The 20 richest people on the planet

Net worth: $29.2 billion

Lost $2.6 billion since 2014; dropped 1 spot on the Forbes list

Brin in the co-founder of Google, along with Larry Page.

Net worth: $29.7 billion

Lost $2.6 billion since 2013; dropped 2 spots on the Forbes list

Page is the co-founder of Google, along with Sergey Brin.

Net worth: $31.4 billion

Lost $6.6 billion since 2013; dropped 10 spots on the Forbes list

Shares of casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson's Las Vegas Sands Corp. were down 30% this year, largely due to a crackdown in Macau, where the company runs several properties.

Net worth: $33.3 billion

Gained $2.3 billion since 2014; jumped 3 spots on the Forbes list

The richest man in Asia, Ka-Shing currently serves as chairman of Hutchison Whampoa, a conglomerate with interests in shipping and construction. He also holds a major real estate portfolio.

Net worth: $33.4 billion

Gained $4.9 billion since 2014; jumped 5 spots on the Forbes list

Zuckerberg is the founder and CEO of Facebook.

Net worth: $34.8 billion

Gained $2.8 billion since 2014; jumped 3 spots on the Forbes list

Bezos is the founder and CEO of e-commerce giant Amazon.

Disclosure: Bezos is an investor in Business Insider.

Net worth: $35.5 billion

Gained $2.5 billion since 2014; jumped 2 spots on the Forbes list

Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City, is the founder, CEO, and majority owner of Bloomberg LP.

Net worth: $37.2 billion

Gained $3.7 billion since 2014; jumped 2 spots on the Forbes list

Arnault and his family hold a 46% stake in LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world's largest maker of luxury goods.

Net worth: $39.1 billion

Gained $4.9 billion since 2014; jumped 2 spots on the Forbes list

A member of the founding family of Walmart, Walton has served as the head of the retail giant's board since 1992.

Net worth: $39.4 billion

Gained $5.1 billion since 2014; jumped 2 spots on the Forbes list

Walton, a daughter of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, is an heiress to the big box store fortune.

Net worth: $40.1 billion

Gained $5.6 billion since 2014; jumped 1 spot on the Forbes list

Bettencourt is the heiress to the L'Oreal fortune, and while she's still technically Europe's richest woman, a judge in October 2012 ordered that the elderly billionaire's fortune be placed under the legal control of her daughter and grandsons. The court case over her wealth is ongoing.

Net worth: $40.6 billion

Gained $5.9 billion since 2014; jumped 1 spot on the Forbes list

Another heir to the Walmart fortune, Jim is Chairman and CEO of the family's Arvest Bank, which has branches in Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.

Net worth: $41.7 billion

Gained $5 billion since 2014; jumped 1 spot on the Forbes list

Christy Walton inherited her husband John Walton's fortune when he passed away in 2005. John Walton's father was Walmart founder Sam Walton.

Net worth: $42.9 billion

Gained $2.9 billion since 2014; no change on the Forbes list

David, along with brother Charles, is a co-owner and the executive vice president of Koch Industries, one of the largest privately-held companies in the world.

Net worth: $42.9 billion

Gained $2.9 billion since 2014; no change on the Forbes list

Charles is a co-owner and executive vice president at Koch Industries along with his younger brother David.

Net worth: $54.3 billion

Gained $6.3 billion since 2014; no change on the Forbes list

Ellison, founder of Oracle, did not even graduate from college. He was named entrepreneur of the year by Harvard Business School in 1990.

Net worth: $64.5 billion

Gained $.5 billion since 2014; dropped 1 spot on the Forbes list

Ortega is the former chairman of Inditex, a conglomerate whose holdings include global fashion retailer Zara.

Net worth: $72.7 billion

Gained $14.5 billion since 2014; jumped 1 spot on the Forbes list

Buffett is the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, as well as the company's primary shareholder. The company had a stellar year, leading to huge gains for Buffett.

Net worth: $77.1 billion

Gained $5.1 billion since 2014; no change on the Forbes list

Slim Helu came from humble beginnings. His father was an immigrant shoe maker and Slim built his fortune from almost nothing. And although he has billions now, friends say he wears cheap suits and prefers pen and paper to fancy computers.

Net worth: $79.2 billion

Gained $3.2 billion since 2014; no change on the Forbes list

Gates is the founder of Microsoft; he dropped out of Harvard after conceiving the company.

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