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Mexico's Carlos Slim Slips Down to World's Second Richest Man

Microsoft founder Bill Gates bounced Slim off from the top of the list.
Image: MEXICO-EDUCATION-SLIM
Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim participates in a press conference at the Soumaya Museum in Mexico City on January 29, 2014. According to the 2014 Forbes billionaire list, Slim is now the world's second richest man after Bill Gates. He was number one on the list for the last four years. YURI CORTEZ / AFP - Getty Images

Mexican media mogul Carlos Slim is now the world's second richest man - Microsoft founder Bill Gates tops the list. Slim's wealth is valued at $72 billion and Gates is up to $76 billion.

According to Forbes’ annual ranking, released Monday, Spain’s Amancio Ortega ($64 billion) kept his place at No. 3. He is best known for the Zara fashion chain. Warren Buffett, valued at $58.2 billion is number 4.

There were 1,645 billionaires around the world, and between them they are worth $6.4 trillion. Two hundred and sixty eight people joined the list, including 172 women, the most ever.

Among the women on the list: Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, Oprah Winfrey, Spanx’s Sara Blakely and fashion designed Tory Burch.

One of the women who is new on the list is Sandra Mera Ortega, daughter of the late billionaire Rosalia Mera, who had founded Inditex, best known for the clothing store chain Zara. Mera is divorced from Amancio Ortega, third on the list.