NEW YORK — The world now has a record 793 billionaires, up 15 percent from a year ago, with a rising number in India, Russia, Brazil and the Middle East as well as more women, Forbes magazine said on Thursday. Soaring stock, oil and commodities prices increased their combined net worth to $2.6 trillion as 114 individuals joined the exclusive club, including 10 more women for a total of 78. “A billion just isn’t what it used to be,” said Forbes Associate Editor Luisa Kroll, presenting the 20th annual list at a New York news conference. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates topped the list for a record 12th year in a row with a net worth estimated at $50 billion, followed by perennial No. 2 Warren Buffett, the famed investor of Berkshire Hathaway, worth $42 billion. Mexican industrialist Carlos Slim moved into the No. 3 spot at $30 billion, just ahead of Sweden’s Ikea founder, Ingvar Kamprad, at $28 billion. Moving into the top 10 are French luxury goods mogul Bernard Arnault at No. 7, Canadian publishing magnate Kenneth Thomson and family, and Li Ka-shing, head of the Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa. The complete […]