Mexico's Carlos Slim overtakes Gates in world rich list

[Purveyor]

Mexican telecom giant Carlos Slim has topped Forbes magazine's billionaire's list - the first time since 1994 that an American has not led the rankings.

Mr Slim's fortune rose by $18.5bn (£12.4bn) last year to $53.5bn.

That beat Microsoft founder Bill Gates ($53bn) into second place, with US investor Warren Buffet ($43bn) third.

In 2009 332 names left the list after a tough year, but the total number of billionaires on this year's list rose from 793 to 1,011, Forbes said.

A spokesman for Carlos Slim refused to confirm the Forbes estimate of the Mexican tycoon's wealth, saying they did not "waste their time" on such calculations, but he welcomed the result.

"We're pleased that he has been considered the best businessman of the world," spokesman Arturo Elias told the BBC. "It means there is trust among the investors."

The year's biggest gainer, Brazilian mining tycoon Eike Batista, broke into the top 10 for the first time.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8560731.stm

[Bitwit1234]

1. Gates might be second in wealth money wise

but this is one man who contributes to the less fortunate. He has a heart. If all those in this country and elsewhere would do the same we might be able to make this world a better place.

[BolivarianHero]

10. Less fortunate...

You mean the Discovery Institute and Charter schools?

[RexS]

13. He could also stop forcing us to pay 300 dollars every few

years for an 'upgrade' of the same shitty software.

[NoFace]

2. Being 'the best businessman in the world' doesn't equal being the richest person.

It's kinda easy to be mega rich when your country allows obscene monopolization of power. This guys great grandparents were probably Upper Eschalon Mexicans as well...the division between rich and poor 'down there' is disgusting.

So, personally, I wish there were fewer billionaires here in America and more happy citizens with longer yearly vacations.
And better health. Lower infant mortality. Higher literacy rate. Lower suicide rate. Etc Etc Etc.

[Hannah Bell]

3. his parents were (rich) lebanese.

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.carlosslim.com/biografia.html&ei=E4mYS4OGCojUsgOm2qjCAQ&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CAoQ7gEwAQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522La%2BEstrella%2Bde%2BOriente%2522%2Bslim%26hl%3Den

[NoFace]

4. Um, okay, thanks for the clarification? Is the rest of my post pretty much on point?

:shrug:

[Hannah Bell]

6. i didn't say anything about the rest of your post. why take it personally, just

correction of fact.

slim is 100% lebanese by "blood".

[NoFace]

8. Not taking it personally, just asking. :)

It's interesting to me that his mother and father moved from Lebanon then met and got married.
And he did the same with his wife.

I wonder what the Lebanese Community in Mexico is like.
Also, it said, #1 spot..."Carlos Slim Helu & Family"
What's that about?

At any rate, being the richest guy (family?) in the world and being the 'best businessman' do not seem to equal each other in my book and I feel no great loss (as I imagine some might) that America is not #1 in this regard.

[Hannah Bell]

11. February 14, 2010

BOINGBOING: Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim now one of largest NY Times shareholders. “He’s a controversial fellow. Slim’s net wealth equals about 2% of Mexico’s total yearly economic output. Mexican telcom Telmex, of which Slim and family own roughly half, charges some of the highest usage fees in the world, according to the OECD.”

http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:3-h8AtwFvq8J:pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/93831/+carlos+slim+corn&cd=9&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

[NoFace]

12. Da plot thickens... nt

[HuckleB]

5. OK, then. Who's up for a round of tequila tasters?

[salguine]

7. I thought Carlos Slim got killed in a shootout with Johnny Ringo and Pecos Bill back in Dodge City.

[NoFace]

9. That was Slim Whitman. nt