A conversation between Warren and Bill

So Fortune, published it's latest - Richest People in the World List - and after 13 years there is finally a change on top. Thanks to the decline in Microsoft shares (along with the rest of the market) and increases in Berkshire Hathaway stock, Warren Buffet is on top of the list. Bill Gates drops to number 3, after Carlos Slim. Now Bill and Warren are friends, so here is an imaginary conversation they may have had over the phone when the list was released:

Warren : "Morning Bill, Have you seen the latest list?"

Bill : "What list?"

Warren "Why, Fortunes Richest in the world list"

Bill : I don't pay attention to lists

Warren : Come on Bill, for 13 years you have been goading me about being the second richest man and now that you have been knocked of your pedestal, you are changing your tune. Not fair - why don't you "Google" the list now [Laughs].

Bill : Well....I have discovered my inner zen and that's why I am giving away all my money to charity and hedge funds shorting Microsoft stock. I now only focus on making the world a better place to live and work in through the use of Microsoft Productivity tools.

Warren: Come on Bill, you are taking all the fun out of this. But I guess you are getting used to being No 2 with Google, Apple, Nintendo and other companies overtaking Microsoft.

Bill : Hold on now, that is below the belt. I am sure we have a multi-year strategy to get back to number one...., but Steve [Ballmer - CEO of Microsoft] is not returning my calls.

Warren: Enjoy retirement Bill. See you at our Thursday night cards' game. Dinner and Drinks are on me, after all I am the richest man in the world...

Bill : [Mutters a profanity].....Wait till Microsoft takes over Yahoo, then we'll see.

Warren: Ha, Ha,,,,,You really are in the charity business.

Bill : Bye Warren, I've got some work to do.

Warren: Bye. Do you have Carlos' number by any chance?

Bill : [Hangs up]


Another interesting thing to note about the Top 10 (see list below) is the diversity. 7 out of the 10 people are non-American and most have made their fortunes outside of America.. This confirms the ongoing redistribution of wealth across the world. In a few years I wouldn't be surprised to see no Americans on the list.

1. Warren Buffett 2. Carlos Slim Helu 3. William Gates III 4. Lakshmi Mittal 5. Mukesh Ambani 6. Anil Ambani 7. Ingvar Kamprad 8. KP Singh 9. Oleg Deripaska 10. Karl Albrecht

The full list can be found here