Five Irishmen make Forbes' billionaires list as Carlos Slim comes top... again

FOR THE THIRD year in a row, the Mexican telecoms tycoon Carlos Slim has topped the annual rich list compiled by Forbes business magazine.

The annual list of the world’s richest billionaires has estimated Slim’s worth at $69 billion or around €52.6 billion. The 72-year-old’s interests include telecoms and construction.

He is followed by Microsoft founder Bill Gates on $61 billion (€46.4 billion) while the US investor Warren Buffet is in third place on $44 billion (€33.5 billion). It’s a top three that is unchanged from last year.

There are five Irish billionaires who make the list including one in the top 100.

Topping the list of Irish entrants is Pallonji Mistry who is listed as being a citizen of Ireland although is a resident of India. He comes 96th on the list with an estimated worth of $9.7 billion (€7.4 billion). The 82-year-old is listed as being in construction.

In 205th place is telecoms and media tycoon Denis O’Brien who has an estimated worth of $5 billion (€3.8 billion) which is up from $4.2 billion last year. Forbes notes O’Brien’s extensive work helping Haiti recover from the devastating 2010 earthquake.

John Dorrance from Campbell Soup comes in 521st place and has an estimated worth of $2.4 billion (€1.8 billion).

Martin Naughton – who is listed as being involved in heating equipment – is in 634th with an estimated worth of $1.9 billion (€1.4 billion) and financier Dermot Desmond is 854th with an estimated worth of $1.6 billion (€1.2 billion).

Here’s how Carlos Slim lost €5.6 BILLION in one week >