The world's billionaires 2011

America's wealthiest still dominate the global ranks, but more new billionaires now come from China, Russia and other developing economies – and Mexico’s Carlos Slim Helú is holding on to the title of world’s richest man.

By Forbes

2011: A record year in numbers, money and impact

This 25th year of tracking global wealth was one to remember. The Forbes 2011 Billionaires List breaks two records: number of billionaires (1,210) and combined wealth ($4.5 trillion).

This combined wealth surpasses the gross domestic product of Germany, one of only six nations to have fewer billionaires this year than in 2010. Brazil, Russia, India and China produced 108 of this year's 214 new names. These four nations are home to one in four members, up from one in 10 five years ago.

Before this year only the United States had produced more than 100 billionaires. China now has 115 and Russia 101.

Wealth creation is moving at an especially breakneck pace in the Asia-Pacific region, which has a record 332 billionaires, up from 234 a year ago and 130 at the depth of the financial crisis in 2009. Sizzling stock markets are behind this surge.

America's wealthiest still dominate the global ranks, but the U.S. is losing its grip. One in three billionaires is an American, down from nearly one in two a decade ago. It has 10 more than last year but 56 fewer than its 2008 peak.

Still there are inspiring newcomers. An obvious example is Facebook, which has spawned six billionaires, including chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, whose fortune this year jumped 238% to $13.5 billion.

The frenzy among investors for all things social pushed up private market values of online gaming outfit Zynga and made a billionaire of founder and chief executive Mark Pincus. Other notable American newcomers to the Forbes list include Groupon backer Eric Lefkofsky.

Why do we spend so much time tracking other people's money? It's because these moguls have the power to shape our world. Telecom billionaire turned Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati is keeping Lebanon's government together. Swiss-Italian entrepreneur Ernesto Bertarelli is focusing on saving the oceans. And Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have traveled to three continents working to raise philanthropic awareness among the ultra-rich.

Carlos Slim Helú

Net worth: $74 billion

Age: 71

Residence: Mexico City

Carlos Slim Helú is chairman of Telmex, which provides telecommunications services throughout Latin America, and the world's richest man. Forbes last year put his worth at $53.5 billion. A 19% rise in the Mexican stock market, a stronger peso and successful mining and real-estate spinoffs from conglomerate Grupo Carso (GPOVY) contributed to this year's increase in Slim's net worth.

Slim presides over an empire that stretches from mining to cigarettes to banking to retail, and touches nearly every aspect of life for Mexico's 113 million residents. He has interests in retailer Saks (SKS) and The New York Times (NYT), and he paid $140 million last year for an office building on New York's Fifth Avenue.

Bill Gates

Net worth: $54 billion

Age: 55

Residence: Medina, Wash.

Bill Gates -- the Microsoft (MSFT) co-founder, futurist and America's richest person -- has collaborated with billionaire buddy Warren Buffett to persuade nearly 60 of the world's wealthiest to sign the "Giving Pledge," promising to donate at least half of their wealth to charity.

Gates has given $30 billion to The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which distributes life-saving vaccines and fights hunger. Gates is calling for a higher sense of urgency in AIDS vaccine development and is pushing for better tools to rate teacher performance.

Gates holds 70% of his wealth in an investment fund; the rest is in Microsoft stock. (Microsoft publishes MSN Money.)

Warren Buffett

Net worth: $50 billion

Age: 80

Residence: Omaha, Neb.

Shares of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) have climbed more than 15% over the past year, adding $3 billion to the fortune of Warren Buffett. Buffett is hunting for more big deals: "Our elephant gun has been reloaded and my trigger finger is itchy," he said in a recent letter to Berkshire shareholders.

In explaining his involvement in the "Giving Pledge," Buffett has said: "Too often, a vast collection of possessions ends up possessing its owner. The asset I most value, aside from health, is interesting, diverse and long-standing friends."

Buffett faked breathing problems when he was 12 so he could move back to Omaha from Washington, D.C., where his father was a freshman congressman. He bought textile firm Berkshire Hathaway in 1965 and transformed it into massive holding company, spanning food, insurance, utilities and industrials. Buffett acquired railroad giant Burlington Northern Santa Fe for $26 billion in 2009.

Bernard Arnault

Net worth: $41 billion

Age: 62

Residence: Paris

Bernard Arnault easily retains the title of Europe's richest person. His fortune surged by $13.5 billion over the past year as shares of his luxury good outfit, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMUY) rose by more than half, thanks to strong demand, particularly in Asia, for Dom Perignon champagne, Hennessy cognac, Tag Heuer watches and Louis Vuitton bags and accessories.

Arnault's company acquired 20% of Hermes last year. Arnault insists he is a friendly shareholder, but Hermes sees the purchase as hostile. The Bulgari family recently transferred its majority holding in its brand to LVMH for LVMH shares and board seats.

Larry Ellison

Net worth: $39.5 billion

Age: 66

Residence: Woodside, Calif.

Larry Ellison, the co-founder and chief executive of Oracle (ORCL), sits atop a fortune that grew by $11.5 billion over the past year thanks to a 30% jump in the shares of his software company. In November, Oracle won a mud-slinging copyright infringement battle against German software rival SAP (SAP) worth $1.3 billion. SAP is contesting the outcome.

Over the years, Oracle has acquired 75 companies worth a total of $40 billion. For making it all come together, Ellison is one of the highest-paid executives in the United States.

An avid yachtsman, Ellison spent a decade and more than $100 million on his quest for the America's Cup, which he finally won in February 2010, beating rival billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli. Ellison is bringing the America's Cup to San Francisco in 2013.