Forbes list: Top 10 billionaires

The global ranks of billionaires grew by 199 people in the past year. The number of people on Forbes' list climbed to 1,210 billionaires, setting a record with combined wealth of $4.5 trillion, up from $3.6 trillion a year ago. While the biggest slice of that wealth, $1.5 trillion, is controlled by people in the U.S., Forbes said more than half of the new billionaires came from Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Net worth: $74 billion

Mexico's Carlos Slim has topped the Forbes list for the second year in a row. His fortune has climbed to $74 billion on strength in the Mexican stock market, a stronger peso and successful business spinoffs, Forbes said. The majority of his net worth comes from his holdings in America Movil, Latin America's largest phone service provider.

Slim has widened his lead over other billionaires on Forbes magazine's list of the world's richest people. Slim's fortune was estimated to have risen to $74 billion well ahead of Bill Gates' $56 billion who ranks second on the richest list.

Slim gained the most in the past year. His wealth increased $20.5 billion from last year's estimate of $53.5 billion by Forbes, which attributed the increase to a rise in Mexican stock prices as well as successful mining and real estate projects carried out through his Grupo Carso conglomerate.

Net worth: $56 billion

Software visionary Bill Gates is the second richest man in the world and the richest man in the United States. In the global rich list, Gates has consistently figured on the top from 1995 to 2009, excluding 2008, when he was ranked third. Gates is one of the best-known entrepreneurs of the personal computer revolution who retired from his role as Chief Software Architect on June 27, 2008. Gates stepped down from his position to dedicate the majority of his time to running the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the world's largest and richest philanthropic organisations. Gates lost the richest man title last year to Slim

Networth: $50 billion

Legendary investor Warren Buffet is another American to feature in the Forbes top 10 richest people in the world. Buffett, 79, is chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, and is widely regarded as one of the most successful investors in the world. He is consistently ranked among the world's wealthiest people. His major investment programs include $5 billion in Goldman Sachs and $3 billion in General Electric amid 2008 market collapse.

Net worth: $41 billion

France's Bernard Arnault is the founder, chairman, and CEO of LVMH, a large luxury goods conglomerate consisting of over fifty luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Fendi. He owns French tour operator Go Voyages and yacht builder Royal Van Lent and has a stake in French retailer Carrefour (CRERY).

Net worth: $39.5 billion

Lawrence Joseph "Larry" Ellison is an American business magnate, co-founder and chief executive officer of Oracle Corporation. Oracle founder's fortune continues to soar because of surge in stock prices. In 2009, Oracle completed $7.4 billion buyout of Sun Microsystems. Ellison has a reputation as one of the most flamboyant and outspoken executives in corporate America. Ellison, whose hobbies include yachting and piloting jet-fighter planes, won the America's Cup with his BMW Oracle's team.

Net worth: $31.1 billion

India-born steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal is the chairman and chief executive officer of ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaking company. Mittal, who is also the richest man in Europe, holds considerable property portfolio. Lakshmi Mittal serves as a non-executive director of Goldman Sachs, EADS and ICICI Bank and is presently the vice chairman of the World Steel Association.

Net worth: $31 billion

Amancio Ortega Gaona is a Spanish fashion entrepreneur. He is the founder, along with his then-wife Rosalía Mera, and chairman of the Inditex Group. His group comprises several brand names including Zara, Massimo Dutti and Stradivarius, has 4,500 stores in 73 countries including new spots in Mexico and Syria.

Net worth: $30 billion

Eike Batista, the Brazilian 52-year-old born in Governador Valadares (MG), owns oil and mining companies. A renowned, self made businessman Batista was ranked eighth in the 2010 Forbes list of Billionaires with net worth at US$ 27 billion. Eike Batista is also known for donations of a large amount to various charities.

Net worth: $27 billion

Forbes has ranked Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani ninth in the Forbes' latest billionaires list. Reliance Industries is India's largest private sector conglomerate (by market value), having interests ranging from petroleum products, petrochemicals to garments. Recently, British oil giant BP Plc agreed to invest $7.2 billion in RIL to take a stake in key oil and gas blocks. The tie-up could eventually amount to a $20 billion investment from BP.

Net worth: $26.5 billion

Christy Walton is the richest woman in the world at present. A majority of her wealth comes from her holdings, which she inherited, in Wal-Mart, the retail chain founded by her father-in-law Sam Walton and his brother James. She also inherited her husband's investment in First Solar, whose value soared 500 per cent since 2006.