Internet billionaires Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg have shot into the top-ten list of the world’s richest people, according to Forbes magazine.
The Amazon and Facebook founders climbed to fifth and sixth place on the chart.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates – who has topped the list for 17 out of the past 22 years – remained number one, though his net worth shrank by $4.2bn (£3bn) to $75bn (£53.7bn).
Mexican telecoms magnate Carlos Slim slipped from second into fourth position as his fortune tumbled by a third from $77.1bn (£55.2bn) to $50bn (£35.8bn). He is replaced by Zara tycoon Amancio Ortega. Investment guru Warren Buffett is in third place.
Mr Zuckerberg’s rise further up the rankings of the world’s mega-rich comes at the age of just 31 after his net worth rose by $11.2bn (£8bn) to $44.6bn (£31.9bn).
It follows the latest set of blockbuster financial results from Facebook last month showing revenues surge 44% to $17.9bn (£12.6bn) and net income climb 25% to $3.7bn (£2.6bn) last year.
Mr Bezos, 52, had a tougher reception on Wall Street as Amazon’s latest results missed expectations – though it still saw annual sales top $100bn (£70bn). His net worth has risen from $34.8bn (£24.9bn) to $45.2bn (£32.3bn).
There were 1,810 billionaires on the latest Forbes list, down from 1,826 in 2015, with an average net worth of $3.58bn (£2.56bn), also lower than the year before. Their total net worth was $6.48tn (£4.64tn), down from $7.05tn (£5.04tn).
US presidential contender Donald Trump was ranked at 324, with his fortune climbing by $400m (£290m) to $4.5bn (£3.2bn).
Forbes said volatility in global markets had a notable effect on the list. China – whose economic woes have been at the centre of the volatility – saw the most number of newcomers, at 70, as well as the most number of people dropping off the list, at 42.
The number of women on the list fell to 190 from 197.
But Norwegian sisters Alexandra and Katharina Andresen, aged 19 and 20, were among the notable newcomers as the world’s youngest billionaires with a $1.2bn (£860m) fortune.
UK theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh also joined the list, with a fortune of $1.2bn.
Highest ranking for a UK-based entry was for the industrialist Hinduja family. Their net worth of $14.5bn (£10.4bn) was unchanged.
Source: Sky News
