<P> The World's Billionaires 2014 edition was 28th annual ranking of The World's Billionaires by Forbes magazine . The list estimated the net worth of the world's richest people, excluding royalty and dictators, as of February 12, 2014 . It was released online on March 3, 2014 . </P> <P> Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, added $9 billion to his fortune since 2013 and topped the 2014 billionaire list . He has topped the list 15 of the previous 20 years, but was last number one in 2009 . Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim came in second place after being number one the previous four years . Zara founder Amancio Ortega placed third for the second consecutive year . American investor Warren Buffett was in the top five for the 20th consecutive year, placing fourth . Oracle founder Larry Ellison rounded out the top five . America's Christy Walton was the highest ranking female, placing ninth overall . Aliko Dangote of Nigeria became the first African ever to crack the top 25, with an estimated net worth of $25 billion . 24 - year - old Perenna Kei, daughter of Chinese real estate developer Ji Haipeng, was the youngest person on the list . At age 99, David Rockefeller was the oldest . </P> <P> Among the largest gainers from the previous year's list was Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg . A rapid rise in the price of Facebook stock saw his net worth soar from $13.3 billion in 2013 to $28.5 billion in 2014 . WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum saw his net worth rise from less than a billion to $6.8 billion . He debuted at #202 overall, while partner Brian Acton debuted at #551 with $3 billion . </P>

Who has topped the 28th annual world billionaires list of forbes released on 3rd march 2014