Bezos, Gates and Buffett still top the world's ultra-rich: Forbes

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos (L) and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates are the richest persons in the world, according to Forbes AFP/David Ryder, EMMANUEL DUNAND

While things are largely stable up on top of the list, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg dropped three spots and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg rose by two.

According to the list announced Tuesday by Forbes, the riches of Bezos, 55, have swelled by US$19 billion in one year and he is now worth US$131 billion.

Bezos, who holds 16 per cent of Amazon and whose wealth now makes him a target of the left wing of the US Democratic Party, has widened the money gap between himself and Gates, the philanthropist and co-founder of Microsoft.

Gates, 63, has seen his wealth grow to US$96.5 billion, up from US$90 billion last year, said Forbes.

Third place is held by Buffett, 88 and long considered an investment guru, although he did get stung in late February by a deep plunge in shares of US processed food maker Kraft Heinz, in which he had a large stake.

Buffett's fortune slipped by US$1.5 billion to US$82.5 billion, the magazine estimated.

Warren Buffett, the "Oracle of Omaha," is the third richest person on the planet even though his wealth has slipped by $1.5 billion, according to Forbes AFP/BILL PUGLIANO

It is more or less after this trio that things start to get shaken up on the Forbes list.

The CEO of French luxury good company LVMH, Bernard Arnault, held on to fourth place. But Zuckerberg lost US$9 billion in net worth and slipped from fifth to eighth.

Ahead of Zuckerberg now are Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim, Zara and Inditex founder Amancio Ortega of Spain, and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.

Bloomberg rose from 11th to ninth place as his fortune increased to US$55.5 billion, from US$50 billion, said Forbes.

Americans still dominate the list with 14 of the top 20 billionaires from the US.

Non-Americans among the top 20 include India's Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, in 13th place, and China's Ma Huateng, head of the Chinese internet giant Tencent, who rounds out the top 20.

DONALD TRUMP 715TH RICHEST

Forbes estimates Trump's wealth at US$3.1 billion, unchanged from last year.

While 994 people from last year's ranking saw their wealth drop - a record, according to Forbes - Trump rose in the Forbes ranking from 766 last year to 715 this year.

From left to right: Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr, Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump at the ground breaking of the Trump International Hotel in Washington in 2014. (Photo source: Reuters/Gary Cameron)

Trump's nine New York skyscrapers, including the famous Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, account for nearly half of his wealth, while his clubs and golf courses are valued at US$550 million.

However, one of Trump's Florida golf clubs, the National Doral Miami, took a hit and has been depreciated by US$26 million following a sharp drop in bookings attributed to disagreements with the president's policies, Forbes said.

Trump is not the richest US elected official: That honour goes to JB Pritzker, a Democrat who took office as governor of Illinois in January. Pritzker, heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune, was estimated to be worth US$3.2 billion.