Forbes' billionaires list includes Michael Jordan

Bill Gates is on the top in Forbes magazine's annual list of the world's richest people. Facebook Inc.'s Mark Zuckerberg has been included in the top 20. And for the first time, basketball star Michael Jordan has also joined the list.

According to Forbes, Gate's net worth increased to $79.2 billion from $76 billion a year ago, as a result of which he reached the top position for the 16th year in the last 21. Mexico telecommunications industrialist Carlos Slim Helu has been put on second position, at $77.1 billion. And Berkshire Hathaway chief Warren Buffett was at third position, at $72.7 billion.

Amancio Ortega, the Spanish founder of Inditex, was at fourth position with $64.5 billion and Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison managed to occupy fifth position, at $54.3 billion. Buffett's earnings increased $14.5 billion from a year earlier, regardless of his donation of $2.8 billion to several charities, made in last July.

Aliko Dangote, who was involved in the business of cement manufacturing and commodities such as flour and sugar, fell from $14.7 billion to $10.3 billion. A record 1,826 billionaires was identified by Forbes.

The highest-ranked woman was Wal-Mart's Christy Walton, who was at eighth position at $41.7 billion. France's Liliane Bettencourt, who earned much of her wealth from cosmetics company L'Oreal, was at 10th position with $41.7 billion.

According to Nick Bryer, of Oxfam, there are almost a billion people who are not even able to meet their ends.

"Economic growth does not inevitably trickle down to help those at the bottom. Money can be used to buy power and rig rules, regulations and policies, creating this huge void between the rich and poor and between those who can and cannot access opportunities", Bryer added.