[Andrius]

World
Mar 12, 2010

Mexican is world's richest



Mexican telecoms tycoon Carlos Slim is the world's richest person, jumping past Americans Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to become the first person from a developing nation to top the list, according to Forbes magazine. -- PHOTO: AP

NEW YORK - MEXICAN telecoms tycoon Carlos Slim is the world's richest person, jumping past Americans Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to become the first person from a developing nation to top the list, according to Forbes magazine. Joining him on this year's rich list is a fresh crop of billionaires from Asia. Mr Slim, 70, took the top spot for the first time, pushing Microsoft founder Bill Gates out as he rose from third place on the success of America Movil, Latin America's biggest mobile phone operator. This is the first time since 1994 that a non-United States citizen has taken the spot. The son of an immigrant shopkeeper, Mr Slim amassed a US$53.5 billion (S$74.4 billion) fortune and bought a stake in The New York Times last year. Mr Gates, 54, slipped to No. 2, ahead of Mr Buffett, who at 79 is considered one of the most reliable and successful Wall Street investors.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, ASSOCIATED PRESS