Which billionaires are the richest in the world? Everyone enjoys the finer things in life, such as staying at top-notch hotels, living in a beautiful house or being able to purchase a luxury vehicle. Yet for most people, these are luxuries that can be afforded from time to time if one is able to save up enough money. For others however, money is simply not an issue, such as for the 10 richest billionaires in the world.
In the following list the wealthiest of the wealthiest make an appearance, so be warned: the details of their income and assets might leave you a bit depressed concerning your current financial situation. Nonetheless, it is always worth noting who holds the most capital in the world and where they come from. The 10 richest billionaires in the world are after all heavily influential in the business sector, with their capital being their greatest tool.
If you find this topic interesting, be sure to also take a look at our list of the top 10 highest paid CEOs in 2014, but for now let´s go into further detail regarding the richest people in the world. The following list contains information provided by Forbes, which year after year tracks the wealthiest people on the planet. So let´s take a closer look at the 10 richest billionaires in the world in 2014 and see what they are up to!
10) Liliane Bettencourt & Family
First up on our list with a net worth of $35.4 billion is Liliane Bettencourt and her family. The french family is known for founding and holding a majority share of L’Oreal SA (OR) and also for their legal battles, which in 2011 resulted in Liliane stepping down from her managerial responsibilities.
9) Jim Walton
Up next is Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE:WMT) shareholder Jim Walton, which thanks to a healthy bump in share value now posses a net worth of $36.6 billion. Besides being involved in Wal-Mart, which his father Sam Walton created, Jim is the CEO of the Arvest Bank Group.
8) Christy Walton & Family
With a net worth of $38.3 billion Christy Walton has once again become the richest woman in the world. Following her husband John Walton’s death in 2005, Christy received a huge inheritance, while previous investments made in First Solar Inc (NASDAQ:FSLR) have boosted her wealth even further.
6) Charles & David Koch
Although we might seem to have skipped the seventh spot on our list, this is really no mistake. Both Charles Koch and his brother David have a net worth of $42.9 billion and since they decided to share their 84% of Koch Industries Inc, they must share the sixth position on the list.
5) Larry Ellison
The CEO and founder of Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) not only posses a net worth of $48.6 billion, but also knows how to spend it! Larry Ellison is practically responsible for San Francisco being able to host the America’s Cup in 2013, in which Team Oracle managed to win for the second time in a row.
4) Amancio Ortega
The second European on our list is the spanish Amancio Ortega, with a net worth of $59.4 billion. The world’s richest retailer left his position as Inditex SA chairman in 2011, yet this has not stopped him from deriving huge gains from his 60% share of the firm.
3) Warren Buffett
Warren Buffett requires no introduction as he has been on the list of the richest people in the world for quite a while. The iconic investment guru and founder of the largest hedge fund Berkshire Hathaway (BRK) seems to have a sixth sense for making profitable deals, which over the past decades have rarely failed him.
2) Bill Gates
The founder of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) made fortunes from his ground-breaking company and continues to make healthy profits from his shares. Over the past 20 years Bill Gates has enjoyed being the richest man alive for 15 of them, although in 2014 his net worth of $81.1 billion has only landed him the second spot.
1) Carlos Slim Helu & Family
The self-made mexican business man and telecommunications mogul is currently the richest man in the world with a net worth of $82.3 billion. Despite being the only billionaire in this list to actually lose money over the past year, Mr. Slim managed to remain the wealthiest thanks to his pan-Latin American investments.
