Forbes: Amazon’s Bezos is richest American with record US$160b

PETALING JAYA: Amazon’s Jeff Bezos has been named the richest American in 2018 by Forbes, with a net worth of US$160 billion (RM662 billion), taking top spot in the 37th Annual Forbes 400 ranking of the richest Americans.

According to Forbes, Bezos’ net worth is the highest ever in the Forbes 400 list. Bill Gates, with a net worth of US$97 billion, is now ranked second, after holding the number one spot for 24 consecutive years.

Warren Buffett, worth US$88.3 billion, is third, followed by Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg at fourth spot with a net worth of US$61 billion, despite being US$10 billion poorer than he was last year.

Fifth on the list is Software’s Larry Ellison with US$58.4 billion.

The Forbes 400 list this year has a record-breaking, combined total net worth of US$2.9 trillion, up from US$2.7 trillion last year, while the minimum net worth required to be counted among the very richest Americans hit a new high of US$2.1 billion, up from US$2 billion in 2017.

Despite the new records, 15 newcomers made this year’s list but more billionaires were too poor to join the ranks, as 204 Americans with 10-figure fortunes fell short.

The average net worth of a Forbes 400 member hit a recordhigh of US$7.2 billion, up from US$6.7 billion a year ago.

The list this year includes 57 women, including two women who share fortunes with and are listed with their husbands, compared with 55 last year, including five women listed with their husbands.