he lose

Jul 13, 2007 23:44     

How could he lose!!!!!
alok report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Bill gates could be overtaken by lots of people.

Jul 14, 2007 13:49     

The only reason he was so rich before is that he took all the revenue from microsoft without putting it back into it. CEOs of the more of the wealthier companyies out there could do the same and overtake bill easily.
god0fogd report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Bill Gates is a good person hes always helping peop...

Jul 19, 2007 14:05     

Bill Gates is a good person hes always helping people
Vladimir Pupo report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

clearness

Jul 31, 2007 11:49     

It is true that this man has made his fortune out of the only way someone in Mexico could reach to have be communicated by phone. But there are some comments which are incorrect. Actually TELMEX is not the only company to give the telephonic service; there are: ATT, Alcatel, Avantel, Axtel and now all the television companies will enter, the thing is that TELMEX was the first. When he bought the company from the goverment it was the only one but in that moment there was the opportunity to get into the market for any one else. Besides he pays at least, to his workers $9.00 USD a day instead of 5 as said.

Gabriel Olagaray report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

MD

Sep 16, 2007 12:17     

It seems that the American public have a problem accepting the fact that a non American has usurped Mr. Gates from his top position as the world's richest person., To me a lot of those above comments are in bad taste of jealousy, no one gets rich by being Mr.Nice Guy, Mr. Gates no exception. If Mr. Slim Helu is the world's richest man, so be it, let us accept that, We all have a skeleton in the closet so let us not point fingers at others. [Generalizations like this are never true. Many people couldn't care less if Bill Gates is the richest man in the world or not, myself included. -Rick]

R J V report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

haha it aint a whites man world no more...

Sep 30, 2007 16:10     

haha it aint a whites man world no more
ann report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

hgh

Oct 04, 2007 12:47     

ya go mexicans
bob report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Slim is the man!

Oct 12, 2007 07:52     

Yes he has donated money, why should he be punished for building a succesful company? He has done damn good for himslef.
Craig report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

im the richest man next year

Dec 31, 2007 13:34     

haha im jackey chan. haha im jackey chan. im the richest person
jacky chan report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0