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Carlos Slim overtakes Bill Gates in world rich list

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 1011, Forbes said.

  • 'Dominating businesses'
  • 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."
  • Forbes magazine's chief executive Steve Forbes told the BBC that Mr Slim had been slowly climbing the rich list for a number of years.
  • "He has been dominating businesses in Mexico, and businesses in the US as well," Mr Forbes said.
  • "He foresaw the rise in telecommunications, particularly cell phones. And he is also big in cement."
  • The year's biggest gainer, Brazilian mining tycoon Eike Batista, broke into the top 10 for the first time.
  • He came in at number seven, having boosted his wealth by $19.5bn to $27bn.

 

    • CARLOS SLIM
    • Full name - Carlos Slim Helu
    • Age - 70
    • Widower with six children
    • Family empire now controls more than 200 companies
    • Controls more than 90% of Mexico's phone landlines
    • Other interests include Inbursa financial group and the Grupo Carso industrial conglomerate

 

 

 

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