Tech tops Forbes rich list

Technology’s long-time power CEOs remain among the richest in the world, while the new guard of technology entrepreneurs sat hot on their heels in 2013.

The 2013 Forbes list of the world’s 1426 billionaires came to a combined net worth of $US5.4 trillion ($A5.2 trillion), up from $US4.6 trillion last year. 

Mexican telecom mogul Carlos Slim retained his position as the world’s richest man for the fourth year running, with an estimated net worth of $US73 billion, up $US4 billion from last year but $US1 billion shy of his all-time record, Forbes reported.

Bill Gates led the representation of the tech sector, coming in second with an estimated net worth of $US67 billion.

Investment tycoon Warren Buffett ended his run in the top three, coming in fourth with $53.5 billion, while Oracle’s island-buying CEO Larry Ellison rounded out the top five with a $US43 billion net worth.

Tech-wise, the top 50 was filled out with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, in position 19 with $US25.2 billion net worth, Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin at 20 and 21, with $US23 billion and $US22.8 billion respectively, and Dell founder and CEO Michael Dell at number 49 with $US15.3 billion.

In the top 100 appeared Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer, at position 51 with $US15.2 billion net worth; Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg at 66th with an estimated net worth of $US13.3 billion; Samsung chairman Lee Kun Hee, 69th with $US13 billion, and Steve Jobs’ widow Laurene Powell Jobs and family were at position 98 with an estimated net worth of $US10.7 billion.

The Asia Pacific region contributed 386 names to the list, including the likes of Gina Rinehart at number 36 with an estimated net worth of $US17 billion, James Packer at 198 with $US6 billion net worth, mining magnate Andrew Forrest at number 211 with $US5.7 billion, and Westfield founder Frank Lowy at number 229 with $US5.3 billion.