World’s Richest Men

According to a global survey on the richest people on the world it seems that the Las Vegas billionaires did not have too great a year in 2007. Southern Nevada's billionaires were defeated on Forbes’ list.

The world's richest man on the Forbes list is Warren Buffett. Las Vegas No.6 on Forbes’ last year list fell on No.12 this year and this is Sheldon Adelson. He is the chairman and chief executive officer and his net worth got down from $26.5 billion to $26 billion in the year before Feb. 11, the magazine's research related. However, if I would be Sheldon Adelson I won’t be so upset.

Another billionaire losing ground in Forbes ranking and evidently in net worth is the eBay designer and Henderson resident Pierre Omidyar. He slid from No.76 to No.120, from a net worth of $8.8 billion to $7.7 billion.

Wynn Resorts Ltd. partner Kazuo Okada and Viacom owner Sumner Redstone, a frequent Las Vegas gambler. He also is running the slot machine maker Aruze Corp. From No.432 he went to No.573 from a $2.2 billion net worth to $2.1 billion.

The billionaires' roster welcomed two local first-timers. They are members of the Fertitta family, who founded and own locals gaming company Station Casinos. Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, the two brothers have a net worth of $1.3 billion each and entered on the No.897. Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta also own a mixed martial arts league, the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Thomas Barrack, the Colony Capital founder who lent a hand for the brother to take ‘Station Casinos’ private in 2007 for $9 billion, is worth $2.3 billion, this sum placing him on No. 524 on the Forbes list.

Forbes' 2008 list of billionaires identifies 1,125 people worldwide worth 10 figures, including 469 billionaires from the United States. Buffett, whose worth increased $10 billion to $62 billion, beat Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Gates, whose wealth grew $2 billion to $58 billion, had occupied the top spot for 13 years.