It appears the stake has increased if you plan to squeeze yourself into the glamorous Forbes 400 Richest Americans. Just like playing poker at the gambling table, the stake has been raised to $1.3 Billion if you wish to see your name within the list. The new threshold meant 82 of America’s billionaires didn’t make it this round. Altogether the top 400 billionaires have wealth worth a staggering US$1.54 Trillion (go and punch that number and see how many trailing zeroes please).

The top four wealtiest was unchanged. However joining the top 10 are the founders of Google Inc., Sergey Brin and Larry Page who shared the fifth place. Surging oil price has indeed help the oil baron brothers Charles and David Koch sharing the 9th spot, jumped from 19th spot last year. The most spectacular achievement was by casino tycoon Kirk Kerkorian who doubled his wealth in one year to US$18 Billion from US$9 Billion a year ago, pushing him to 7th position from 26th in 2006.

William H. Gates III

• Rank: 1 (2006 Rank: 1)
• Net Worth: US$59 Billion (2006: US$53 Billion)
• Fortune Source: Software
• Empire: Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT, stock)
• Age: 51

Warren Buffett

• Rank: 2 (2006 Rank: 2)
• Net Worth: US$52 Billion (2006: US$46 Billion)
• Fortune Source: Stocks Investments
• Empire: Berkshire Hathaway’s (NYSE: BRK.A, stock)
• Age: 77

Sheldon Adelson

• Rank: 3 (2006 Rank: 3)
• Net Worth: US$28 Billion (2006: US$20.5 Billion)
• Fortune Source: Casinos
• Empire: Las Vegas Sands (USA), Sands Macau Casino (Macau), Venetian Macau (Macau), Marina Sands Bay(Singapore)
• Age: 74

Lawrence Ellison

• Rank: 4 (2006 Rank: 4)
• Net Worth: US$26 Billion (2006: US$19.5 Billion)
• Fortune Source: Software
• Empire: Oracle Corporation
• Age: 63

Sergey Brin

• Rank: 5 (2006 Rank: 12)
• Net Worth: US$18.5 Billion (2006: US$14.1 Billion)
• Fortune Source: Internet Search Engine
• Empire: Google Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG, stock)
• Age: 34

Larry Page

• Rank: 5 (2006 Rank: 13)
• Net Worth: US$18.5 Billion (2006: US$14.0 Billion)
• Fortune Source: Internet Search Engine
• Empire: Google Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG, stock)
• Age: 34

Kirk Kerkorian

• Rank: 7 (2006
  Rank: 26)
• Net Worth: US$18 Billion (2006: US$9.0 Billion)
• Fortune Source: Casinos, Investments
• Empire: MGM Mirage, Mandalay Bay Resorts
• Age: 90

Michael Dell

• Rank: 8 (2006 Rank: 9)
• Net Worth: US$17.2 Billion (2006: US$15.5 Billion)
• Fortune Source: Desktop Computers, Laptops, Storage
• Empire: Dell Inc (Nasdaq: DELL, stock)
• Age: 42

Charles Koch

• Rank: 9 (2006 Rank: 19)
• Net Worth: US$17 Billion (inherited) (2006: US$12.0 Billion)
• Fortune Source: Oil & Commodities (chemicals, pipelines, ranching, refining operations)
• Empire: Georgia-Pacific, Koch Industries, Koch Family Foundations
• Age: 71

David Koch

• Rank: 9 (2006 Rank: 19)
• Net Worth: US$17 Billion (inherited) (2006: US$12.0 Billion)
• Fortune Source: Oil & Commodities (chemicals, pipelines, ranching, refining operations)
• Empire: Georgia-Pacific, Koch Industries, Koch Family Foundations
• Age: 67

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September 21st, 2007 by financetwitter

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