Dangote richer than Facebook founder…as Forbes releases World’s Richest People list

By John Abayomi, Deputy Online Editor

Forbes magazine has yesterday, released the 2011 World’s Richest People list with Nigeria’s own Industrialist, Aliko Dangote rated as the 51st Richest man in the world, with  a networth of $13.8 bn and richer than Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg  who made the list for the first time with a networth of $51.3 bn at the 52nd position.

Despite the recent political crisis  in Egypt, the Arab country led other African countries with 8 billionaires on the list , followed by  South Africa  with 4 bililionaires,  while Nigeria  came 3rd with 2 billionaires. Chief Mike Adenuga  joined Dangote on the Forbes list rated 597 in the world with a networth of $2bn. However,  Dangote, according to Forbes is the richest African .

Globally, Mexico’s Carlos Slim Helú is holding on to the title of world’s richest man – for the 2nd year running, worth  $74bn  while  Bill Gates is 2nd and worth $58bn.

See the top  10 richest people.

          Name                                      Networth

1.  Carlos Slim Helú & Family       $71bn

2. Bill gates                                     $56bn

3. Warren Buffet                            $50bn

4.Bernard Arnault                          $41bn

5.Larry Ellison(Oracle)                  $39.5bn

6.Lakshmi Mittal                             $31.1 B 

7.Amancio Ortega                            $31 B 

8.Eike Batista                                    $30 B

9.  Mukesh Ambani                          $27 B 

10.Christy Walton & family            $26.5 B 

Facebook,  the social networking giant, with over 500million members, produced 6 billionaires that included Co-founders, Dustin Moskovitz and Eduardo Saverin, and Facebook’s first president, Sean Parker.

The Forbes 2011 Billionaires List marked  25year of publishing the World Rich list breaking two records: the highest number of billionaires (1,210) and  a  record combined wealth  of $4.5 trillion(the highest ever.)

Also, China and Russia  joined the United states as countries with billionaires above 100. Chine now has 115 and Russia 101.

 Compiling the List

According to Forbes, more than 50 reporters in 13 countries were involved in compiling the 25th annual World’s Billionaires rankings with reporters meeting candidates, their handlers and interviewing employees, rivals, attorneys and securities analysts.

Forbes also estimated billionaires’ net worths  by valuing individuals’ assets, including stakes in public and private companies, real estate, yachts, art and cash-and account for debt.

Forbes said that it estimates of public fortunes are a snapshot of wealth on Feb. 14, 2011, when it locked in stock prices and exchange rates around the globe.

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