Richest Man In The World 2010

Want to know the identity of the richest man in the world 2010? Look no further. The position in 1^st place is held by Carlos Slim Helu, a self-made billionaire in the telecom industry. His net worth is estimated at $53.5 billion US Dollars. Born January 28, 1940, Slim has was first named to Forbes' top slot in 2010. He serves as chairman and CEO of the telecommunications companies Telmex and America Movil.

Slim was born in Mexico City to parents of Lebanese descent. His parents, Julian Slim and Linda Helu, were married in August 1926, and had six children, of which Carlos was the fifth. Slim's father, Julian, taught all the siblings basic business practices, and by the age of 12, Slim owned shares in a Mexican bank. His business ventures have run the gamut, including construction, real estate, mining and telecommunications, among many others.

His first time on the top of the Forbes list, Slim has capitalized on his investments throughout his entire life, but amassed most of it in a purchase of Telmex from the Mexican government in the 1990s. By 2006, Telmex operated 90 percent of the country's telephones.The mobile branch of the company, Telcel, operates over three fourths of the nation's cell phones.

Slim's philanthropy is famous. In 1986, he founded the Carlos Slim Helu Foundation and in 1995, he founded the Telmex Foundation. In 2000, he helped develop the Mexico City Historic Downtown Foundation. He has since continued to support philanthropic efforts through Mexico and beyond. In 2008, the Lebanese government awarded him the National Honor of the Cedar for his philanthropic efforts.