A collection of the five richest people of the year in 2008.

Mukesh Ambani

Age: 49
Nationality: Indian
Martial Status: Married
Children: 3

Education: University of Bombay
Worth: 63.2 Billion

Mukesh Ambani has taken the title for the richest person in the universe in 2008 with the net worth of 63.2 billion dollars. It was only going to be a matter of time before an Indian became the world’s riches person, with two of them on the top five. Making his money from petrochemicals, oil refining, textiles, retail and biotechnology, Mukesh Ambani has become the richest person in the world. His biggest money maker has been in the past year based on the soaring Reliance stock prices. With the soaring prices rising by more than 700 points in one day Mukesh instantly became the richest person latterly over night. But Mukesh needs to watch out because he has both Bill and Carlos less then a billion behind him.

Carlos Slim Helu

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Age: 50
Nationality: Mexican
Martial Status: Widowed
Children: 6
Worth: 62.2993 Billion

Carlos Slim Helu has overtaken Bill Gates, and is this year’s second richest person in the world. He has the net worth of 62.2993 billion dollars. He is the owner of Latin America’s largest mobile phone company America Movil. After the 26.5 per cent rise in the shares of America Movil during the second quarter Carlos has overtaken Bill Gates. The future looks bright for Carlos who is looking to expand his phone company and bring the money in by the millions. Congratulations Carlos!

William H. Gates III

Age: 50
Nationality: American
Martial Status: Married
Children: 2
Education: Harvard dropout
Worth: 62.29 Billion

Bill Gates, a Harvard dropout, is the richest man alive today with his net worth at 62.29 billion dollars. He is Microsoft’s chief visionary and is the man who brought them to power. Recently, for the first time ever Bill did not offer a strategy outlook at last year’s financial analyst meeting. Instead, Bill preferred to dive into innovative projects that he finds more appealing and fun. Today he is a man of many deeds who donates a lot of money to charity, through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation is aimed at fighting infectious disease (hepatitis B, AIDS, malaria) and improving high schools. He is an inspiration and icon of Americans today and will be for the following decades.

Warren Buffett

Age: 75
Nationality: American
Martial Status: Married
Children: 3
Education: Columbia University
Worth: 55.9 Billion

The world’s most beloved investor Warren Buffet has the net worth of 55.9 billion dollars in 2008. He has shares in many different companies including, Berkshire Hathaway, Coca-Cola, Geico, Fruit of the Loom, MidAmerican Energy, and home furnishing. Warren is also a very humble man who gave the majority of his Berkshire Hathaway shares to charity. The shares were worth about 32 billion dollars and it mainly went to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Warren is also a great American icon who knows the true meaning of charity.

Lakshmi Mittal

Age: 55
Nationality: India
Martial Status: Married
Children: 2
Education: St Xavier’s College
Worth: 50.9 Billion

Lakshmi Mittal topping the list at the 3rd richest man in the world has the net worth of 50.9 billion dollars. He is known as the steel titan and owns the largest steal company, Mittal Steel. He inherited the steel company and it has been growing ever since. Mittal made a $23.7 billion bid for his largest rival, Luxembourg-based Arcelor, in an effort to spark more world steel consolidation from more companies. His plan has worked and has been selling his steal to high grade companies such as Ford. Recently he has bought a very large stake in a Chinese steel company. His company is on the rise and will be racking in the doe in the years to come.