Mukesh, Lakshmi Among Top 10 In Forbes Billionaire List

Mukesh Ambani, Lakshmi MittalAce Indians Mukesh Ambani and Lakshmi Mittal named among world's top ten billionaires as Mexican mogul Carlo Slim Helu hit Americans Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to turn out to be the most affluent person on earth.

In addition to fourth placed RIL chairman Ambani and fifth positioned steel czar Mittal, four other Indian residents were named among top fifty in 2010 Forbes list of the World's Billionaires released on Wednesday with 49 Indians joining company with the world's 1,011 wealthiest people.

With his wealth growing to an approximated $53.5 billion, up $18.5 billion during the last one year, Slim came up ahead of Bill Gates, who had held the title of planet's wealthiest 14 of the last 15 years, Forbes stated.

Bill Gates, now worth $53 billion, is placed second in the world. His overall capital added $13 billion from a year ago as shares of the software giant Microsoft increased by 50% in the last 12 months. Buffett's fate climbed $10 billion to $47 billion on increasing shares of Berkshire Hathaway. He ranks third.

Eleven nations have at least double the number of wealthy persons they had in 2009, comprising China, India, Turkey and South Korea.

Fourth ranked Mukesh Ambani with a fortune of $29 billion has worldwide aims, Forbes said. So has his younger brother Anil Ambani ranked 36 with a fortune of $13.7 billion.

Fifth ranked Lakshmi Mittal with a fortune of $28.7 billion wants to expand his business in India and aims to set up steel mills in Jharkhad and Orissa but has not received government sanction.

With a fortune of $17.0 billion Azim Premji took the 428th spot. Shashi & Ravi Ruia brothers ranked 40th with a fortune of $13.0 billion. Last among the Indians in top 50 was Savitri Jindal, who was ranked 44th, with a fortune of $12.2 billion.

Among other Indians on the billionaires list included Kushal Pal Singh(74), Kumar Birla (86), Sunil Mittal (87), Anil Agarwal (113), Adi Godrej & family (148), Shiv Nadar (201), N. R. Narayana Murthy & family (616), Rahul Bajaj (880) and Vijay Mallya (937). (With Input from Agencies)