World's 15 richest tech billionaires

Thanks to success of technology companies, the world now has 1,645 billionaires including 268 newcomers.

While Bill Gates tops the billionaire charts, Mark Zuckerberg is this year’s biggest gainer.

Meet the world’s richest tech billionaires… 

Bill Gates

Rank: 1

Net Worth: $76 billion 

Co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates is the richest man in the world.

With the rise in value of Microsoft shares, Gates bounced back to beat Carlos Slim to regain the world’s richest title as well. In the last 20 years, Bill Gates has been the richest person 15 times.

Bill Gates recently stepped down as chairman of Microsoft.

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Larry Ellison

Rank: 2

Net Worth: $48 billion 

Larry Ellison is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Oracle Corporation, one of the world's leading enterprise software companies.

His wealth rose by $5 billion more in 2014 with an increase in value of Oracle’s shares.

…

Larry Page 

Rank: 3

Net Worth: $32.3 billion

CEO and Co-founder of Google, Larry Page’s wealth has surged past $30 billion mark for the first time on the back of the company stock’s record breaking performance.

The stock price is up 50 per cent year-on-year as of mid-February, says Forbes.

…

Jeff Bezos 

Rank: 4

Net Worth: $32 billion

Jeff Bezos played a key role in the growth of e-commerce as the founder and CEO of Amazon.com, Inc., an online merchant of books and later of a wide variety of products. 

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Sergey Brin

Rank: 5

Net Worth: $31.8 billion 

Cofounder of Google, Sergey Brin also saw a rise in his net wealth this year making him the fifth richest billionaire. He is now in charge of special projects.

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Mark Zuckerberg

Rank: 6

Net Worth: $28.5 billion 

Facebook, co-founded by Mark Zuckerberg, has completed 10 years.

Basking in its glory, Zuckerberg became biggest dollar gainer on this year's billionaires list and shares of his company have zoomed by more than 130 per cent over the past year as of February 2014, says Forbes. 

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Steve Ballmer 

Rank: 7

Net Worth: $19.3 billion 

Steve Ballmer is a director of Microsoft Corporation. Ballmer retired as chief executive officer in February 2014.

Under his leadership, Microsoft more than tripled revenue and doubled profits. 

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Michael Dell 

Rank: 8

Net Worth: $17.5 billion

Michael Dell is the founder and CEO of Dell Inc, one of the world’s leading sellers of personal computers.

He has also invested in two investment firms, MSD Capital and MSDC Management.

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Paul Allen 

Rank: 9

Net Worth: $15.9 billion

Paul Allen co-founded Microsoft Corporation along with Bill Gates.

He is the founder and chairman of Vulcan Inc., which manages his various business and philanthropic efforts.

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Azim Premji

Rank: 10

Net Worth: $15.3 billion

Azim Premji, chairman of Wipro, is India’s richest person in the technology sector.

His fortunes rose after Wipro spun off its consumer products business, says Forbes.

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Charles Ergen

Rank: 11

Net Worth: $15 billion 

Charles Ergen is the co-founder and Chairman of Dish Network and EchoStar Communications Corporation.

He stepped down as CEO in May 2011. Ergen owns 52 per cent of Dish and Echostar shares.

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Laurene Powell Jobs

Rank: 12

Net Worth: $14 billion

Laurene Powell Jobs is the founder of Emerson Collective, which supports policies concerning education and immigration reform, social justice, and environmental conservation.

Widow of Steve Jobs, co-founder and former CEO of Apple Inc, Laurene is also co-founder and President of the Board of College Track, which prepares poor high school students for college.

She is also the largest individual shareholder in Disney.  

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Ma Huateng

Rank: 13

Net Worth: $13.4 billion

Ma Huateng, also known as ‘Pony Ma’ is the chairman and CEO of Tencent Holdings, one of China's biggest Internet companies.

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Robin Li

Rank: 14

Net worth: $12.1 billion

Robin Li is CEO of Baidu, the china’s top Internet search engine.

Li has been listed as one of the ‘15 Asian Scientists To Watch’ by Asian Scientist Magazine on 15 May 2011.

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Shiv Nadar

Rank: 15

Net Worth: $11.1 billion 

The second Indian to be featured in the top tech billionaires’ list, Shiv Nadar is cofounder HCL Group.

His wealth increased by $4.6 billion as shares HCL Technologies doubled from a year ago, says Forbes.