Mexican tycoon overtakes Bill Gates as world's richest man


Fiona Walsh, business editor
Tuesday July 3, 2007
Guardian Unlimited


Carlos Slim has overtaken Bill Gates.

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/931/slimhelu128apnt4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Microsoft founder Bill Gates looks to have lost his title as the world's richest man, toppled from top spot by the Mexican telecoms tycoon Carlos Slim.


Three months ago the cigar-chomping Mr Slim quietly slipped past legendary US investor Warren Buffett to take second place in the global wealth league.


Now, thanks to a surge in the shares of his America Movil group, Mr Slim has claimed pole position, according to the Mexican online financial publication, Sentido Común.


It was Sentido Común's founder, Eduardo Garcia, who highlighted Mr Slim's rapidly rising wealth in April, although by his calculations the Mexican had not only beaten Mr Buffett in the wealth stakes by then but also edged past Mr Gates.


Now, however, Mr Garcia says there is no doubt that the little-known Mexican has finally captured the coveted top slot, following a surge in America Movil's shares over the second quarter. This is estimated to have boosted his fortune to an estimated $67.8bn (£33.6bn) - equivalent to 8% of Mexico's gross domestic product - compared with $59.2bn for the Microsoft mogul, putting him in the lead by a decisive $8.6bn.


"When I put Slim ahead three months ago Forbes bumped him up to second place (in world rankings) a few days later," Mr Garcia told Reuters.


"Let's see if the same happens again."


Shares in Mr Slim's mobile phone empire surged by 27% over the second quarter, compared with a 5.7% rise for Microsoft. Mr Slim's bank, Inbursa, also saw its stock jump by 20%.


Mr Gates has headed the Forbes list of the world's wealthiest for more than a decade. But, like Mr Buffett, he is rapidly becoming as well known for giving his money away as he is for accumulating it. Both he and the "Sage of Omaha" have promised to give most of their money to charitable causes.





Source (http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2117330,00.html)

My youngest son is a small part of the reason Carlos Slim is the richest man in the world. He represented Slim in a legal case worth billions about a year ago. When he went to Mexico City to meet with Mr. Slim's people he was met by armed guards at the airport, placed in an armored SUV and taken to the Four Seasons where he was watched over by body guards. It seems certain people in Mexico like to kidnap American lawyers working either for rich Mexicans or high power American firms and hold them for ransom.

In such cases i usually ask myself: what the hell people need such money fore? To buy God?

Bill Gates no longer Worlds Richest Man

I'll bet he's crushed.

Bill
Gates would probably still be the world's richest man if he hadn't given so much away to charity.

Bill
Gates would probably still be the world's richest man if he hadn't given so much away to charity.

Very true. But I still wonder when Bill is ever going to get a decent haircut.

Very true. But I still wonder when Bill is ever going to get a decent haircut.
You know, I heard that when he was worth 3 billion or so in '87 or '88, he was still driving an '85 VW Jetta. I mean, let's face it - the guy's an uber-nerd.

what the hell people need such money fore? To buy God?
No, my communist little buddy, to be God....

And rest assured, they are.

No, my communist little buddy, to be God....

And rest assured, they are.
In this context, it sounds like a compliment, capitalist buddy..

In this context, it sounds like a compliment, capitalist buddy..
ROTFLOL - That was pretty good, Dz. :)

You know, I heard that when he was worth 3 billion or so in '87 or '88, he was still driving an '85 VW Jetta. I mean, let's face it - the guy's an uber-nerd.

If was true uber-nerd then he'd be driving around a Bat-mobile or something, seriously.

How will Bill Gates ever recover..........Maybe he will buy America Movil :P

If was true uber-nerd then he'd be driving around a Bat-mobile or something, seriously.

Or like this guy:

Optimus Prime (http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/17462533.htm)

If I had that much money I'd drive a pink DeLorean.

Or like this guy:

Optimus Prime (http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/17462533.htm)

So, do people rib him about being named after a Transformer?

``Not in a serious way,'' he said, sporting a smirk. ``People are afraid to tease others who do something like this because they figure they must be crazy to begin with... so why push it?''


I thought he was 'til I read the piece... seems outrageous but just "doing his own thing".

My boyfriend dragged me to see Transformers yesterday... (I actually ended up liking it though.) Now his dream is to buy a yellow 2008 Camaro and name it Bumblebee. :rolleyes:

Now his dream is to buy a yellow 2008 Camaro and name it Bumblebee. :rolleyes:
Nice choise!!
Though i'd prefer the red one..))

My boyfriend dragged me to see Transformers yesterday... (I actually ended up liking it though.) Now his dream is to buy a yellow 2008 Camaro and name it Bumblebee. :rolleyes:
Oh, man - this guy keeps sounding cooler and cooler, DF. Pickups and Camaros?!? Why don't you talk him into getting a tattoo of said "bumblebee" on his chest? That'd rock, for sure...

If I had that much money I'd drive a pink DeLorean.
Like you had to tell us.

Any man who would name his car Bumblebee should be dumped immediately.

Ya think?

Any man who would name his car Bumblebee should be dumped immediately.
Probably true. The other transformers had way better names.

Aww come on guys, don't make fun of his nerdiness... I'm the one who suggested we go to a Harry Potter themed midnight costume party at a bookstore. He vetoed that one. But he would've been a perfect grown-up version of Ron!

Anyways if any of you guys have seen Transformers, I thought the sexiest vehicle form of any of them was Optimus Prime's gorgeous flame-covered semi. I was drooling.

Oh, man - this guy keeps sounding cooler and cooler, DF. Pickups and Camaros?!? Why don't you talk him into getting a tattoo of said "bumblebee" on his chest? That'd rock, for sure...
What's wrong with Camaros?! Granted I'd prefer a Chevelle if I were going for a classic car but I do have to admit that the new Camaro looks damn spiffy.

People who drive trucks are rednecks. Don't do it DF.

People who drive trucks are rednecks. Don't do it DF.
I like trucks. I could see myself in a fuckin huge pickup... Black with pink flames :hula:

What's wrong with Camaros?!
Nothing. 3 out of 4 people here think they rock...

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c191/saraheim/mullet_group.jpg

The other 2 like trucks and Meat Loaf.

http://www.engl.niu.edu/jstewart/phptest/donkey.jpg

1 out of 1 jackasses spend more than 50 grand on a car.

While I'm inclined to agree with you - an expensive new car is a poor investment (from a purely financial standpoint, of course) - I differ in thinking they're not "investments" at all, but rather highbrow purchases for discerning buyers. For men who've kicked ass and taken names on the corporate front, and won't settle for driving a domestic shitbox (and thank god they don't have to). Those are reserved for people who punch in at work and think Porsches are a "waste of money".

I can't wait to drive my shitbox around with plenty of money saved by not buying a Porsche.

Perhaps I could, put kids through college? Meh, I'd rather drive the car.

My wife's cousin bought a Maserati Quatroporte and went to Modena, Italy to pick it up. (They fly you there for free to pick up your car and teach you how to use it.) He never thought to try the GPS system. This past winter he was going from his Boca Raton house to my place in Pompano Beach and tried to use the GPS. He found that it speaks only Italian.

If I had that much money I'd drive a pink DeLorean.
you can now (http://www.delorean.com/remanufactured.asp):banana:

While I'm inclined to agree with you - an expensive new car is a poor investment (from a purely financial standpoint, of course) - I differ in thinking they're not "investments" at all, but rather highbrow purchases for discerning buyers. For men who've kicked ass and taken names on the corporate front, and won't settle for driving a domestic shitbox (and thank god they don't have to). Those are reserved for people who punch in at work and think Porsches are a "waste of money".
Porsches are a waste of money...fuk! you act like they were a Ferrari for crying out loud!

you can now (http://www.delorean.com/remanufactured.asp):banana:

Don't Weasils kinda,somewhat,get a real hOOt oughta
Urinating all over stuff.
Like,maybe that Bonus check,that mite not bee TOO
Cashable down to the local bank.
***************************
Bwa Haa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha !

He found that it speaks only Italian.

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa, I love it!

Porsches are a waste of money...fuk! you act like they were a Ferrari for crying out loud!
You can take those greasy-ass wopp rides to the shop all you want; I'd rather drive a German car...you know, the ones that can be driven MORE than 25,000 miles without a top-end rebuild. Oh, and considering they'll tangle with one another on the track all day long at half the cost - you can have your glorified FIAT, if that's really what floats your boat, pal. I prefer the product of real engineers. ;)

Well, the engine and transmission on a German car will last forever. The electrical system and all of the power doodads have a pretty good chance of going wacky on you. That's more of a VW/Audi/Mercedes thing, though.

Well, the engine and transmission on a German car will last forever. The electrical system and all of the power doodads have a pretty good chance of going wacky on you. That's more of a VW/Audi/Mercedes thing, though.
I'd say it's a VW/Audi thing. My brother's 2002 S4 was always in the shop. None of our Mercedes have really ever given us a problem (with the exception of our 1993 600 SEL (the year prior to the nomenclature change)). That car was built like a tank, but it had all kinds of problems; electrical and mechanical alike. It was pretty fast for a 6,000 lb car at the time. My dad's new (2004) S600 hasn't given us any problems (per se), and that car fuckin' flies!!!!