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Google duo join rich list

NEW YORK - Google's multi-billion IPO last year has propelled its
two co-founders into the upper echelons of Forbes 's latest list
of the 400 richest Americans.

Bill Gates, Microsoft's co-founder and chairman, remains the
nation's wealthiest person for the 11th straight year, with a net
worth of US$51 billion, followed again by Berkshire Hathaway
chairman and chief executive Warren Buffett, with $40 billion.

Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, were ranked 16th by
Forbes with $11 billion each, up from No. 43 last year when they
each had a net worth of $4 billion. Brin's and Page's post-IPO
wealth is accruing at speeds faster than Gates' wealth after
Microsoft went public.

Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft in 1975, was third
wealthiest with $22.5 billion; while Dell's founder Michael Dell
was fourth with $18 billion; and Larry Ellison, chief executive
of Oracle, was No. 5 with a net worth of $17 billion.

Steven Ballmer, Microsoft's chief executive - and Gates' old uni
chum - ranked No. 11 with $14 billion.