Forbes 2017 Billionaires List

Bill Gates remains in the top spot for the fourth year in a row and has been the richest person in the world for 18 out of the past 23 years.

Gates has a fortune of $86 billion, up from $75 billion last year. Warren Buffett, worth $75.6 billion, up from $60.8 billion in 2016, reclaimed the No. 2 slot, after a two-year hiatus.

The biggest gainer on the 2017 list is Jeff Bezos (No. 3), whose fortune increased by $27.6 billion for a total net worth of $72.8 billion. This is Bezos’ first time in the top three.

Spanish clothing retailer Amancio Ortega (best known for the Zara fashion chain) drops to No. 4, despite his net worth increasing to $71.3 billion.

Rounding out the top five is Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, worth $56 billion.

Important Notes on Forbes 2017 Billionaries List

1. 2,043 billionaires (up from 1,810 in 2016) made the list, with an average net worth of $3.75 billion.

2. The change in the total number of billionaires – up 233 since last year – was the biggest increase in 31 years.

3. The total combined net worth of this year’s billionaires was $7.67 trillion, up from $6.48 trillion last year.

4. 1,371 members were self-made billionaires. 238 inherited their wealth; another 434 inherited at least a portion but are still growing it.

Top 10 Forbes 2017 Billionaries List

1. Bill Gates

2. Warren Buffett

3. Amancio Ortego

4. Jeff Bezos

5. Carlos Slim Helu

6. Mark Zuckerberg

7. Larry Ellison

8. Charles Koch

9. David Koch

10. Michael Bloomberg