The question of who is the richest man in America does not receive a significantly different answer this year than it did in the past 21 years: Bill Gates still tops the list with assets estimated at $81 billion, an increase of $9 billion from last year, according to Forbes magazine.
The list, which the magazine has compiled for the 33rd year, includes 400 happy people, and it shows that the past year has been good for the wealthy in the United States and that the bar for entry into the coveted list has become higher than ever.
The total net worth of all 400 Forbes billionaires is $2.29 trillion, which is $270 billion more than last year. To be included on this year's list, candidates must have a net worth of $1.55 billion or more.
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After Bill Gates, also unsurprisingly, comes Warren Buffett, chairman of the Berkshire Hathaway investment house. He holds 'only' $67 billion, $8.5 billion more than last year.
In third place is Jewish representation: Oracle CEO Larry Ellison. He has $50 billion at his disposal.
In 11th place is another Jew - Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, with $34 billion, and he added $15 billion to his pocket over the past year.
Additional data: 303 of the list increased their wealth in the past year, only 36 lost money this year. 26 dropped off the list and six died.
The youngest woman is Elizabeth Holmes, who has a fortune of $9 billion.
There are only 47 women on the entire list.
