MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Forbes: Bill Gates, richest man in the US with 57 billion USD

Bill Gates remains the richest man in the United States with 57 billion US dollars in assets despite losing his crown to Warren Buffett for a few months earlier this year according to the latest The Forbes 400 billionaires.

However Buffett's shares in Berkshire Hathaway have fallen 15% since February. The price of admission to this new 2008 edition is 1.3 billion US dollars. However rising prices of oil and art paved the way for 31 new members and eight returnees, while volatile stock and housing markets forced 33 plutocrats from our rankings. Newcomers to the list include fertilizer tycoon Alexander Rovt, car dealer and art collector Norman Braman and Patrón tequila founder John Paul DeJoria. Also new: Mark Zuckerberg, the 24-year-old founder of social networking site Facebook, who debuts on The Forbes 400 with an estimated net worth of $1.5 billion. Among the returnees are Urban Outfitters chief Richard Hayne and Gap founders Donald and Doris Fisher, who rode the swelling contemporary-art market back onto the list. The couple's art collection is believed to be worth more than $1 billion. The Forbes 400 is a snapshot of estimated wealth on Aug. 29, 2008. But given recent events Forbes points out that some of those on he will become significantly richer or poorer within weeks--even days--of publication. The biggest loser this year was casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, whose fortune has fallen 13 billion US dollars in the past 12 months--1.5 million per hour--as shares of his Las Vegas Sands have dropped 75% from their all-time highs last October. Fellow casino kingpin Kirk Kerkorian lost $6.8 billion this year as his stock in MGM Mirage fell 70% since last fall. This year's biggest gainer is New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose estimated net worth rose 8.5 billion after he bought back a 20% stake in his financial data and news firm Bloomberg L.P. from Merrill Lynch. Two-thirds of the members of The Forbes 400 have fortunes that are entirely self-made, while only 19% of the group inherited their entire fortunes. There are 42 women on the list with an average net worth of $4.2 billion. Television presenter Oprah Winfrey saw her wealth increase 200 million to 2.7 billion US dollars. The top ten of the 400 list are: Bill Gates III (software); Warren Buffet (fund investor); Jim Walton (retail Wal Mart); S Robson Walton (retail, Wall Mart); Alice Walton (retail Wall Mart); Christy Walton & Family (retail, Wall Mart); Michael Bloomberg (financial data news agency; governor of New York); Charles Koch (oil, refining) and David Koch (oil, refining).