The fame of the philanthropist and the perennial air of an aged nerd have not scratched his safe. Bill Gates remains the richest American for the twentieth consecutive year. With an estimated fortune of 72 billion dollars - six more than last year - he is also at the top of the world rankings, specifies Forbes magazine, in its hit parade dedicated to the United States. Last May, the co-founder of Microsoft had regained his global supremacy, undermining the Mexican telecommunications magnate Carlos Slim.
The 400 richest Americans now amass a combined fortune of $2000 trillion, the equivalent of Russia's GDP. Their assets have considerably increased compared to last year (1700 trillion dollars) and confirms the peak reached by the growing gap affecting the United States.
In total, 314 billionaires saw profits soar last year. Only thirty are less wealthy and 22 have not undergone any changes. 10% of these Scrooges were born outside American soil. 273 built their fortune on their own, 71 inherited it, 56 managed to make a fortune they already had at their disposal prosper.
Like last year, the runner-up is Warren Buffett, number one of the Berwshire Hathaway conglomerate. With 58,5 billion dollars, 12,5 more than in 2012, it is the one that got richer the most. On the lowest step of the podium is Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle. The only one, in the top 10, who hasn't seen his fortune grow.
At the age of 29, the founder of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg is second in the special ranking of those who have increased the volume of wealth the most (19 billion, +9,6%), while last year's entry on the Stock Exchange had made him lose the equivalent of 8 billion. Among the surprises, also Elon Musk, manufacturer of electric cars with Tesla. Born in South Africa, the Paypal co-founder virtually doubled his fortune last year to over $6,5 billion.
