The 14 Wealthiest People in the World

Slideshow June 09, 2015 at 06:07 AM
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There's been plenty written about the rising wealth of the 1%, and a look at the list of the world's billionaires drives home just how much wealth they have.

A look at the world's wealthiest people shows a list dominated by men that skews older, not counting a certain social media pioneer.

Tne list, compiled by the Hurun Report, found 2,089 billionaires in 68 countries in 2015, up 222 over the previous year. The average age was 64, and their total wealth fell 1.5% to $6.7 trillion.

Still almost all of those on the top of the list did well in their investments this year as their wealth grew over the past year. Hooray for the wealth advisors who helped them out.

The U.S. had the most billionaires of any country with 537. China, with 430, is the only other country with more than 100.

The younger side of the list made strides. There are now 40 billionaires under age 40, up an amazing 16 over the past year.

(Related story: Top 10 African Billionaires.)

Take a look at the 14 wealthiest people in the world:

Chairman Rob Walton, son of Walmart founder Sam Walton. (Photo: AP)

13 (tie). Robson Walton

Wealth: $34 billion

1-Year Change: 6%

Residence: U.S.

Age: 70

The eldest son of Walmart founder Sam and his wife, Helen, sneaks onto our list with his siblings.

Jim Walton, son of Walmart founder Sam Walton. (Photo: AP)

13 (tie). Jim Walton

Wealth: $34 billion

1-Year Change: 6%

Residence: U.S.

Age: 66

Jim is the youngest of the Walmart founder's sons.

Walmart Store (Photo: AP)

11 (tie). Christy Walton & family

Wealth: $35 billion

1-Year Change: 9%

Residence: U.S.

Age: 59

Christy inherited her fortune when her husband, one of Sam Walton's sons, died in 2005.

Alice Walton, daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton. (Photo: AP)

11 (tie). Alice Walton

Wealth: $35 billion

1-Year Change: 8%

Residence: U.S.

Age: 65

The Walmart chain might not be as dominant as it once was, but the Waltons remain among the world's wealthiest.

The German Schwarz Gruppe owns the Lidl and Kaufland supermarket chains. (Photo: AP)

8 (tie). Dieter Schwarz

Wealth: $36 billion

1-Year Change: 29%

Residence: Germany

Age: 75

Schwarz made his fortune on the base of the retailing business he inherited from his father, the Schwarz Gruppe, which owns the Lidl and Kaufland supermarket chains.

Charles Koch (Photo: AP)

8 (tie). Charles Koch

Wealth: $36 billion

1-Year Change: 0%

Residence: U.S.

Age: 79

Both he and his brother moved up one spot on this year's list despite zero gain.

David Koch (Photo: AP)

8 (tie). David Koch

Wealth: $36 billion

1-Year Change: 0%

Residence: U.S.

Age: 74

With his brother, Koch has been to know dabble in right-wing politics.

Mark Zuckerberg, and his wife, Priscilla Chan (Photo: AP)

7. Mark Zuckerberg

Wealth: $44 billion

1-Year Change: 42%

Residence: U.S.

Age: 30

The face of Facebook moved up four spots over the previous year and is the youngest member among the top 10 wealthiest people in the world.

Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of LVMH. (Photo: AP)

6. Bernard Arnault

Wealth: $45 billion

1-Year Change: -2%

Residence: France

Age: 65

The business czar has been the CEO of LVMH for more than a quarter century.

Larry Ellison, co-founder and CEO of Oracle Corp. (Photo: AP)

5. Larry Ellison

Wealth: $54 billion

1-Year Change: 13%

Residence: U.S.

Age: 70

The man behind Oracle has pledged to give half his wealth away. That didn't stop his bankroll from increasing over the last year.

People walk past a Zara store in Barcelona. (Photo: AP)

4. Amancio Ortega

Wealth: $55 billion

1-Year Change: -11%

Residence: Spain

Age: 78

Ortega saw his stake in Zara drop in value due in large part to the weakness of the euro.

Warren Buffett, Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. (Photo: AP)

3. Warren Buffett

Wealth: $76 billion

1-Year Change: 19%

Residence: U.S.

Age: 84

The "Oracle of Omaha," who earned nearly all of his money after age 50, saw his wealth skyrocket despite giving billions away, including $2.8 billion to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Carlos Slim, chairman of Grupo Carso. (Photo: AP)

2. Carlos Slim & family

Wealth: $83 billion

1-Year Change: 38%

Residence: Mexico

Age: 75

Slim made his fortune in an array of businesses, but stuck to his roots, living in the same six-bedroom home since the 1970s.

Bill and Melinda Gates. (Photo: AP)

1. Bill Gates

Wealth: $85 billion

1-Year Change: 25%

Residence: U.S.

Age: 59

Gates famously made his fortune from Microsoft, but now a larger portion of his wealth is invested with Warren Buffett than in in the computing giant. Other investments include Facebook and the Four Seasons hotels. Gates' wealth continued to grow despite his philanthropic activities.

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