While Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates ranked No. 1 for the 13th straight year, 178 of the 946 billionaires were newcomers, the magazine said.

The list includes 19 Russians, 14 Indians, 13 Chinese and 10 Spaniards, as well as the first billionaires from Cyprus, Oman, Romania and Serbia, Forbes said

"Ingenuity, not industry, is the common characteristic," the magazine said. "These folks made money in everything from media and real estate to coffee, dumplings and ethanol."

Two-thirds of last year's billionaires are richer. Seventeen percent are poorer, including 32 who fell below the billion-dollar mark, Forbes said.

The average billionaire is 62 years old, two years younger than in 2005, the magazine said. Newcomers to the billionaires club average age 55.

Gates's fortune rose $6 billion to $56 billion, while Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Chairman Warren Buffett boosted his net worth $10 billion to $52 billion, despite enormous charitable donations.

Mexican telecom executive Carlos Slim Helu added $19 billion to his fortune, bringing him to $49 billion, just $3 billion behind Buffett.