New York, Sept 20: Microsoft founder and chairman Bill Gates has topped the list of the richest Americans for the 10th year running as the elite club of billionaires saw their wealth grow after two years of slumping values. According to Forbes Magazine, which compiles the annual list, the total wealth of the 400 richest Americans now exceeds 955 billion dollars, a rise of 10 per cent over last year's total, which dropped 80 billion dollars from 2001's total due to the flagging economy.
Most of the recent gains came from a run-up in technology stocks which have posted strong gains over the past year, Forbes said in its magazine, which hit newsstands Friday.
Gates saw his fortune increase by 3 billion dollars to 46 billion dollars, while his good friend, Investment Sage Warren Buffet, remained in 2nd place as his fortune held steady at 36 billion dollars.

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen was third as his net worth rose a billion dollars to 22 billion dollars. Five members of the Walton family, heirs to the giant retailer Wal-Mart, tied for the next places with 20.5 billion dollars each. Oracle computer founder Larry Ellison was ninth richest with 18 billion dollars followed by Michael Dell of Dell Computers with 13 billion dollars. Bureau Report