For the last ten years or so, the world’s richest man has always been either an American or a European. But not this year.

Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim topped the Forbes list of The World’s Billionaires this 2010, beating out Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, who placed second and third, respectively.

Slim’s empire includes over 200 companies that are involved in the food, construction, banking and telecoms industries.

The 70-year-old also owns Mexico’s number one cell phone and internet service providers. He has control to about 83% of Mexican landlines.

Slim has a civil engineering degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He got married at age 27 to Soumaya Domit Gemayel, who passed away in 1999. They have 6 kids.

In a recent interview with Slim, he said, “Wealth must be seen as a responsibility, not as a privilege. The responsibility is to create more wealth. It’s like having an orchard; you have to give away the fruit, but not the trees.”

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