Bill Gates
Net Worth: $46.6 billion
Country: United States
Rank: 1
Microsoft's founder and chief software architect is pushing to move the company beyond PCs into TVs, cell phones, cars, even wristwatches. Flagship Windows operating system runs 94% of the world's desktop computers, but company faces pressure from faster- growing open source system Linux. Expectations high for Windows successor, dubbed Longhorn, which may debut in 2005. World's biggest philanthropist, he devotes billions to eradicating infectious diseases (polio, AIDS) and developing vaccines through $24 billion Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Warren Buffett
Net Worth: $42.9 billion
Country: United States
Rank: 2
Oracle of Omaha's value-investing principles built Nebraska-based Berkshire Hathaway into $116 billion (market cap) holding company: insurance (General Re, Geico) and stakes in American Express, Coca-Cola, Gillette. Also, an assortment of operating companies, including Fruit of the Loom, Pampered Chef. Believes Berkshire should be "fortress of financial strength." It's been just that: Stock is up nearly 50% in past year, adding $12.4 billion to net worth and bringing him a few billion dollars shy of Bill Gates. Starring role as economic adviser to movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger in recent California governorship race.
Karl Albrecht
Net Worth: $23 billion
Country: Germany
Rank: 3
Supermarket king along with younger brother Theo. Thanks to new German disclosure laws, Forbes divvied up fortune he shares with brother for first time. Their family's 6,500-store Aldi chain began as a single store. Aldi's 2002 sales reached $49 billion. Karl used to manage southern, more profitable half of Germany, but has since retired, leaving company in hands of nonfamily members. Both brothers fiercely guard their privacy. Word is, Karl raises orchids and enjoys a round of golf on his own 27-hole course
Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud
Net Worth: $21.5 billion
Country: Saudi Arabia
Rank: 4
The jet-setting prince is transforming himself into a businessman-cum-political-activist. He's got a $10 billion stake in Citigroup, but in Saudi Arabia this nephew of the king has called for a range of reforms: elections, women's rights and job creation. A U.S. supporter, he's set up centers at universities in Cairo and Beirut to teach the American political system.
Paul Allen
Net Worth: $21 billion
Country: United States
Rank: 5
Microsoft co-founder's "wired world" vision not looking all that visionary: Tech investor recently lost money in bankrupt telecom RCN, while increasing stake in troubled cable company Charter Communications. Dumped investment in Vaxgen, maker of failed AIDS vaccine. Still, plenty of room for risk thanks to $5 billion Microsoft stake. Developing a 50-acre "bioscience hub" in Seattle with commercial, residential space. Putting a science fiction museum alongside his Experience Music Project in Seattle. Collection includes the original captain's chair from Star Trek TV show.
Alice Walton
Net Worth: $20 billion
Country: United States
Rank: 6
Daughter of Sam Walton (d. 1992), who opened his first general store in Rogers, Ark., in 1962. Wal-Mart now world's largest retailer: 4,000-plus stores around the globe. Family controls 38% of Wal-Mart but prefers a passive role; Alice raises horses on Texas ranch. Family last year donated $750 million-plus, much to education, including $300 million to University of Arkansas. But family largesse isn't enough to quell accusations that Wal-Mart wields too much clout. If Sam were alive today, he would be worth twice as much as Bill Gates.
Lilianne Bettencourt
Net Worth: $18.8 billion
Country: France
Rank: 11
France's richest resident is $4 billion richer this year, thanks to the rising euro and the continued strength of her holdings in L'Oréal and Nestlé. Inherited a controlling stake in L'Oréal in 1957 from her father. As discreet as she is rich, Bettencourt shuns the press. Part of the reason may be an impressive number of skeletons in the family closet, most relating to the family's intimate association with extreme-right political groups in Vichy France. Her only daughter and heir apparent, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, sits on L'Oréal's board.
Lawrence Ellison
Net Worth: $18.7 billion
Country: United States
Rank: 12
Oracle CEO is upping the ante in prolonged bid to buy business-software rival PeopleSoft, headed by former Oracle executive Craig Conway. Chicago native took Oracle public in 1986, one day before Microsoft. Still feuding with Gates: formed alliance with Sun Microsystems to run Oracle software on Sun's Linux machines. Ellison's fortune peaked at $58 billion in 2000. Now fond of prophesizing doom for computer industry.
Theo Albrecht
Net Worth: $18.1 billion
Country: Germany
Rank: 14
Supermarket king along with older brother Karl; their 6,500-store Aldi supermarket chain began as single store. German chain logged $49 billion in 2002 sales. For years Forbes lumped Theo, in charge of the northern German business, with brother, who managed the south. Thanks to new German disclosure laws, Forbes for the first time divvied up brothers' fortunes. In U.S. Theo owns gourmet food chain Trader Joe's and Albertsons supermarkets. Fanatically private--he was kidnapped and released for a ransom in 1971. Little is known about him; reportedly loves golf and old typewriters.
Kenneth Thomson & family
Net Worth: $17.2 billion
Country: Canada
Rank: 15
Sir Kenneth passed along chairmanship of $7.5 billion (sales) Thomson Corp. to son David in 2002, but he's still obsessing over art. Recently pledged $50 million to the Art Gallery of Ontario to house the $300 million in paintings he donated last year. Among the trove of 3,000 works: "Massacre of the Innocents," a Rubens masterpiece Thomson bought for $77 million, the third-highest price ever paid for a painting at auction. Owns 69% stake in media giant Thomson, publisher of electronic media and information services such as Thomson ONE and Westlaw.
Mikhail Khodorkovsky
Net Worth: $15 billion
Country: Russia
Rank: 16
Russia's richest man made fortune buying state oil assets on the cheap. Now languishes in prison since October arrest on fraud and theft charges. Russian authorities accuse his Group Menatep of taking 20% stake in fertilizer manufacturer Apatit without investing $280 million it promised. Khodorkovsky denies charges, claiming Kremlin is persecuting him for his mounting criticism of Putin Administration. State froze most of his Yukos shares pending case's outcome (until seized, Forbes includes them in his net worth). Onetime Communist Youth League activist bought Yukos in 1995, turned it into Russia's largest company by market cap.
Carlos Slim Helú
Net Worth: $13.9 billion
Country: Mexico
Rank: 17
Latin America's richest man is $5.5 billion richer this year, thanks to stock surges of his flagship Teléfonos de México and América M-vil telcos. The former, a virtual landline monopoly, is notorious for undercutting the competition. On the political front, Slim has become a vocal opponent of free trade prescriptions for developing Latin economies. After 20 years of taking that advice, he says, Mexicans have nothing to show for it.
Michael Dell
Net Worth: $13 billion
Country: United States
Rank: 18
Soft-spoken Texan continues to dominate brutal tech market by diversifying out of personal computers and clawing his way into servers, storage and services: "I think of us as the hunter, not the hunted." Latest task: challenging HP and Apple in printers and gadgets. Started selling computers from dorm room in 1984. Dropped out to start Dell Computer; took public in 1988. Recently selling shares; diversifies portfolio via MSD Capital
Li Ka-shing
Net Worth: $12.4 billion
Country: China
Rank: 19
Asia's richest and most influential businessman's fortune based on conglomerates Hutchison Whampoa and Cheung Kong; empire spans 40 countries and accounts for 11.5% of Hong Kong's stock market value. Leading real estate developer, cell phone provider and retailer, and is a leading provider of electricity in Hong Kong. Also the world's largest operator of shipping container terminals. Eldest son, Victor Li, a Canadian citizen, recently offered $488 million for a 28% stake in bankrupt Air Canada.
Steven Ballmer
Net Worth: $12.4 billion
Country: United States
Rank: 19
Microsoft chief executive and software industry's fiercest cheerleader. Native of Detroit quit Stanford M.B.A. program to join Harvard classmate (and dropout) Bill Gates in 1980. At the helm of Microsoft since 1998. Leading charge to break out of software and take on Sony's PlayStation in videogames and AOL in online service. Insists there's plenty of untapped potential, yet saw fit to ax employee stock option plan. Upside for shareholders: doled out first-ever dividend this yea
