Billionaires list grows despite downturn

Forbes has been tracking the world's billionaires since 1987 and this year there are more mega-wealthy individuals than ever before.

The world's richest man is still Carlos Slim; the Mexican telecoms tycoon財閥 But fast-growing rivals are challenging US dominance優勢. Asia now has 332 billionaires, even more than in Europe. One hundred and fifteen billionaires are in China, many created as Chinese companies have listed on the stock market. And Moscow is the city with the most billionaire residents. is worth $74 billion. The US has Microsoft's Bill Gates and investor Warren Buffett, plus six Facebook billionaires - 413 American billionaires in all.

Commodities商品, like steel and oil, have soared飆升 in price creating fortunes this year. The authors warn that they may not last.

Caroline Hepker, BBC News, New York

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2011/03/110311_witn_billionaires_page.shtml