Billionaires Freefall from Forbes’ Richlist

TOP SPOT: Bill Gates of Microsoft Corp. took out the top spot on the Forbes` richlist despite a loss of $18 billion. Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images

NEW YORK—It’s official, the world is poorer. Off the Forbes’ list this year are 355 billionaires, along with $2 trillion net worth.

Microsoft Corp founder Bill Gates regained the top spot with $40 billion to his name, sneaking past Warren Buffet who was last year’s winner. 

The top three on the Forbes’ list have lost a combined $68 billion in the past year. The 10 biggest dollar losers lost a combined $238 billion.

Buffet lost a whopping $25 billion last year due to the decline of Berkshire Hathaway stock, leaving him on a dollar total of $37 billion.

The 2009 list is dominated by Americans, who occupy 10 of the top 20 spots—a huge increase caused by a fall of fortunes in Asia and Russia.

The biggest loser was last year’s biggest gainer—Anil Ambani lost $32 billion in the last 12 months. New York Cith Mayor Michael Bloomberg was the only member of the top 20 who gained in net worth in the past year.