The ever-changing economy, with dropping stocks and oil prices over the last year, meant the world’s billionaires lost money for the first time since 2009.
This time around, Forbes identified 1,810 billionaires, down from a record 1,826 last year.
Together, they’re worth $6.48 trillion, $570 billion less than last year.
It was also the first time in five years that the average net worth of a billionaire dropped – it is now $3.6 billion, $300 million less than last year.
221 people fell off the list, while 198 newcomers joined it.
Bill Gates is the world’s richest person for the third year in a row, with a net worth of $75 billion, although he lost $4.2 billion in the course of the year. In fact, in the last 22 years, he’s topped the list 17 times.
Also holding steady is Warren Buffett at number three, but retail giant Zara ’s Amancio Ortega moved up to number two for the first time, pushing Mexico’s Carlos Slim, to number four, as he lost $27.1 billion in the past year.
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg did the best this year when it came to billionaires. Zuckerberg, who is only 31, added $11.2 billion to his fortune and moved from number 16 richest, last year, to number six richest, this year.
Both he and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos showed up in the top ten for the first time.
In Canada, 33 people made the list.
David Thomson, the media mogul, ranked number 25 with $23.8 billion to his name.
Grocery giant Galen Weston has $9.3 billion to his name but ranks in 116th.
Uber Co-founder and Chairman Garrett Camp earned $6.2 B and came in 188th in the world, but third richest in Canada.
B.C.’s own Jim Pattison, 87, is ranked number 324 in the world, but seventh in Canada with $4.5 billion through media, vehicle dealerships, food, and more.
