Forbes 400 Rich List

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Gates, Buffett again top Forbes' billionaires list

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NEW YORK — Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates remains the nation's richest man by far, as the tech and philanthropy giant took the top spot on the Forbes 400 list for the 19th year running, with a net worth of $66 billion.

Investor Warren Buffett, the head of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., again took second with $46 billion, while Oracle Corp. co-founder Larry Ellison remains third with $41 billion and brothers Charles and David Koch, co-owners of Koch Industries Inc., tied for fourth with $31 billion.

Forbes said the rich mainly got richer in 2012, with net worth rising for 241 members of its list and shrinking for only 66. Rising stock prices, a rebound in real estate values and rare art prices helped.

Cont...

There are 45 women on the list, up from 42 a year ago, including Oprah Winfrey at No. 151.

The top 10 people on this year's Forbes 400 list are:

— Bill Gates, $66 billion

— Warren Buffett, $46 billion

— Larry Ellison, $41 billion

— Charles Koch, $31 billion

— David Koch, $31 billion

— Christy Walton & family, $27.9 billion

— Jim Walton, $26.8 billion

— Alice Walton, $26.3 billion

— S. Robson Walton, $26.1 billion

— Michael Bloomberg, $25 billion

The very rich have gotten significantly richer, apparently an increase of $1.7 trillion richer, or 13 percent.