US investor and philanthropist Warren Buffett has taken the title of the world’s richest man away from his friend Bill Gates after 13 years, business magazine Forbes said.

FOUR Irishmen are listed as billionaires in the latest annual edition of Forbes magazine’s list of the world’s richest people, which voted Microsoft founder Bill Gates as richest man for the 13th year in a row.

Bill Gates gained ground at the top of the mega-rich rankings as the world's wealthiest people added $400bn (€337bn) to their net worth, according to Forbes magazine's latest annual list.

IRELAND has three billionaires worth a total of $5.8 billion (€4.9bn), according to the Forbes list of the world’s richest men and women.

CAMPBELL Soups heir, John Dorrance III and Independent News & Media boss Anthony O’Reilly have been confirmed as members of one of the world’s most exclusive clubs.