5 Richest Billionaires 2007

Bill Gates
Net Worth: $56 billion
Country: United States
Rank: 1

Microsoft's founder and chief software architect is pushing to move the company beyond PCs into TVs, cell phones, cars, even wristwatches. Flagship Windows operating system runs 94% of the world's desktop computers, but company faces pressure from faster- growing open source system Linux. Expectations high for Windows successor, dubbed Longhorn, which may debut in 2005. World's biggest philanthropist, he devotes billions to eradicating infectious diseases (polio, AIDS) and developing vaccines through $24 billion Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Warren Buffett

Oracle of Omaha's value-investing principles built Nebraska-based Berkshire Hathaway into $116 billion (market cap) holding company: insurance (General Re, Geico) and stakes in American Express, Coca-Cola, Gillette. Also, an assortment of operating companies, including Fruit of the Loom, Pampered Chef. Believes Berkshire should be "fortress of financial strength." It's been just that: Stock is up nearly 50% in past year, adding $12.4 billion to net worth and bringing him a few billion dollars shy of Bill Gates. Starring role as economic adviser to movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger in recent California governorship race।

Carlos Slim Helu
Net Worth: $49 billion
Country: America
Rank: 3

The world's third-richest man is $19 billion richer this year and catching up with Americans Bill Gates and Warren Buffett thanks to a strong Mexican equities market and the performance of his wireless telephone company, America Movil.A widower and father of 6, Slim is a baseball fan and art collector. He keeps his art collection in Mexico City's Museo Soumaya, which he named after his late wife. In recent years he has donated close to $4 billion to education and health projects

Ingvar Kamprad & family
Net Worth: $33 billion
Country: Russia
Rank: 4

Peddled matches, fish, pens, Christmas cards and other items by bicycle as a teenager. Started selling furniture in 1947. Now his company Ikea, which sells hip designs for the cost conscious, is one of the most beloved retailers in the world, with an almost cultlike following. Ikea, which has stores in 34 countries.Has been quoted as saying that his luxuries are the occasional nice cravat and Swedish fish roe. Says his home is furnished mostly with his own Ikea products.

Lakshmi Mittal

Age: 56

Fortune: inherited and growing

Source: steel

Net Worth: $32.0 bil

Country Of Citizenship: India

Residence: London , United Kingdom, Europe & Russia

Industry: Manufacturing

Marital Status: married, 2 children

Education: St Xavier's College Calcutta, Bachelor of Arts / Science

Steel titan known for his dealmaking won six-month battle for rival Arcelor. The $34 billion merger created an industry behemoth that now accounts for 10% of world's production, putting it well ahead of Japan's Nippon Steel. Mittal owns 44% of combined $80 billion (sales) Arcelor-Mittal and is its chief executive. Mittal began his career working in the family's steelmaking business in India. Today Arcelor-Mittal operations span more than 60 countries and employ 330,000. Not content to dominate the steel industry, Mittal is branching out. Among his latest deals: spent $980 million for a 50% stake in Kazakh oil firm Caspian Investment Resources, a subsidiary of Russia's Lukoil. This Londoner is the UK's richest resident.