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Bill Gates is the richest man in the world once again

The Microsoft founder continues to top rich lists with his vast wealth 

Heather Saul
Wednesday 27 January 2016 05:00 EST
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Bill Gates
Bill Gates (AFP)

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Bill Gates has been announced as the richest man in the world once again after fresh data has valued his net worth at a staggering $87.4 billion - $20 billion higher than the second person on the same list.

Data provided to Business Insider by Wealth-X, a company which conducts research on the super-wealthy, ranked the philanthropist and Microsoft founder as first in its list of 50 richest people.

Gates is followed by Amancio Ortega, a Spanish businessman and founding chairman of the Inditex fashion group with a net worth of $66.8 billion. His company is responsible for popular fashion brands such as Zara.

Gates’ fellow philanthropist Warren Buffet, the Berkshire Hathaway CEO, came in third with an estimated net worth of $60.7 billion. Buffet has pledged to donate most of his assets to charity as part of his Giving Pledge campaign with Gates.

The top ten are as follows:

10. Ingvar Kamprad - $39.3 bn

9. Michael Bloomberg - $42.1 bn

8. Mark Zuckerberg - $42.8 bn

7. Larry Ellison - $45.3 bn

6. Charles Koch - $48. 8 bn

5. David Koch - $47. 4 bn

4. Jeff Bezos - $56.6 bn

3. Warren Buffet - $60.7 bn

2. Amancio Ortega - $66.8 bn

1. Bill Gates - $87.4 bn

In October, Gates was briefly knocked off the Forbes Billionaires list by Ortega, who is known for leading a modest and fiercely private life despite his vast wealth. He regained his place a few hours later.

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