Mexico's Slim now world's second richest man-Forbes
MEXICO CITY, April 11 (Reuters) - Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim has become the world's second richest man after company share price increases helped him knock billionaire investor Warren Buffett off the No. 2 spot, Forbes magazine reported.
Forbes said on Wednesday that Slim's wealth from his telecommunications, retail and industrial empire totaled $53.1 billion on March 29, putting him close behind Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates, the world's richest man with $56 billion.
Forbes put Buffett in second place when it published its annual billionaires rankings in March, a position he has held for seven years.
But it said Slim had added $4 billion to his fortune due to share price increases in his holding company Carso Telecom and America Movil, Latin America's biggest mobile phone operator.
Shares in Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. fell recently, putting the investor's wealth at $52.4 billion, Forbes said.
The Forbes rankings can change at any time and while the magazine said Slim was close to catching up with Gates, the Mexican businessman could also easily slip back down the list.
