Bill Gates owns you, he stays No. 1 on the US rich list

[Mark]

Bill Gates, top of US rich list worth a massive $54 billion

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has been named as the wealthiest person in the US for the 17th year in a row.

Source: Forbes magazine puts Bill's fortune at $54 billion (£34.5 billion), with investment guru Warren Buffet trailing second with $45 billion.

To even get on the list of the 400 wealthiest Americans, it takes a net worth of at least $1 billion - upped from $950 million in 2009. The total net worth of the 400 billionaires rose by 8% since 2009, totalling $1.37 trillion.

One of those gaining wealth in the list includes Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, whose wealth grew by 245% to $6.4 billion, putting him at 35 in the list.

Another gainer was Manchester United owner Malcolm Glazer and family, while among those losing ground were the family behind confectionery giant Mars.