Top 15 technology billionaires

[VelMurugan]

Top 15 technology billionaires

The deepening global economic recession is not only wiping jobs and companies, it is also wiping the wealth's of the world's richest. The annual Forbes list of World's Billionaires shows how the net worth of the world's richest have got dented in the past one year (just like most of us).

This year the world's billionaires have an average net worth of $3 billion, down 23% in 12 months. The world now has 793 billionaires, down from 1,125 a year ago.

Coming to the winners, the list sees the comeback of tech czar Bill Gates at no. 1 position. Gates last year lost his crown after being the world's richest billionaire for 15 years in a row.

The list also has some other big names from the technology industry. These technology leaders though saw a huge fall in their net worth, some in rankings too, managed to retain their places in the list. Here's over to the 15 richest technology billionaires.


Source : IndiaTimes

[VelMurugan]

Bill Gates

Technology companies may not be exactly be back in shape, but tech czar Bill Gates is back at the numero uno spot in the Forbes' The World's billionaires list.

With a net worth of $40 billion, software king Bill Gates has regained his position as the world's wealthiest from his friend and legendary investor Warren Buffett. A Harvard College dropped out, Gates has been topping the Billionaires list since the past 15 years in a row (from 1993 and 2007). In 2008, he held the second spot.

However, the deepening economic crisis has eroded Gates fortune too. Gates has lost $18 billion in the past one year.

Born on October 28, 1955, Gates resigned as a full-time chairman from Microsoft last year take up a full-time philanthropic role in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Gates co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975. During the Dotcom heydays, Gates's wealth briefly surpassed $100 billion. Gates married Melinda French of Dallas, Texas in January 1994.

[VelMurugan]

Lawrence Ellison

The second richest techie in the list is Lawrence Joseph Ellison, co-founder and CEO of the leading software company, Oracle Corporation. Ellison ranks at no. four on the list with a net worth of $22.5 billion. His shares are still worth $300 million.

Sixty-four-year-old Ellison started Oracle Corp in 1977. Two years younger to arch rival Microsoft corp, Oracle went public a day before Microsoft in 1986.

In the past four years, Oracle has racked up 49 acquisitions, including BEA Systems (bought for $8.5 billion in 2008). The company also invested $125 million in Web software outfit Netsuite.

A licensed pilot, Ellison is said to own several unusual aircrafts. Known for his flamboyant lifestyle, Ellison has got a leisure boat built for himself. Chicago native studied physics at University of Chicago, but didn't complete his graduation

[VelMurugan]

Michael Dell

Dell may be facing rough times, however with a net worth of $12.3 billion, CEO Michael Dell still manages to rank at no. 25 in Forbes' billionaires list. The CEO of the world's second-largest PC maker has been the youngest CEO ever to earn a ranking on the Fortune 500.

Forty-four-year-old Michael Dell started a company called PC's Limited from a room, while still studying at the University of Texas. The company later became Dell Computer Corporation, followed by Dell Inc in 2003.

In 1998, Dell formed MSD Capital and in 1999, he and his wife formed the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, to manage the investments and philanthropic efforts, respectively, of the Dell family.

Between July and September last year he bought up $200 million in Dell stock. The last one year has been tough for Dell, with shares going down by as much as 60 per cent.

The company posted fourth quarter profits down 48%. Sales are also down 17%. In August 2006, the company recalled 4.1 million laptops after complaints of faulty battery. Wife, Susan, owns fashion label Phi, which sells through over 24 boutiques worldwide.

[VelMurugan]

Sergey Brin & Larry Page

At the 26th spot on the Forbes world's billionaire list are Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, with net worth of $12 billion each.

The duo started Google in 1998 from a friend's garage. A native of Moscow, Brin, now a US citizen, did his Bachelors of Science degree with honors in mathematics and computer science from the University of Maryland at College Park. While following in his father's footsteps in academics, Larry went on earn a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from University of Michigan.

Page was Google's founding CEO and grew the company to more than 200 employees and profitability before moving into his role as president, products in April 2001. Today, the two continue to share the responsibility of Google's day-to-day operations with CEO Eric Schmidt.

Sergey's research interests include search engines, information extraction from unstructured sources and data mining of large text collections and scientific data.

The recession has not left the search giant unscathed, with the company stock plummeting by over 30% in the past six month. It has also sliced nearly $4 billion from Larry's personal balance sheet, while Sergey lost has almost $3.9 billion.

[VelMurugan]

Steven Ballmer

The second Microsoftie on the list, Chief Executive Officer Steven A Ballmer ranks at no. 29 with a net worth estimated at $11 billion.

Incidentally, Ballmer is the first employee in the US to become a billionaire on stock options received as an employee of a corporation he has not founded.

A college mate of Bill Gate, Ballmer joined Microsoft in 1980 and was the first business manager to be hired by Gates. He became the CEO of Microsoft in 2000.

During his tenure at Microsoft, Ballmer has headed several divisions, including operations, operating systems development and sales and support.

Described as ebullient, focused, funny, passionate, sincere, hard-charging and dynamic, Ballmer is said to have imparted his own brand of energetic leadership, vision and spirit at Microsoft over the years.

Like his boss, Ballmer too dropped out of Stanford MBA programme to join Gates in 1980.

[VelMurugan]

Paul Allen

At no. 32 is Paul Gardner Allen who co-founded Microsoft Corp with Bill Gates in 1975. His net worth is estimated at $10.5 billion.

Allen left Microsoft in 1983 after he being diagnosed by Hodgkin's disease. Microsoft now makes up 25% of his net worth. Among the biggest billionaire losers in the list, Allen has seen his fortune erode by almost 65% in the last 12 months. Allen also lost big on investments in Charter Communications, a US-based cable company, which is expected to file for bankruptcy.

Allen's investment portfolio includes large stakes in DreamWorks Animation SKG, Digeo, Oxygen Media, real estate holdings and more than 40 other technology, media and content companies.

Fifty-six-year old Allen also owns two professional sports teams: The Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League and the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association.

[VelMurugan]

Anil Ambani

The first Indian on the list with interests in telecom industry is RCom head Anil Ambani. Ironically, the biggest gainer on the last year's list, happens to be the biggest loser this year. With over $32 billion wiped out over the last 12 months, Anil ranks at 34ths position this year, with an estimated net worth of $10.1 billion. A big fall from last year's no. 6th ranking.

The last year saw the shares of ADAG group's leading companies Reliance Communications, Reliance Power and Reliance Capital fall by as much as over 58%.

In 2008, Anil also topped the list of 'Billionaire Blowups of 2008' for losing biggest amount of wealth in less than a year after being termed as the biggest gainer a year before.

Anil's plans to merge his Reliance Communications with South Africa's MTN were scuttled last July after brother Mukesh threatened to sue, claiming he had right of first refusal. Reliance Power bagged 3 mega power projects for a combined 14,000 MW last year.

Married to a Bollywood actress Tina, Anil has Hollywood ambitions. His Reliance Entertainment is investing $500 million in a new studio venture with Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks. He has signed several A-list actors like George Clooney, Jim Carrey and Julia Roberts to co-produce films.

A bachelor of Arts/Science graduate from University of Bombay, he later did MBA from the university of Pennsylvania, Wharton School.

[VelMurugan]

Sunil Mittal & family

India's telecom tycoon Sunil Mittal holds the 59th position with a net worth estimating at $7.7 billion.

Mittal, who heads India's largest mobile phone operator, Bharti Airtel, added 8 million subscribers in latest quarter and launched mobile services in Sri Lanka.

Fifty-one-year-old Mittal founded the company in 1995, along with his two brothers. Airtel today has a customer base of over 91 million subscribers. Mittal's dominant share in Bharti Airtel has gone down by over 30 per cent in value terms in the past year.

Son of a politician, Mittal has taken competition head on: Bharti Airtel has held on to its top spot despite formidable rivals in Reliance Communications and Vodafone Essar.

Bharti also competes against Reliance Industries, the Aditya Birla Group, Tata and others in the $350 billion retail industry, and a host of foreign and local firms in the financial services sector.

Interestingly, the number 23 has special significance for Mittal, and features on the licence plates of his cars, in his phone number and is often a preferred date for meetings and big announcements.

He is funding a football academy, and aims to send an Indian contingent to 2018 World Cup.

[VelMurugan]

Ananda Krishnan

A Tamil Malaysian of Sri Lankan Tamil origin, Ananda Krishnan ranks at #62 with a personal net worth of $7.0 billion. A Harvard Business School graduate, Krishnan started his career as an oil trader.

His holdings include Maxis Communications, Malaysia's largest cell phone service provider, with more than 10 million subscribers. He bought control of Maxis Communications, picking up stakes from BT and AT&T when the two Western phone giants were struggling financially.

He took the company private in June 2007 in a $5 billion deal, then sold 25% of Maxis to Saudi Telecom the same month. Bought 35% in Sri Lanka Telecom.

In 2008, Krishnan sold Excel, the exhibition venue in London's Docklands, and reportedly bought 20% stake in Johnston Press in London. A modern art collector, he has homes in Kuala Lumpur, London and south of France.

[VelMurugan]

Jeffrey Bezos

Long after most other dotcom founders have moved on, Amazon.com CEO Jeffrey Bezos, 45, remains one of the internet's success stories: Ranked at no. 62 in Forbes' richest World's Billionaires' list with a personal net worth of $6.8 billion.

Amazon posted best-ever holiday sales despite 2008 recession. However, stock is down over 30% since August, flat for the year.

Bezos founded Amazon.com Inc and has been its CEO since May 1996, the Chairman of the Board since 1994, and the President since October 2000. Previously, he served as the President of Amazon from 1994 to June 1999. Bezos served as the President and Chief Executive Officer at Padcom.

Before starting Amazon, he worked at the intersection of computer science and finance, helping build hedge funds on Wall Street for DE Shaw & Co. He also led the development of computer systems that helped manage more than $250 Billion in assets for Bankers Trust Company. He served as a Director of Drugstore.com from August 1998 to June 10, 2004.

Bezos graduated summa cum laude, and BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Princeton University in 1986.

[VelMurugan]

James Goodnight

With a personal net worth of $6.1 billion, James Goodnight, CEO of SAS, ranks at no. 75. SAS is a world's leading business analytics software vendor.

James started SAS in 1976, now largest privately-held software company in the world. The company registered record sales of $2.3 billion last year, up 5% over 2007. Still, software industry isn't immune to economic slump; publicly-traded competitors' stocks down more than 30% on average.

James did his Bachelor of Arts/Science from North Carolina State University. Wants US to open borders to skilled overseas IT workers.

[VelMurugan]

Azim Premji

Next richest Desi techie on the billionaires' list is Azim Premji, Chairman, Wipro Group. At no. 83 on the Forbes World's Billionaire's list, Premji's net worth is estimated to be $5.7 billion.

However, like all other companies, Premji's wealth too has seen a plunge with Wipro's stocks seen a fall of over 45% during the past year.

A graduate in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, US, Premji took on the mantle at Wipro at 21, after the sudden demise of his father in 1966.

Under his leadership, the fledgling $2 million-hydrogenated cooking fat company has today grown into India's third-largest software company with a $4.9 billion revenues.

Premji has been conferred with honorary doctorates by Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education. In January 2005, the Indian government honored him with Padma Bhushan, one of the highest civilian awards of the country.

[VelMurugan]

Eric Schimdt

At no. 119 is Google CEO Eric Schimdt with a net worth of $4.4 billion. Considered to be among the top contenders for the new US chief technology officer post, Schmidt said he's happy to remain at Google.

"I love working at Google and I'm very happy to stay at Google, so the answer is no," Schmidt said in a TV interview when asked about the CTO job speculation. Incidentally, Schmidt is among the President Barrack Obama's most high-profile supporters and actively campaigned for him.

Schmidt who became Google CEO in 2001 did his electrical engineering degree from Princeton and PhD from UC, Berkeley. Fifty-three-year-old Schmidt began his career with Bell Labs, then Xerox PARC. Developed Java technology at Sun Microsystems 1980s, rose to chief technology officer.

Google has been active in investing in green technology companies, and Schmidt has expressed a deep personal interest in the area.

[VelMurugan]

Masayoshi Son

With a net worth of $3.7 billion, Masayoshi Son ranks at no. 151. Son is often credited for single-handedly dragging Japan into the Information Age. Called the Bill Gates of Japan, he founded Internet and telecom company SoftBank at the young age of 23. Son bet heavily on mobile phones by snapping up Japan's Vodafone unit.

Company gained 2 million new subscribers in 2008 (more than rivals) but posted drop in net profits, in part because it lowered charges to lure new customers.

Runs country's top Internet site, Yahoo Japan; and partners with News Corp on Japanese version of MySpace.

[VelMurugan]

Pierre Omidyar

The world's no. 156th billionaire is French-born immigrant Pierre Omidyar, with a net worth of $3.6 billion. Omidya launched online auction site eBay in 1995. Computer programmer handed exec control to Meg Whitman three years later, remains chairman. EBay weathered Internet boom and bust with loyal customers. The company today boasts 84 million users.

A prolific blogger, Omidyar created Omidyar Network in 2004. Despite the economic gloom, philanthropic investment firm plans to increase its total donations in 2009; finances small businesses in developing economies, donates to non-profits.

Omidyar graduated from Tufts University in 1988 with a degree in computer science.