Bill Gates regains top spot

Microsoft founder Bill Gates has regained the top spot as the world's richest person, according to Forbes magazine's annual ranking of global billionaires.

Gates' total net worth was estimated at $76 billion (£45.5 billion) this year, up from $67 billion in 2013. His rise in wealth knocked Mexican telecoms tycoon Carlos Slim off the top spot into second place.

In total, there were 1,645 billionaires, according to Forbes.

The funds needed to make it into the top 20 ranking are now $31 billion, up from $23 billion last year, Forbes said.

Gates has been top of the list for 15 of the last 20 years, according to Forbes.

Technology firms featured heavily in the list, with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg becoming the biggest gainer in net worth. His fortune more than doubled to $28.5 billion, boosted by a sharp rise in the price of the social network's shares.

The social network's chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, also made the list for the first time.

WhatsApp founders Jan Koum and Brian Acton entered the list at number 202 and 551.

BBC