NEW YORK: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates topped Forbes’ latest list of the 400 richest Americans for the 21st straight year.The list, released on Monday, was largely unchanged for 2014 and showed the rich getting richer.

The combined wealth of those on the list rose 13 per cent to $2.29 trillion, helped by a stronger US stock market.

Gates’ net worth totaled $81bn, up $9bn from 2013. Investor Warren Buffett, the head of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., remained in second place at $67bn. Oracle Corp. co-founder Larry Ellison also kept his No. 3 spot with $50 billion.

Brothers Charles and David Koch, co-owners of Koch Industries Inc., stay tied for fourth with $42bn each.

There were 27 new members of the list, including WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum in the 62nd spot. Facebook announced plans to buy the mobile messaging app for $19bn in February.

Published in Dawn, September 30th , 2014