Errr ?

The ranking of most of those guys is mainly dependant on how the stock market performs.

Most of the top guys actually have most of their assets in one company( more than 50% for those in the top 10) so how they rise and fall is stricly dependant on how well the stock of that company does.

So I'm not sure at all what you meant by that comment....

The main reason why there are more americans in the top 20 than last year is that the US stock market ( which dropped like 43% in 2008) actually dropped less than some others market ( Russia stock market absolutly tanked and the Mexican stock market had a terrible year too).

Awesome stuff.

Bill Gates is awesome because not only does he give a crapload to charity, but Microsoft will match your donations 1:1 as well. I believe the staff at Microsoft may be among the most giving if not the most giving group of people at any company in the world.

He also supports human rights which is another reason why I like the guy.

Business practices, like it or hate it. You can't spot the man for the amount he gives.

or can I *looks in wallet*

gates back on top, twestern can't be mad at people using M$

LOL

Good for Gates, even if he is $18B poorer.

As for his charities that's can just be PR to get people to say "Wow, what a generous man, I'll support his company". He will also eventually get a noble prize for it.

On the other hand he can really be a nice guy and gives it from the heart but the publicity surrounding each donation negates this in my opinion.

I will take a bit of both for now.

Indeed he has well done for pointing it that out ;)

What a stupid comment Jo21, that 40 billion isn't even cash and he can make more money with 40 billion than 50 million, more money that goes to charity.

I would like to mirror what koweniciki said and add he is has gien more to charity than any other man alive. So he can't do much more.

When people know how Foundations work they realize it's one of the best way to safeguard money. Not only the money is not considered to be yours anymore, lowering considerably your Wealth tax, but foundations are exempt of other contributions and can invest part of their means. Place trustworthy persons in the Foundation Executive Board who are basically paid to execute your orders, give a few millions here and there to justify the foundation's existence and gather some positive publicity and it's a win-win situation.

Good for bill he worked hard to get on top.

Granted Bill gives billions to charity but considering he still has loads of billions , it's not all that amazing.

He could give 90% of his wealth away and still live more comfortably than 90% of the human population .

Don't you find its utter bullshit when people are so willing to say "oh if I was a billionair I would give away all my money and leave just enough to live comfortably"

Like hell they would.