Bill Gates still richest in America

New York : Microsoft founder Bill Gates, worth of some 54 billion Dollars, is still richest man in the United States, Forbes magazine said.

His riches increased to four billion Dollars from 50 billion in last year and his top position remained intact for past 17 years.

Following Bill Gates is Warren Buffett, an investor, worth 45 billion Dollars, up by five billion and Oracle boss Larry Ellison’s worth remained unchanged, in third place, at 27 billion.
Christy Walton, heir to Walmart founder Sam Walton’s fortune, is in fourth place with 24 billion, up by 2.5 billion.

In contrast to the 2009 Forbes 400 list, 217 of the tycoons are now worth more than they were a year ago and Just 84 of the billionaires had a decrease in wealth.
In 2009 some 314 members of the exclusive club had experienced a decrease in their wealth with the top 10 gaining 24.9 billion Dollars.
The same group had shed almost 40 billion Dollars last year.

The total wealth of the group is up by eight percent, besting the Standard and Poor’s 500 index, which measured a stock market increase of just one percent, Forbes said.