Bill Gates was once again on top as the world's richest person on <a href="http://www.forbes.com/billionaires">Forbes' 29th annual ranking of the world's billionaires</a></em>.
The technology guru has topped the list for 16 of the last 21 years, with a current net worth of $79.2 billion, up from $76 billion in 2014, according to Forbes statement on Monday.
For the second consecutive year, Mr Gates beat out telecom mogul Carlos Slim Helu (No. 2) whose net worth increased to $77.1 billion from $72 billion last year. Warren Buffett (No. 3) moved up one slot, with a net worth of $72.7 billion, ahead of Spanish clothing retailer Amancio Ortega (No. 4), best known for the Zara fashion chain, who increased his net worth $500 million for a total of $64.5 billion.
Oracle's Larry Ellison remained in the fifth spot; his net worth increased to $54.3 billion.
From Thailand, 17 made the list, led by Dhanin Chearavanont of CP Group (No. 81), with $13.6 billion, followed by beer baron Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi (No. 87), with $13.2 billion, and media magnate Krit Ratanarak (No. 452), with $3.8 billion.
Forbes said a record 1,826 billionaires made the list, up from 1,645 in 2014, with an average net worth of $3.86 billion (down $60 million from $3.92 billion in 2014.
The total net worth for this year's billionaires was $7.05 trillion, up from $6.4 trillion last year.
Roughly two-thirds, or 1,191 members, were self-made billionaires while 230 inherited their wealth; another 405 inherited at least a portion but are still growing it.
The biggest net worth gainer was Warren Buffett (No. 3), whose fortune increased by $14.5 billion for a total net worth of $72.7 billion, as Mr Buffett's Class A Berkshire Hathaway stock eclipsed $200,000 per share for the first time and continued to climb.
The year's biggest loser was Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote (No. 67), whose net worth decreased from $25 billion in 2014 to $14.7 billion this year.
A record number of women made the list this year: 197 versus 172 in 2014, representing an increase of 15%. Twenty-nine of these women are self-made billionaires.
Thanks to the tech boom and a strong dollar in the currency markets, the US led with the greatest number of billionaires, with 536, followed by China with 213, Germany with 103, India with 90 and Russia with 88.
California has 131 billionaires, more than any country besides the US and China.
Regionally, Asia-Pacific boasted the most billionaires, with 562, followed by the US with 536 and Europe with 482.