Bill loses his place on top of the Billionaires list

When is $58bn not enough ?

When you’re trying to stay at the top of the Forbes’ rich list, of course.

Bill Gates is one of the richest men in the world and has been top of the Forbes’ list for the last 13 years so we’re probably not the only ones who are a little disappointed that the title of number one billionaire in the world has been whipped out from under Bill’s feet by Warren Buffett.

As much as we love to hate Microsoft and all it’s yahooing about with, well, Yahoo ! it was actually the bid for the struggling net portal that brought Bill crashing down to third place.

Back in February Microsoft offered Yahoo ! about $44.6 billion in an unsolicited take over bid to which Yahoo ! replied, thanks, but no thanks.

Forbes say that Microsoft shares fell 15% between January 31 (the day before the company announced its bid for Yahoo !) and February 11, the day they locked in stock prices for the 2008 World’s Billionaires list.

“He is up $2 billion from a year ago, but would have been perhaps as rich—or richer—than Buffett had Microsoft not made an unsolicited bid for Yahoo !”

Take a look at the full list of people who’s hair you couldn’t afford to cut, here.