Forbes’ billionaires list: Jeff Bezos stays number one as Kylie Jenner becomes youngest billionaire

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has once again topped Forbes‘ list of the world’s richest people, and cosmetics mogul and Kardashian family personality Kylie Jenner has been dubbed the world’s youngest self-made billionaire.

The yearly list, which analyses and curates the wealth of the world’s 0.01%, was published earlier this week, with a gamut of usual names taking out the top 10 spots. Behind Bezos is Microsoft founder Bill Gates, investing genius Warren Buffet, Louis Vuitton owner Bernard Arnault, and Mexico’s richest man Carlos Slim Helu.

Jenner is the world’s youngest self-made billionaire at the age of 21, according to Forbes, with her business, Kylie Cosmetics, worth $US900 million  ($1.28 billion) and with Jenner owning all of it. The term ‘self-made’ is up for debate here, given the swathes of influence the young entrepreneur wields due to her association with the immensely famous Kardashian family.

“I didn’t expect anything. I did not foresee the future,” Jenner told Forbes.

“But [the recognition] feels really good. That’s a nice pat on the back”.

Australians on Forbes‘ list were few and far between, with mining magnate Gina Rhinehart coming in at number 75 with a wealth of $US15.2 billion. Following her is Harry Triguboff at spot 156, Anthony Pratt at number 207, and Atlassian founding duo Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar at spot 215, each respectively worth $US6.9 billion.

The total combined net worth of 2019’s billionaires list is $US8.7 trillion, down from $US9.1 trillion in 2018.

Forbes reports the number of billionaires in the world has shrunk by 55, and of those that made the list, 46% are poorer than they were the year before. However, as it is astoundingly difficult to feel sympathy for people with such mind-boggling wealth, these statistics may as well be a refrain played by a comically small violin.

The top 10 richest people in the world are as follows:

1. Jeff Bezos, $131 billion
2. Bill Gates, $96.5 billion
3. Warren Buffett, $82.5 billion
4. Bernard Arnault (and family), $76 billion
5. Carlos Slim Helu (and family), $64 billion
6. Amancio Ortega, $62.7 billion
7. Larry Ellison, $62.5 billion
8. Mark Zuckerberg, $62.3 billion
9. Michael Bloomberg, $55.5 billion
10. Larry Page, $50.8 billion

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