Rich beyond their wildest dreams!
It's that time of year again when Forbes reveals its list of the world's billionaires and there are few surprises with the technology titans still holding on to their fortune.
The tech sector is well represented on the 2011 list, which includes 1,210 individuals who control a staggering $4.5tr of wealth, marking a new record. Indeed tech's biggest players make up 11 of the top 100 of the world's wealthiest people, according to the new list.
Before revisiting the same faces, it is worth noting Facebook's ascent. While the film based on the start-up failed to clean up at the Oscars, the same cannot be said for the people who work at the real social network.
There are now 6 individuals on the list connected with Facebook and Forbes reckons they have all been pushed either up or onto the list thanks to the network's massive valuation which has recently reached $50bn.
Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg is listed as the world's 52nd richest person on the list with an estimated fortune of $13.5bn. Meanwhile co-founder Dustin Moskovitz has reaped $2.7bn and is now the world's youngest billionaire and entered the list as the result of the Facebook valuation, according to Forbes.
Sean Parker has $1.6bn, Peter Thiel $1.5bn and Russian investor in the social network Yuri Milner has $1bn, according to the list.
The last member of the elite Facebook club is Eduardo Saverin, who got his cash from a settlement with Zuckerberg, as ‘outlined' in the film. Forbes reckons the deal made him around $1.6bn.
The Guardian reported that Steve Forbes, editor-in-chief of the magazine, said: "Shed no tears for Eduardo...If you do get to be thrown out, a billion dollars isn't a bad severance package."
Back to the established members of the list, Bill Gates remains the world's second richest man with a net worth of $56bn and indeed would have topped the list if he had not generously given away $30bn. Mexico's Carlos Slim Helu tops the list with $74bn, while Warren Buffest is third with $50bn.
A Forbes blog detailing the fortunes of technology's main players, said that Oracle's Larry Ellison has moved up one place to 5th on the list, with $39.5bn, while tied in 24th place are Google's Sergey Brin and Larry Page.
Amazon's CEO Jeff Bezos has jumped from 43rd to 30th place on the list with $18.1bn and the richest non-American tech titan is Azim Premji of Indian IT consulting company, Wipro with $16.8bn in 36th place.
Founder of Dell, Michael Dell slipped to 44th, from 37th, although his worth moved up by $1.1 billion to $14.6 billion.
Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer fell to 46th place from 33rd but retains his $15.5bn fortune, while the software giant's co-founder, Paul Allen is ranked 57th from 37th last year, despite the fact his wealth increased to $13bn.
Jumping into the top 100 was Robin Li, the CEO of China-based search engine Baidu, at 95th on the list, with $9.4 billion, rising from 258th place and $3.5bn in 2010.
Apple's CEO Steve Jobs missed out on a place in the top 100, but is worth $8.3bn at number 110 on the list.
