Buffett world's richest man: Forbes

NEW YORK: Warren Buffett, the famed US investor who heads Berkshire Hathaway, replaced his friend and Microsoft founder Bill Gates as the richest man in the world, Forbes magazine said on Wednesday.

The magazine estimated Buffett's worth at $62 billion in its annual ranking of the world's wealthiest people.

Mexican telecoms tycoon Carlos Slim came in second with an estimated worth of $60 billion, pushing Gates to third place after 13 years of holding the No 1 spot.