20 Richest Men 2010

1. William Gates, III
Net Worth: $56.0 billion
Age: 51
Fortune: Self-made
Source: Microsoft
Country of Citizenship: United States
Residence: Medina, Washington, United States
Industry: Software
Marital Status: Married, 3 children
Education: Harvard University, drop out
After numerous delays, Microsoft visionary released latest operating system, Vista, in January. Last June announced hisretirement from company he cofounded 31 years ago. The Harvard dropout who promised "a computer on every desk and in every home" now focusing time and talents on tackling diseases (hepatitis B, AIDS, malaria) in Africa, boosting America's lackluster high school graduation rate and helping women abroad start small businesses. This summer bridge buddy Warren Buffett pledged majority of hisBerkshire Hathaway stock to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation over the next 20 years, potentially doubling foundation's endowment. Sells 20 million Microsoft shares a quarter, plows proceeds into personal investment vehicle Cascade. Today more than half of net worth invested outside Microsoft.

2. Warren Buffett
Net Worth: $52.0 billion
Age: 76
Fortune: Self-made
Source: Berkshire Hathaway
Country ofCitizenship: United States
Residence: Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Industry: Investments
Marital Status: Married, 3 children
Education: University of Nebraska Lincoln, Bachelor of Arts/Science. Columbia University, Master of Science
Nation's most beloved investor married longtime girlfriend Astrid Menks on his 76th birthday last August. Had long promised to give away his fortuneposthumously. Then last June announced he had irrevocably earmarked the majority of his Berkshire Hathaway shares to charity. At the time the gift was worth $31 billion; believed to be the largest gift in history, it will go mostly to the Gates Foundation. Son of Nebraska politician delivered newspapers as a boy. Filed first tax return at age 13; claimed $35 deduction for bicycle. Studied undervalue-investing guru Benjamin Graham at Columbia, learned to hunt for undervalued stocks. Bought control of textile firm Berkshire Hathaway 1965; added insurance underwriting for the investable float. Today holding company has insurance (Geico, General Re), apparel (Fruit of the Loom), utilities (MidAmerican Energy), home furnishings (R.C. Willey). Also has noncontrolling stakes in Anheuser-Busch, Coca-Cola,Wells Fargo. Despite gifts, the Oracle of Omaha is $10 billion richer than last year: Berkshire stock up 22% in past 12 months.

3. Carlos Slim Helu
Net Worth: $49.0 billion
Age: 67
Fortune: Self-made
Source: Telecom
Country of Citizenship: Mexico
Residence: Mexico City, Mexico
Industry: Communications
Marital Status: Widowed, 6 children
Education: Engineer.
The world's third-richestman is $19 billion richer this year and catching up with Americans Bill Gates and Warren Buffett thanks to a strong Mexican equities market and the performance of his wireless telephone company, America Movil. The son of a Lebanese immigrant, Slim made his first fortune in 1990 when he bought fixed line operator TelŽfonos de MŽxico (Telmex) in a privatization. Last year he spent $3.7 billion to buythe Latin American operations of Verizon Communications, expanding his empire into Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. A widower and father of 6, Slim is a baseball fan and art collector. He keeps his art collection in Mexico City's Museo Soumaya, which he named after his late wife. In recent years he has donated close to $4 billion to education and health projects, and to the revitalizationof downtown Mexico City's historical district.

4. Ingvar Kamprad & family
Net Worth: $33.0 billion
Age: 80
Fortune: Self-made
Source: Ikea
Country of Citizenship: Sweden
Residence: Lausanne, Switzerland
Industry: Retailing
Marital Status: Married, 4 children
Education: N/A
Peddled matches, fish, pens, Christmas cards and other items by bicycle as a teenager. Started selling...