If you dream of winning enough cash to retire on the lottery, then look at the fortunes of the world’s 10 richest men.
Not only are they multi-billionaires, but since the start of the year, they have added $50 billion to their wealth.
Top of the list, almost a fifth as rich again as his nearest rival is Microsoft founder Bill Gates sitting on a pile of dollars worth $86.3 billion.
Since January 1, he has added $3.95 billion to his bank account.
Fast closing the gap in second place is Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos.
Europe’s richest man
He has added a massive $10.3 billion to his personal net worth in the past three months to take his fortune up to $75.7 billion.
Breathing down his neck are serial investor Warren Buffett and Zara fashion retailer Amancio Ortega.
Buffett is recognised as an investment guru and holds a vast array of stocks from railways to kitchen cleaners and fast-food. Bezos knocked him off second place despite Buffett adding $2.16 billion to his $75.3 billion fortune this year.
The top three are all Americans. Ortega, from Spain, breaks the mould as Europe’s richest person worth $73.3 billion.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg slots in at fifth with a fortune of $61.2 billion, which has surged by $11.3 billion this year.
Self-made billionaires
The figures come from financial firm Bloomberg. The billionaire index is updated daily at the close of financial market trading in New York.
Gates, Bezos and Zuckerberg are all self-made technology billionaires who have made their money from companies they founded.
Ortega also founded his business with his wife in 1975.
Buffett is a traditional investor making money by buying and selling companies.
World’s 10 Richest Individuals
| Rank | Name | Country | Net worth (Billions) | Change 2017 (Billions) | Sector |
| 1 | Bill Gates | US | $86.30 | +$3.95 | Technology |
| 2 | Jeff Bezos | US | $75.70 | +$10.30 | Technology |
| 3 | Warren Buffett | US | $75.30 | +$2.16 | Conglomerate |
| 4 | Amancio Ortega | Spain | $73.30 | +$1.19 | Retail |
| 5 | Mark Zuckerberg | US | $61.20 | +$11.30 | Technology |
| 6 | Carlos Slim | Mexico | $56.90 | +$7.07 | Conglomerate |
| 7 | Charles Koch | US | $48.00 | +$2.42 | Industrial |
| 8 | David Koch | US | $48.00 | +$2.42 | Industrial |
| 9 | Larry Ellison | US | $47.00 | +$5.49 | Technology |
| 10 | Bernard Arnault | France | $43.30 | +$4.12 | Consumer |
Source: Bloomberg Billionaire’s Index
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