So, here we are again, looking at the newest top 10 billionaires list 2012. March does not only mean spring is getting near. In the world of billionaire ranking, it is also the time to scrutinize the new 2012 Forbes’ billionaire list. Despite recent worldwide crisis and which managed to decrease most of these billionaires’ wealth, the total number of the 1,226 billionaires listed this year increases 2% to US$4.6 trillion with US$3.7 billion average wealth.

Video Top 10 Billionaires List 2012 Forbes

This year is kind of special because Forbes is celebrating its 25th anniversary of Forbes billionaires list. And who is the one who gets the honor to be crowned as the richest person on earth in 2012? Let’s do the count down.

Top 10 Billionaires List 2012

10. Karl Albrecht

Net Worth: $25.4 billion (Down)
Source of Wealth: Aldi (Grocery Store)

The first billionaire to enter top ten this year is Karl Albrecht. Ranked on the twelfth place last year with US$25.5 billion of wealth, Albrecht moves up two places to the bottom position of Forbes’ top ten richest billionaires with a slight US$0.1 billion wealth loss to US$25.4 billion of wealth. Still, he sets a new record as the oldest man to enter top ten list at 92 age.

9. Li Ka-shing

Net Worth: $25.5 billion (Down)
Source of Wealth: Diversified

The word “diversified” explain much. If you get yourself various businesses to do, then you can be sure that more successes await for you. After lurking right outside the top ten list’s door last year, Li Ka-shing can rejoice for making it to the top ten although his wealth decreases, quite insignificantly, from US$26 billion to US$25.5 billion this year.

8. Stefan Persson

Net Worth: $26 billion (Up)
Source of Wealth: H&M

So Stefan Persson breaks into top ten billionaires list this year. This makes you go thinking though, how bad is the crisis so that only with US$1.5 billion increase you manage to move up 5 steps on Forbes billionaire list. There is also one thing you can conclude here, fashion industry is immune to the world’s economic crisis. People must still be throwing out those H&M clothes after five public appearances.

7. Eike Batista

Net Worth: $30 billion (Equal)
Source of Wealth: Mining, oil

With recent increase in world’s oil price, unfortunately Eike Batitsta’s wealth is stuck in US$30 billion this year. The good news is, his position goes up one place from the eighth last year to seventh this year.

6. Larry Ellison

Net Worth: $36 billion (Down)
Source of Wealth: Oracle

Unfortunately, Larry Ellison drops from fifth to sixth position this year together with his dropping wealth from US$39.5 to US$36 billion. Well, is it because he put too much attention on The Golden State Warriors and lost control on Oracle?

5. Amancio Ortega

Net Worth: $37.5 billion (Up)
Source of Wealth: Zara

Surprise, surprise. It is Amancio Ortega, the owner of Zara, who successfully climbs to the fifth place replacing the Oracle mogul, Larry Ellison. It looks like fashion business was going remarkable last year. Ortega’s wealth increases from US$31 billion last year to US$37.5 billion. So far, this is the highest jump with US$6.5 increase during economy crisis. CNN even called Zara as “The original Spanish success story.”

4. Bernard Arnault

Net Worth: $41 billion (Equal)
Source of Wealth: LVMH

Like I said, fashion must be doing great last year. While Ortega soars up with its Zara brand, Bernard Arnault with its LVMH business does not change ranking and wealth amount from 2011. If you don’t know what LVMH is, it literally stands for Louis Vuitton and Moet Hennessey. However, it also implicitly stands for wealth and fortune. Of course if you are the owner of LVMH you won’t escape top five of Forbes billionaire list.

3. Warren Buffet

Net Worth: $44 billion (Down)
Source of Wealth: Berkshire Hathaway

Still going strong on the third place, Warren Buffet lost US$6 billion last year. Surely the economic crisis hit his business pretty hard. However, he did something out of a citizen’s habit when he tried to convince President Obama to raise taxes. He is also one of the Pledge founders who promised to give 50% of their wealth away for charity. So, are we expecting further loss next year? We’ll see.

2. Bill Gates

Net Worth: $61 billion (Up)
Source of Wealth: Microsoft

Bill Gates comes up the second in the richest man race with US$61 billion. Considering the amount of money he threw away for couple past years for charity and the world crisis, it is pretty impressive that he is still able to manage a US$5 billion increase this year from US$56 billion of wealth last year. Hopefully that the Pledge project he initiated with his buddy, Warren Buffet, won’t get him thrown out of the top two Forbes billionaire list next year, not that he seems to care though.

1. Carlos Slim Helu

Net Worth: $69 billion (Down)
Source of Wealth: Telecom

The No 1 Top 10 Billionaires List 2012 are Carlos Slim Mexican telecommunication magnate is still strong holding on his world’s wealthiest man title this year with US$69 billion. His wealth is dropping US$5 billion from last year because of the world economic crisis, but so are the others’. Something tells us though that the 72-year-old tycoon still does not care with the publicity he gets this year as the richest man in the world. However, he should watch out. Because of his wealth decline and Gates’ increase, their gap is closing again. Anyway, I believe congratulations is in order. Congratulations!