What would you do if you had $55 billion?

Perhaps you’d want to build a 50-acre mansion complete with an Olympic sized swimming pool and covered basketball court? How about collecting dozens of the latest Benz’, Maybachs, Pagani Zondas, Leblanc Mirabeas, and of course, Bugatti Veyrons? Do you want to stock up on sparkling jewelry and wear posh Armani suits? How about a luxury yacht or better yet, your own island?

If the thought of what to buy with that money already makes you giddy; just imagine what would happen if you really had those whooping figures in your bank account?!

Well, don’t be surprised! There are individuals who really have that obscene amount of money. They are the world’s wealthiest people.

To learn more about these people and how many digits make up their net worth, here is a top ten list of the richest people on earth:

10. David Thomson and Family

David Thomson has a net worth of over $22.0 billion and is the head of the media conglomerate Thomson Corporation. Upon his father’s death in 2002, David succeeded as the chairman of this company, which is known for popular publishing brands like Westlaw, FindLaw, Wadsworth, Thomson Gale and West Publishing among many others.

On May 2007, Thomson Corporation merged with the global news service Reuters with a deal value of $17.2 billion. Thomson will manage 53% of the said company, which will be named Thomson-Reuters.

A well known art collector, Thomson was reported to have purchased $5 million worth of art pieces, which include a $1.8 million native North American face mask.

9. Li Ka-shing

With a net worth of $23.0 billion he is considered Asia’s richest and most powerful man. He heads popular conglomerations like Hutchinson Whampoa Limited as well as Cheung Kong Holdings.

Before this tycoon became one of the most influential men in Asia, Li started humbly selling plastic flowers. When his father died, he left school to work 16 hours in a plastic company. His hard work and persistence finally paid off when he started his own company during the 50s. From a simple plastic manufacturing corporation, Li built a top real estate company. By the late 70s and mid 80s he expanded his fortune by acquiring the Hong Kong Electric Holdings Limited.

Currently, Li has donated a large amount of his money to a number of charities and causes, which he fondly calls his “third son”.

8. Amancio Ortega

Popular fashion brands like Zara, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Tempe and Stradivarius are the fruit of Amancio Ortega’s hard work and perseverance.

Ortega is the 8th richest man in the world with a net worth of $24.0 billion. 44 years ago he started by simply helping his wife make lingerie and gowns in their living room. By 1975, Ortega opened his first store, which grew into an enormous as well as popular fashion chain store. Zara now has more than 3,000 retail stores in over 64 countries.

Surprisingly, this apparel entrepreneur, who heads the Inditex group, prefers wearing simple blue jeans over designer ties.

7. Bernard Arnault

Almost every fashionista has a couple of items from Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Marc Jacobs and Christian Dior!

Well, these luxury brands are owned by Bernard Arnault.

With a total net worth of $26.0 billion, Arnault heads the world’s biggest luxury goods empire. This includes companies such as LVHM, Moet Hennessy, Louis Vuitton S.A. and Christian Dior S.A. Brands under these companies are known to set trends in fashion and clothing, both haute couture and off the rack.

6. Sheldon Adelson

A college dropout, Sheldon Adelson started making his money at the age of 12 when he borrowed $200 from his uncle. He used this to sell newspapers. By the mid 80s, he had created 50 companies, including COMDEX, a large computer trade show. Little did he know that he would become one of the richest men in the world with a net worth of $26.5 billion.

In 1988, Adelson together with his partners put Las Vegas back on the map and made it the entertainment capital of the world. He purchased the Sands Hotel and Casino. He also built The Venetian, which is a $1.5 billion resort and hotel casino.

Recently, Adelson opened Sands Macau casino, which is worth $265 million. The hotel is said to be so successful that it was able to recoup the entire investment in a short span of one year or 365 days of operation.

5. Lakshim Mittal

Known as one of the richest residents of the UK, Indian billionaire Lakshim Mittal boasts a net worth of $32.0 billion. Most of his fortune comes from his steel company Arcelor Mittal.

Lakshim Mittal started his career by working in their family’s steel business in India. Currently, his company is the world leader when it comes to steel manufacturing.

4. Ingvar Kamprad

The richest man in Europe Ingvar Kamprad rests on a net worth of $33.0 billion.

This man started out by peddling items such as matches, pens and Christmas cards when he was a teenager. However, in 1947 his fortune changed when he started selling furniture. Ingvar’s company, Ikea, gained popularity because of its hip designs and pocket friendly prices.

Ikea now has a number of stores in over 34 countries including China and Japan.

Although, Kamprad holds a huge fortune, he avoids wearing suits and often flies in couch class.

3. Carlos Slim Helu

Thanks to the strong Mexican equity market as well as the excellent performance of his telephone company, Carlos Slim Helu is catching up in net worth standing and is in the running to be the wealthiest man in the world.

Helu owns the majority of Mexico’s telecommunication companies such as Telefonos de Mexico or Telmex, Telcel as well as America Movil.

Carlos has a net worth of $49.0 billion.

2. Warren Buffet

Popularly referred to as the Sage of Omaha, Warren Buffet is the 2nd richest man in the world with a net worth of $52.0 billion.

Despite his huge fortune, Buffet is known for his frugal lifestyle. Apart from this, he is also a noted philanthropist. In 2006, Buffet gave 83% of his fortune or $30 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This gift was said to be the largest donation ever made in history. In addition to that, he also promised to give away his wealth after his death.

 

(Wanna be like Warren Buffet, know the Ways To Reach Out To The Needy.)

1. Bill Gates

Who is not familiar with his successful software company Microsoft? William Gates III, more popularly known as Bill Gates has remained the richest man in the world for 15 years.

Although Gates is a Harvard University drop out, he was able to amass a net worth of $56 billion.

Currently, Gates is focusing more on philanthropic causes by supporting the fight against AIDS, hepatitis and malaria in Africa and other third world countries. He is also known to support many college scholarships for minorities.

Now that you know them, wouldn’t you like to be one of them? Or at least be adopted by them? The richest men of the world are living proof that hard work, perseverance and a little bit of luck will push you to the top.

 

(Want to be a part of this list? It would be best to start early, especially when luck is on your side with the Top Ten Ways to Earn Your First Million in One Year.)