WASHINGTON, 20 September 2003 — Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates, worth $46 billion, topped a list of the 400 richest people in the United States, published by Forbes magazine on Thursday.
It was the 10th year in a row in which Gates, the 47-year-old chairman of Microsoft, topped the rankings of the richest people in the United States, compiled by the business magazine. His fortune increased by $3 billion over the past year, according to Forbes.
Warren Buffett, 73, chairman of the Berkshire Hathaway investment group, was second on the list with a fortune of $36 billion. Ranked third was Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, 50, with a total net worth of $22 billion. The next five slots were held by members of the Walton family, owners of Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retail store chain, with a net worth of $20.5 billion each.
In ninth position was Oracle Corp. Chairman Lawrence Ellison, 59, with a fortune of $18 billion. Rounding out the top 10 was Dell Inc. chief Michael Dell, 38, with a net worth of $13 billion.
Forbes said that after declining for the past two years, the aggregate net worth of the wealthiest 400 US citizens rose 10 percent in the past year to $955 billion.
