Of course, when you scan the names at the very top of the list, one billion dollars does indeed seem modest. But don't be discouraged. Every billionaire has to start somewhere.
Let's start at the top. number one on this year's list is, yet again, Carlos Slim Helu, the Mexican telecommunications king, with a net worth of US$73 billion. The durable Bill Gates is at number two with US$67 billion, with the top three being rounded out by Amancio Ortega, the reclusive Spaniard behind clothing chain Zara, who has a net worth of US$57 billion.
For the first time since 2000, investment guru Warren Buffett is not in the top three, even though his fortune increased by nearly US$10 billion.
In recent years, there has been speculation that Australian mining magnate Gina Reinhart would one day find herself on top of the Forbes Billionaires List, but she is at number 36 with a relatively modest US$17 billion. At least 'Our Gina' can console herself in her Perth mansion with the knowledge that she is just one of 138 women on the list, and the fact that she is Australia's wealthiest person, almost by the length of the railway line that traverses the Nullabor.
Commodities boss, Ivan Glasenberg, is a long way behind with US$6.7 billion, which earns him a position of number 175 on the list.
Other high profile Australians on the list include James Packer (US$6 billion, number 198), Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest (US$5.7 billion, number 211) and Frank Lowy (US$5.3 billion, number 229). The lowest ranked Australian on the list is John Van Lieshout, who has done alright out of real estate – (US$1 billion, number 1342)
The Forbes Billionaires List is still a place for the more mature moneybags. Only 29 of the list's 1426 inhabitants are under the age of 40, with 28 year-old Mark Zuckerberg having plenty to Facebrag about with a net worth of US$13.3 billion.
Other 'youngsters' of note include 37 year-old Nicholas Woodman, the man behind the GoPro camera phenomenon. His net worth is $US1.3 billion while Google co-founder Larry Page is worth $US23 billion – not bad for a man who is still one year away from hitting the big Four-O.
If reading about the world's 1426 billionaires leaves you feeling more envious than inspired, you might want to indulge in a touch of schadenfreude.
Let's spare a thought for Eike Batista. The Brazilian business magnate is the list's biggest loser in 2013, losing US$19.4 billion in the last year and going from number 7 to number 100. He now has to struggle along on a net worth of US$10.6 billion. And you thought you were doing it tough.
source: bigpondmoney.com.au