It may come as no surprise, but in 2014, the world’s richest people
only got richer. In fact, the top 66 richest people in the world now
have more wealth than the poorest 3.5 billion people combined. Talk
about income inequality. The following is the definitive list of the top
10 richest people in the world in the year 2014.
10) Jim Walton – $35.2 billion
He is the youngest son of Sam Walton, the founder of the world’s
largest retailer, Wal-Mart. Walton’s net worth increased to $34.7
billion in 2014, which is $3 billion more than his ranking was in 2013.
He replaced his brother, John, on the Wal-Mart Board of Directors in
2005 and is currently on the Strategic Planning and Finance committees
as well. Walton is also the CEO of Arvest Bank, another Walton family
owned business.
9) Christy Walton – $37.6 billion
From the same family, Christy Walton is the only woman to routinely
be included in top 10 lists of the world’s richest people. She has a net
worth valued at $36.7 billion — $2 billion more than her brother-in-law
Jim. Christy is the widow of John Walton, one of the sons of Sam
Walton, and inherited his fortune after his death in 2005.
Christy Walton is the world richest woman in 2014.
8) Sheldon Adelson – $37.9 billion
With a net worth of $38 billion, the chairman and chief executive
officer of Las Vegas Sands Corporation has made most of his money from
the casino business, but also owns the Israeli newspaper, Israel HaYom.
Las Vegas Sands Corporation is the parent company of Venetian Macao
Limited, which operates both the The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and
the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Adelson has a
strong commitment to charity including his own organization, the
Adelson Foundation, which has made over $140 million in contributions to
Birthright Israel.
7) David Koch – $40.1 billion
Worth $40 billion, David Koch is one of the two American businessmen
who owns Koch Industries, the second largest private company in the
United States. David ties for sixth place with his older brother,
Charles Koch, and is considered the wealthiest person in New York. David
Koch is an active man who, along with being the executive vice
president of Koch Industries, is involved in various businesses,
philanthropic pursuits and political events, along with also being a
chemical engineer. He is known for his love of arts and often
contributes to the Lincoln Center and the American Museum of Natural
History. David Koch is also heavily involved in the political sphere,
where he donates to various political campaigns and advocacy groups.
6) Charles Koch – $40.1 billion
The other man at the head of Koch Industries, Charles Koch ties with
his brother for the sixth richest person in the world, worth a total of
$40 billion. Charles is the official chief executive officer of Koch
Industries and is also fond of charitable organizations such as the
Institute for Humane Studies, the Mercatus Center at George Mason
University, and the Cato Institute.
5) Larry Ellison – $49.3 billion
Heavily involved in the tech industry, Larry Ellison is the chief
executive officer of Oracle, an American multinational computer
technology corporation based out of California that specializes in
computer hardware systems. Ellison is worth $48 billion, a whopping $8
billion more than the two Koch brothers. Named the third wealthiest man
in America last year, Ellison also has large stakes in companies such as
Salesforce, NetSuite, Astex Pharmaceuticals and Quark Biotechnology.
Ellison was, along with Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, one of the
billionaires to sign the “The Giving Pledge,” where most of his wealth
will be given to philanthropic causes.
4) Warren Buffet – $63.3 billion
The fourth richest man in the world has amassed a total net worth of
$58.2 billion, over $10 billion more than Ellison. Buffett has long been
known as one of the world’s wealthiest individuals and has been praised
for his sound financial investing and advice. Buffett is the CEO,
chairman and largest shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway, an American
multinational conglomerate holding company based out of Omaha, Nebraska,
and has famously pledged to give away 99 percent of his fortune.
3) Amancio Ortega – $63.8 billion
Thanks to his success in the retail industry, this Spanish
businessman is worth $64 billion. Ortega is the founder of the famous
Spanish clothing company, the Inditex fashion group, which is
headquartered in Arteixo, Spain. Perhaps his best known chain is the
Zara clothing and accessories shops. Since 2013, Ortega’s wealth has
increased by $7 billion.
2) Carlos Slim Helu – $68.8 billion
Holding the title of the world’s richest person from 2010 to 2013,
this Mexican businessman dropped in rank this year. Via his
conglomerate, Grupo Carso, Helu is involved in many Mexican companies in
the fields of communication, retailing, technology, and finance. He is
also the chairman and chief executive of popular telecommunication
companies Telmex and América Móvil. Helu has also been named as one of the world’s biggest charitable givers, donating a total of $4 billion to his foundation.
1) Bill Gates – $77.1 billion
Perhaps the most famous icon for wealth and philanthropy in the
world, after holding down the second place spot for three years, Bill
Gates reclaimed his position in 2014 as the world’s richest person.
Gates is known as a prominent American investor, philanthropist,
inventor and programmer. He co-founded Microsoft,
and also held positions of CEO, chairman and chief software architect
at the company before retiring. Through his charitable organization, the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates has donated more than $26
billion dollars to philanthropic causes such as enhancing healthcare and
reducing extreme poverty worldwide.
So there you have it, the ten richest people in the world for 2014.
Luckily for the world, the richest people in the world, by and large,
are heavily involved in philanthropic pursuits that help those who are
less fortunate. Many in the above list have signed a pledge to actually
donate the majority of their wealth to philanthropy, which will
drastically change and improve many lives in the years and decades to
come.
Dalmatian’s originated from Croatia. They weigh around around 40-70
lbs and have a height of 20-24 inches. They are quite protective and
jolly. Also, they are very strong and they love running. They have been,
for a long time, regarded as the symbol of the English firemen. Earlier
they were used a hunters, warriors and even shepherds. Their life life
span is about 10-13 years. This dog breed is a much-loved family pet and
is one of the favorites among dog enthusiasts.
Presa canario was originated in Canary islands, Africa. They weigh
around 100-125 lbs and stand at 25-26 inches. They were trained for
attacks and wars in the 18th century. They’re quite ferocious and
fearless. If they run after a prey, there’s nothing the prey can do
redeem itself. The breed is sometimes called Dogo Canario. Their average
lifespan is about 8-12 years. Sale of this breed is prohibited in
Australia and New-Zealand.
Chow Chow was originated in China. It weighs around 40-50 lbs and
stand at 18-22 inches. Looks very adorable right? Don’t even think of
getting near it. Irrespective of its small size, The chow chow is one of
the most aggressive dog breeds in the world. They were effectively used
for hunting in the past. They are extremely loyal to their owners. It’s
life span is about 9-15 years.
They were originated in Germany. They weigh around 65-90 lbs and
their height is about 26-28 inches. Doberman’s are extremely loyal to
their owners. They are extremely clever, intelligent and alert. They are
also very energetic and are best suited for joint families. Their
average life span is about 10-13 years.
This breed was originated in North America. It weighs around 80-110
lbs and stands at 23-28 inches. The nature of this breed is very jolly
although they can be aggressive if they get bored. They are often
referred as Mal or Mally. It was used for hauling heavy freight because
of its power and endurance in the past. It’s life span can be up to 16
years.
