Top 10 Richest Men in the World [2011]

No matter what the economic situation is, the rich is getting richer and poor is getting poorer and a recent study by Jeffery Thompson and Elias Leight shows that rich getting richer makes poor poorer. Same has happened with the wealth of these richest men in the world, nine out of ten richest men in the world have gained their wealth compared to last year. The only person who saw a decrease is Indian business tycoon Mukesh Ambani. Here are the ten richest men of the world in 2011.

1) Carlos Slim Helu

Net Worth: $74 Billion

The richest person in the world is Mexico based Carlos Slim Helu with as estimated wealth of $74 Billion. Carlos Slim is CEO and Chairman of América Móvil which account most of his wealth, around $49 Billion. He is also the chairman and CEO of Group Carso, the conglomerate having many companies. He was born in Mexico to Julian Slim (Yusef Salim), a Lebanese Christian in 1940. Slim holds an engineering degree from National Autonomous University of Mexico, interestingly he also taught algebra and linear programming at the same university. wall street in one of their article have mentioned that an average Mexican can’t help but have to deal with a business owned by this 71-year tycoon as his businesses range from telecommunications, banking, hotels, mining, construction and railways, bicycles, airlines to cigarettes, soft-drinks. He is a widower with six children.

2) Bill Gates

Net Worth: $56 Billion

Bill Gates, the former Chairman of Microsoft is the second richest man in the world with an estimated wealth of $56 Billion. He held different positions at Microsoft including Chairman, CEO, chief software architect and is also the largest individual shareholder in Microsoft with more than 8% of the common stock. He remained the richest person in the world for 13 years in a row from 1995 to 2007 and then for another year in 2009. The self-made billionaire is known as Harvard’s most successful dropout. Mr.Gates who will turn 56 next month is now busy working for the Gates foundation, the largest private foundation in the world. He is married with Melinda Gates and has three children.

3) Warren Buffet

Net Worth: $50 Billion

With an estimated wealth of $50 Billion, the 81-year old Warren Buffet who is an American business tycoon, investor and philanthropist is the third richest man in the world. Warren Buffet is the Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, the American conglomerate holding company which is the eighth largest public company in the world and owns many big companies including investments in American Express Company, BYD, The Coca-Cola Company and Kraft Foods. He holds a Master of Science degree in Economics from Columbia Business School and is a self-made billionaire. He has been married twice and has three children.

4) Bernard Arnault

Net Worth: $41 Billion

The fourth richest man in the world is the French businessman Bernard Arnault with an estimated wealth of $41 Billion. He is the CEO and Chairman of LVMH, the French multinational luxury goods conglomerate that owns more than 60 famous brands and subsidiaries including Louis Vuitton, Moët et Chandon , Sephora, TAG Heuer and Fendi. He is also the Chairman of Christian Dior. Bernerd Arnault who holds a degree in engineering is currently the richest person in Europe. The 62-year old has been married twice and has five children.

5) Larry Ellison

Net Worth: $39.5 Billion

Larry Ellison, the 66-year old CEO and Co-founder fo Oracle Corporation has an estimated wealth of $39.5 Billion making him the fifth richest man in the world. Oracle is a computer technology corporation that is famous for developing enterprise software products, database management systems in particular. Ellison did not take the final exams and left University of Illinois during second year after the death of his adoptive mother. He also attended University of Chicago for a term where encountered with the computer design for the first time. Ellison who is a self made billionaire has been married and divorced four times.

6) Lakshmi Mittaldfd

Net Worth: $31.1 Billion

Lakshmi Mittal, the steel tycoon from India based in United Kingdom is the sixth richest man in the world with an estimated wealth of $31.1 Billion. He is the chairman and CEO of ArcelorMittal, the largest steel producing company in the world headquartered in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. Mr. Mittal who also serves as Director at Goldman Sachs was named Person of the Year by Financial Times in 2007. He started the business as international division of his family business but later branched out of it and started working independently. The 60-year old is a graduate of St.Xavier’s College, Calcutta and is married with two children.

7) Amancio Ortega

Net Worth: $31 Billion

The seventh richest man in the world with an estimated wealth of $31 Billion is Spain based Amancio Ortega. He is co-founder, chairman and holds 59.29% shares of the Inditex Group, a company that owns brands like Zara, Massimo Dutti, Stradivarius, Pull and Bear, Bershka and more. Amancio Ortega is a self-made billionaire who is known for keeping a very low profile. He currently lives with his second wife and has three children. Mr.Ortega who did not have any formal higher education takes a very active part in the production and designing process of his company.

8) Eike Batista

Net Worth: $30 Billion

Eike Batista, the CEO of EBX Group has an estimated wealth of $30 Billion which makes him the eighth richest man in the world. EBX Group is a holding company in Brazil which operates many subsidiary companies in different business sectors, mainly in mining and oil. He is son of Eliezer Batista da Silva who remained head of a mining company Vale for a very long time. Eike Batista who is a self-made Billionaire is a dropout from RWTH Aachen University. He remained married with the famous Brazilian actress Luma de Oliveira for about thirteen years before getting divorce in 2004. The 54-year old has expressed his desire of becoming the richest person in different media interactions.

9) Mukesh Ambani

Net Worth: $27 Billion

Mukesh Ambani, the famous 53-year old Indian business tycoon is the ninth richest man in the world. Mukesh Amabni who is Managing Director and Chairman of Reliance Industries, the largest private sector enterprise in India has an estimated personal wealth of $27 Billion. He dropped out of Stanford (MBA) to help his father Dhirubhai Ambani, the late founder of Reliance Industries in 1981. Mukesh Ambani became the richest person in the world in 2007 in result of a strong rally of Indian Stock Markets. He is currently the second richest person in Asia.

10) Li Ka-shing

Net Worth: $26 Billion

The tenth richest man in the world is Hong Kong based Li Ka-shing with an estimated wealth of $26 Billion. The 83-year old is a self-made businessman and is the chairman of Cheung Kong Holdings, Hutchison Whampoa and Li Ka Shing Foundation. Mr.Li who is a high school dropout was named Asia’s Most Powerful Man in 2001 by Asiaweek. He is also known for his philanthropy and has donated $1.41 Billion till date.

Top 10 Legendary Small People

Just because they’re lesser in height, it doesn’t mean they’re lesser known. From minuscule movie stars to petite pop stars, here’s a list of famous short people through history.

10. Edward Carl Gaedel

Standing at 3”7, Eddie was the world’s shortest pro-baseball player – albeit briefly. Born in Chicago in 1925, “Eddie” aspired to be a sportsman, and managed to secure his debut with the St. Louis Browns in the summer of 1951. Despite being a publicity stunt, his appearance on the plate lead to 18,369 fans giving him a standing ovation. Unfortunately, Gaedel became a heavy drinker and died of a heart attack after being mugged in 1961.

9. Bridget the Midget

Twenty-eight-year old Bridget – born Cheryl Marie Murphy – claims her fame in a slightly more risque industry to our other legendary small people. Idaho-born Bridget is an erotic film actress with a difference – she’s just 3”9. She’s now retired from “adult” acting after appearing in over 100 films, and these days favors more traditional acting roles, including a bit part in 8mm.

8. Danny Woodburn

This 44-year old actor from Philadelphia stands at a mini four foot. However, his height never held back his acting career, and he’s managed to avoid getting pigeonholed in typical “little people” roles either. The star has had parts in Seinfeld, One Tree Hill and CSI, and features in the forthcoming film, Watchmen.

7. Gary Coleman

Gary is most famous for his role as Arnold Jackson in Diff’rent Strokes. The 4”8 actor has since had a few cameos and bit parts on TV series and in films, but is predominantly more famous for his eventful personal life. Such dramas include his televised appearance in a divorce court, a car accident, an assault, and ongoing financial problems.

6. Dolly Parton

Diminutive Dolly may have a big – er – heart, but her height is just five foot. The 62-year old (yes, 62!) became famous for such country ditties as “Jolene” and “I will Always Love You”, and is still singing and song-writing to this day. She is also recognized as a philanthropist, is an accomplished player of the autoharp, banjo, drums, guitar, harmonica and piano, and lest we forget, has her own theme park, Dollywood.

5. General Tom Thumb

The original famous small person – Charles Sherwood Stratton, adopted the stage name of General Tom Thumb after the fabled English legend, who was no bigger than his father’s thumb. The real life version was born in Connecticut, weighing 9 pounds 2 ounces, but only grew to 2”9. He was snapped up by the traveling circus showman P. T. Barnum, and toured the world, becoming stinking rich and meeting his wife – another small person – on the way. He died of a stroke aged 45 in 1883, and over 10,000 friends, fans and family attended his funeral.

4. Wee Man

This Jackass star, whose real name is Jason Bryant Acuña, is just over four foot tall. He was born in Pisa, Italy, to Italian parents, but grew up in Torrance, California. He worked as a subscription manager for a skateboarding magazine after graduating, which saw him become involved with the stunt-crazed Jackass gang. Acuña now does occasional presenting gigs and has appeared on the reality shows Armed and Dangerous and Celebrity Circus.

3. Prince

Prince Rogers Nelson, aka His Purple Majesty, aka The Artist Formerly Known As Prince, or sometimes, just a symbol, is only 5”2. The womanizing extrovert, who has had hits with ‘Purple Rain’, ‘When Doves Cry’ and ‘Beautiful Girl’, is now back in the studio recording his next long-awaited album.

2. Danny Devito

This huge movie star stands at just 4”11 tall. He was born in Neptune, New Jersey, to a middle class family, and decided to go into acting at an early age. After getting his big break in Taxi, Devito went on to star in blockbusters such as Other People’s Money, LA Confidential, Batman and Heist. He continues to act, but also branched into producing, with films such as Pulp Fiction and Erin Brockovich under his belt.

1. Verne Troyer

This 40-year old actor, famous for playing Mini-Me in Austin Powers, is now just as famous for his private antics as his professional. The self-confessed sex addict was the latest celebrity to fall foul of a sex tape scandal, after private moments between him and his former girlfriend, Ranae Shrider, were leaked. He is no stranger to reality TV however, and is currently doing a stint on Celebrity Big Brother UK, where he has been seen getting sozzled on Champagne, flirting with the ladies, and causing havoc on his mobility scooter.