The richest Americans in tech
Forbes has released its list of the 400 richest Americans, revealing that Microsoft founder Bill Gates still rules the roost of wealth in the tech space.
While Gates has long-since retired as the head of the software giant he founded in 1975, he remains the richest man in America – and second richest in the world, falling behind Mexican telecoms mogul Carlos Slim Helu.
According to Forbes, Gates is worth US$72 billion – and that’s despite giving away US$28 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Gates has held the top spot as the richest American since 1994.
Oracle founder, and owner of Hawaiian airline, Island Air, Larry Ellison is the second richest American in the tech space, and third overall.
According to Forbes, Ellison is worth US$41 billion, and owns 98% of Hawaii’s Lanai Island.
Amazon founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos, worth US$27.2 billion, is the third richest American in tech – though he slipped in the overall rankings by one spot, from 11th in 2012 to 12th in 2013’s ranking.
In a surprise move in August 2013, Bezos bought the 136 year-old newspaper, The Washington Post, for US$250 million of his own fortune.
Google co-founders Larry Page (US$24.9 billion) and Sergey Brin (US$24.4 billion) round off the top 5 richest Americans in tech, in 4th and 5th position (13th and 14th overall).
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg (6th in tech) managed to break into the overall top 20 list for the first time, moving up to 20th position from 36th in 2012, with a net worth of US$19 billion, according to Forbes.
Exiting Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer (US$18 billion), Dell founder and CEO, Michael Dell (US$15.9 billion), Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen (US$15.8 billion) and Steve Jobs’ widow, Lauren Powell Jobs (US$11.7 billion) round off the top 10 richest in tech.
Jobs remains the richest woman in Silicon Valley, according to Forbes, thanks to holdings in Disney and Apple, which she inherited from her late husband.
| Rank | Name | Source | Net Worth |
| 1 | Bill Gates | Microsoft | $72.0 billion |
| 3 | Larry Ellison | Oracle | $41.0 billion |
| 12 | Jeff Bezos | Amazon.com | $27.2 billion |
| 13 | Larry Page | $24.9 billion | |
| 14 | Sergey Brin | $24.4 billion | |
| 20 | Mark Zuckerberg | $19.0 billion | |
| 21 | Steve Ballmer | Microsoft | $18.0 billion |
| 25 | Michael Dell | Dell | $15.9 billion |
| 26 | Paul Allen | Microsoft | $15.8 billion |
| 35 | Lauren Powell Jobs | Apple | $11.7 billion |
Aside from appearances by Gates and Ellison, the overall top 10 list features four members of the Walton family – all part of the massive retail wholesaler, Wal-Mart.
Berkshire Hathaway investment firm founder, Warren Buffett is the second richest man in America, while investors, Charles and David Koch and New York Mayor, Michael Bloomberg make an appearance as well.
| Rank | Name | Source | Net Worth |
| 1 | Bill Gates | Microsoft | $72.0 billion |
| 2 | Warren Buffett | Berkshire Hathaway | $58.5 billion |
| 3 | Larry Ellison | Oracle | $41.0 billion |
| 4 | Charles Koch | Diversified | $36.0 billion |
| 4 | David Koch | Diversified | $36.0 billion |
| 6 | Christy Walton | Wal-Mart | $35.4 billion |
| 7 | Jim Walton | Wal-Mart | $33.8 billion |
| 8 | Alice Walton | Wal-Mart | $33.5 billion |
| 9 | S. Robson Walton | Wal-Mart | $33.3 billion |
| 10 | Michael Bloomberg | Bloomberg LP | $31.0 billion |
The Forbes 400 can be found at Forbes.com.
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