Warren Buffett is once again the world's third-richest person.
The 82-year-old American investor regained the title after first ceding it to Spanish retail tycoon Amancio Ortega in August. Buoyed by a 49 per cent jump in fourth-quarter profit, shares of Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc have rallied 14 per cent this year. That brings Buffett's net worth to $54.6 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He's up $6.7 billion year-to-date.
Ortega, the 76-year-old founder of the Zara clothing chain, has seen his wealth decline amid fresh concern that Spain's recession will hurt sales for his Inditex SA holding company. From a record high on January 2, the shares have slumped 7.5 per cent. He's now worth $54.3 billion, down $3.2 billion year- to-date. Ortega slipped below Buffett before trading began in New York yesterday.
Earlier this month, the company reported net income of $4.55 billion in the fourth quarter, up from $3.05 billion in the same period in 2011. Much of the gains stemmed from derivatives bets.
Buffett remains $12.7 billion behind Bill Gates, who earlier this week narrowed the gap between himself and Carlos Slim to less than $200 million.
The 82-year-old American investor regained the title after first ceding it to Spanish retail tycoon Amancio Ortega in August. Buoyed by a 49 per cent jump in fourth-quarter profit, shares of Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc have rallied 14 per cent this year. That brings Buffett's net worth to $54.6 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He's up $6.7 billion year-to-date.
Ortega, the 76-year-old founder of the Zara clothing chain, has seen his wealth decline amid fresh concern that Spain's recession will hurt sales for his Inditex SA holding company. From a record high on January 2, the shares have slumped 7.5 per cent. He's now worth $54.3 billion, down $3.2 billion year- to-date. Ortega slipped below Buffett before trading began in New York yesterday.
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Buffett built Berkshire Hathaway over almost five decades through takeovers and stock picks.
Earlier this month, the company reported net income of $4.55 billion in the fourth quarter, up from $3.05 billion in the same period in 2011. Much of the gains stemmed from derivatives bets.
Buffett remains $12.7 billion behind Bill Gates, who earlier this week narrowed the gap between himself and Carlos Slim to less than $200 million.