In recent years, there has been a lot of discussion about who is the richest persons in the world. A number of different sources have tried to come up with an answer to this question, and there is no definitive answer. However, according to Forbes magazine, the wealthiest person in the world is Microsoft founder Bill Gates with a net worth of $82 billion. Gates is followed by Spanish businessman Amancio Ortega with a net worth of $74 billion. There are a number of other billionaires in the top ten, including Warren Buffett (net worth: $60 billion), Mark Zuckerberg (net worth: $56 billion), and Carlos Slim (net worth: $50 billion). There are a number of factors that can affect someone’s net worth. For example, the value of their company may increase or decrease, they may make money through investments or through their own work, or they may inherit money. It's also important to note that not all billionaires are equally wealthy. Some people have a large chunk of their wealth while others have a smaller portion.