Bill Gates is the still the richest man in the world

The number of billionaires around the globe has reached a record high of 946, according to Forbes.
The combined fortune of the 946 now stands at $3.5 trillion (£1.82 trillion), a 35 per cent increase on 2006.
Microsoft boss Bill Gates tops the list for the 13th year running, with a net worth of $56bn.

Mr Gates was among 415 Americans on the Forbes list, which also included 53 from Russia and 36 from India.
Strong equity markets combined with rising real estate values and commodity prices have been the driving force behind the billionaire boom.
"In the last five years... despite all the turmoil in the world, all the conflict in the world, the global economy in real terms expanded over 25 per cent," said Steve Forbes, the magazine's editor-in-chief.

"Never in history has there been such an advance."
Berkshire Hathaway owner Warren Buffett is second on the list, with a net worth of $52bn - up from $42bn in 2006.
Mexican telecoms giant Carlos Slim Helu finished in third place with $49bn, followed by Ikea's Ingvar Kamprad ($33bn) in fourth and Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal ($32bn) in fifth.
Also included are Donald Trump, George Lucas, Michael Bloomberg, Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg and Steve Jobs.
There are 178 newcomers to the Forbes list, including 19 Russians, 14 Indians, 13 Chinese and 10 Spaniards, as well as the first billionaires from Cyprus, Oman, Romania and Serbia.

Two-thirds of this year's billionaires are richer and only 17 per cent are poorer, including 32 who fell below the billion-dollar mark.
The average billionaire is 62 years old, two years younger than in 2005, and is worth $3.5bn.
Mr Forbes added: "This growth in the billionaires list is a mere reflection of a dynamic global economy. More people are better off on this Earth than ever before.
"This boom goes beyond commodities. One of the things that has facilitated this global boom, bringing hundreds of millions of people into the global economy is of course technology.

"This is the richest year in human history."
The Duke of Westminster is the highest ranked Briton on the Forbes rich list at number 55. He is worth a cool $11bn.
Philip & Christina Green ($7bn), the Reuben Brothers ($4.5bn), Simon Halabi ($4.3bn) and Richard Branson ($3.8bn) complete the British top five.
The youngest billionaire on the list is a German, 23-year-old Albert von Thurn und Taxis, whose inherited fortune is estimated at $2bn.

Forbes said there were 793 billionaires in 2006.
Mr Gates, who set up Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975, is also known for his charity work.
The Gates Foundation, established in the name of Gates and his wife Melinda, has spent over $10bn since its inception in 1994, around half of which has been spent on global health issues.

source:www.999today.com