Redmond (WA) - Bill Gates ran for 13 years as the richest man in the world, but now he has slunk back to the third spot.

Forbes released its annual list of the world's richest people this week, and although the net worth of Gates went up $2 billion over last year, two other moguls had even better years.

Warren Buffett, always at the side of Bill Gates in the multi-billionaires club, is now the richest person.  His net worth is now $62 billion, compared to Gates's $58 billion.

Mexican tycoon Slim Helu, who earned his fortune in the telecommunications industry, is sandwiched between the two Americans with $60 billion.  Helu was first reported to have overtaken Gates near the end of last year.

First is the worst, second is the best, third is a

Mar 06, 2008 16:21     

First is the worst, second is the best, third is a turd. I tell ya, some people live tough lives... I mean, $58,000,000,000? Who needs that kind of doe...
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bill u suck

Mar 06, 2008 16:38     

I'm worth $58! So there :)
Wmcgritt report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Champions

Mar 06, 2008 17:46     

Todays true heroes. Who can mtch such greatness as $60B? We gotta love em. Let me go hop in my Hyundai and head off to work.
R report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

RE: First is the worst, second is the best, third

Mar 06, 2008 19:15     

I do.
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charity

Mar 06, 2008 21:30     

A large chunk of his wealth goes into his charity stuff. And he still made a profit. Credit where it's due.
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Its still not a bad place to be in!

Mar 06, 2008 22:14     

He slipped down to 3rd place? When you're talking about BILLION's of dollars, I think you've gone past the point where it really matters. He has no financial worries, and that's a really nice place to be no matter at what dollar value his stock is selling today.
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Bill Gates cool ...

Mar 06, 2008 22:20     

So he has alot of money... I'm sure most of us dream of being rich, and I'm sure bill gates gives away more money to charity than like all the readers on TG daily combined.
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Third place is still not bad

Mar 07, 2008 08:34     

This is an instance where being third is not all that bad. He might have gotten his money from a monopoly where he drove other companies out of business but third still is still pretty good. :)
TomLeeM/BigWarpGuy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

The first.

Mar 07, 2008 08:45     

The first billion is the hardest to make. After that it gets easer. If your net worth is less than 100k Your concerns are about things like paying for your house and retirement. Up to 20 or 30 million, It is about a bigger house or houses and things like that. When you approach the 100 million mark it is all about what you accomplish. That can be charity or it can be shaping your industry the direction you want it to go. When you hit Mr. Gates age, Shaping your industry starts becoming less important than playing with the grandkids.

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Hate MS if you want

Mar 07, 2008 09:23     

But Bill Gates has give more to minorities and education then anyone in history 10 times over. People hate MS because they are a monopoly but truely if they was not software and hardware would not have advanced as far as it has.
Ray report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Money is the root of all evil.

Mar 07, 2008 18:56     

I guess these three are all evil guys then. I agree with Ray. As much as people hate Microsoft, it has been shoveling technology and people forward and made computing much easier and more integrated. Anyone remembers the DOS days? Yes, Microsoft has many flaws, over charging is one of them. Hey Gates, instead of the donation of the tiny percentage of what you made, how 'bout lowing the price of your M$ products? That would the biggest charity to mankind.

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starts off as

Mar 09, 2008 10:51     

I wonder if they take into account that Bill started off in a garage with probably 58$ like Wmcgritt. Did the other two start off with more or less than Bill? So jump in your hyundais and if you too revolutionize the world, maybe you'll also be worth that much in the future. And, didn't Buffett give most of his money away recently? Thought I had read that.
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Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest tran...

Mar 10, 2008 10:06     

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest transparently operated charitable foundation in the world, founded by Bill and Melinda Gates in 2000 and doubled in size by Warren Buffett in 2006. It has an endowment of $38.7 billion as of December 31, 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_and_Melinda_Gates_Foundation So how small a percentage it that Doug_d???
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Poorest

Mar 11, 2008 23:10     

Do you think they have a list of the worlds poorest people? Now that'd be good reading. ( as long as I'm not on it :S ).
Mr Comment report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Charitable contributions

Mar 12, 2008 08:17     

Thank you for pointing out those facts Stans. Also, Mr. Gates is donating his fortune to charity when he dies. Bill/Melinda Gates foundation funds projects from better education to minorities to using ionized salt (much better than normal salt) in the third world. Say what you will about MS, but the Gates are compassionate humanitarians. It is rare to see somebody with so much set an example worth following. So I guess to relate it back to the article. Bill & Melinda's children will not even be in the top 100.

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Billionaires

Apr 06, 2008 10:08     

hey i live in an apartment and i dont need that money y cant u give poor ppl money instead of ur friken self
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