Article: Slim overtakes Gates to top world rich list ; BUSINESS

Carlos "Slim" Hel, the Mexican telecoms magnate, has overtaken Bill Gates to become the world's richest man, according to Fortune magazine, which tracks the world's largest companies.

The billionaire, whose interests range from cigarettes to insurance to hotels to mining, as well as Mexico's dominant fixed- line and mobile phone businesses, has seen his net worth surge to $59bn thanks to the increased value of his publicly traded holding companies.

According to the latest issue of the magazine, that puts him ahead of the Microsoft founder, who has held the crown for more than a decade. Mr Gates is worth an estimated $58bn.

The cigar-puffing Mr Slim inherited a small fortune from his ...

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