Financial Times Names Gates Top Billionaire, Jobs Number Two

The Financial Times has released its list of the top 25 billionaires, with Microsoft chairman and co-founder Bill Gates topping the list for the second straight year with his US$51 billion fortune. Apple and Pixar CEO Steve Jobs is number two with $3 billion in assets. (The list was compiled in terms of influence, not total worth.)

Of Mr. Gates, The Financial Times notes that in 2000 he created the worldis wealthiest charity, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Mr. Gates once said: "I realised about 10 years ago that my wealth has to go back to society. A fortune, the size of which is hard to imagine, is best not passed on to oneis children. Itis not constructive for them."

The publication also cites a common anonymous quote about the Microsoft co-founder: "If Bill Gates had a dime for every time Windows crashes... Oh, wait a minute, he already does."

The Financial Times is kinder toward Mr. Jobs, noting that he rose from number six last year, which "reflects Appleis recent diversification into the personal music market." The publication quotes him as once saying: "I want to put a ding in the universe."

Other notable tech figures in the top ten include eBay founder Pierre Omidyar at number three and Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page in the fourth spot.