413-foot yacht armed with 2 helicopters and a 60-foot submarine. His Paul G. Allen Family Foundation has donated heavily to education, art and science causes. Joined buddy Bill Gates in 1975, left the company in 1983 to fight Hodgkin’s disease. Has been slowly selling off Microsoft stake ever since.
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Karl Albrecht, 85, $18.5bn, Germany, Mülheim an der Ruhr (Germany) Industry: Retailing Marital Status: married , 1 child Richest man in Germany. With younger brother, Theo, turned mother’s corner grocery store into discount supermarket giant Aldi. Now has 7,000 stores and estimated $50 billion in sales. Karl used to manage more profitable southern half of Aldi’s German business, but has since retired. Fiercely private, he apparently loves golf and raises orchids.
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Lawrence Ellison, 60, $18.4bn, USA, Silicon Valley, Calif. (USA) Industry: Software Marital Status: married , 2 children University of Illinois, Drop Out Chicago native cofounded database software firm Oracle in 1977 and took it public in 1986, one day before Microsoft; nipping at rival’s heels ever since. Touts Darwinian view of software industry, decreeing that all but the largest players are doomed. Just as competitive on the high seas: Ellison’s a tenacious competitor in the America’s Cup and his BMW Oracle Racing team looks to be in fighting trim leading up to the 2007 race. A visionary very attached to his own vision of things, he gave exclusive access to a biographer in exchange for being allowed to pepper the book with footnotes giving his own version of events. Latest footnote: adding PeopleSoft to Oracle’s arsenal.
10 S. Robson Walton, 61, $18.3bn, USA, Bentonville, Ark. (USA) Industry: Retailing Marital Status: divorced , 3 children University of Arkansas, Bachelor of Arts / Science Columbia University, Doctor of Jurisprudence Eldest son of Sam Walton (d. 1992), legendary merchant who opened first discount store in Rogers, Ark. in 1962. Took Wal-Mart public in 1970; explosive growth. Wal-Mart is now the world’s largest retailer, with more than 5,000 stores. Serves as Wal-Mart chairman. Retail giant is now selling softer side after barrage of criticism over poor worker benefits and strong-arming suppliers. Family donates via Walton Family Foundation.
11 Jim Walton, 57, $18.2bn, USA, Bentonville, Ark. (USA) Industry: Retailing Marital Status: married , 4 children Youngest son of Sam Walton (d. 1992), legendary merchant who opened first discount store in Rogers, Ark. in 1962. Took Wal-Mart public 1970; explosive growth. Wal-Mart now world’s largest retailer, with more than 5,000 stores. Though not active in company, Jim is president of Arvest, Arkansas’ biggest bank. Retail giant now selling softer side after barrage of criticism over poor worker benefits, strong-arming suppliers. Family donates via Walton Family Foundation.
11 John Walton, 59, $18.2bn, USA, Bentonville, Ark. (USA) Industry: Retailing Marital Status: married , 1 child Son of Sam Walton (d. 1992), legendary merchant who opened first discount store in Rogers, Ark. in 1962. Took Wal-Mart public 1970; explosive growth. Wal-Mart now world’s largest retailer, with more than 5,000 stores. Serves as a director. Retail giant now selling softer side after barrage of criticism over poor worker benefits, strong-arming suppliers. Family donates via Walton Family Foundation.