The world is now home to 1,645 billionaires and topping the 2014 is Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his $76 billion in net worth, according to Forbes’ annual ranking of billionaires.

The world is now home to 1,645 billionaires and topping the 2014 list is Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his $76 billion in net worth, according to Forbes’ global annual ranking of billionaires. 

Behind Gates – who has been the richest man in the world for 15 out of the last 20 years - is Mexico’s Carlos Slim Helu and his family, with $72 billion, according to Forbes.

“His [Slim's] four-year run as world's richest person has come to an end, primarily because shares of Minera Frisco, his mining company, have fallen more than 50 per cent in the past year as the price of gold and copper plummeted,” the business news service said.

Meanwhile, in third place this year is Amancio Ortega, with $64 billion. According to Forbes, Ortega added $7 billion to his fortune this past year and is up a total of $26.5 billion in the past two years.

Rounding out this year's top ten are: Warren Buffett ($58.2 billion); Larry Ellison ($48 billion); Charles Koch ($40 billion); David Koch ($40 billion); Sheldon Adelson ($38 billion); Christy Walton & family ($36.7 billion); and Jim Walton ($34.7 billion).