Mexican telecoms chief top of world rich list

He may have the surname Slim, but his wallet certainly isn’t.

Carlos Slim, the Mexican telecom mogul, is way out in front in the wealth stakes, worth a whopping $77.5 billion (€60.4bn).

The dosh has been amassed through interests in communications, technology, retailing, and finance.

He’s chairman and chief executive of telecommunications companies Telmex and América Móvil, which is Latin America’s largest mobile phone carrier.

The money accumulated by the 72-year-old dwarfs that of Microsoft mogul Bill Gates, who’s second in the pecking order with $64.4bn (€50.2bn).

Gates is the former chief executive and current chairman of Microsoft, which he co-founded with Paul Allen.

Spanish fashion executive Amancio Ortega, who is Europe’s richest man, is said to be worth $53.6bn (€41.7bn). He owns the popular chain of Zara fashion stores and several well- known clothing brands. He employs more than 92,000 people.

In fourth spot, with $48.4bn (€37.72bn) is American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist Warren Buffet, widely considered the most successful investor of the 20th century.

According to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, 200 of the world’s richest people have combined assets of $2.7 trillion (€2.1tn), which is about the size of France’s domestic product.

Seven of the world’s richest men are in the US, including the brothers Charles and David Koch, who own Koch Industries. They’re each worth $38.6bn (€30.08bn).

The top 10 also includes Christy and Jim Walton of retail giant Wal-Mart.