6 from Ohio, 1 from Dayton area make Forbes billionaires list

Local businessman Clay Mathile, one of six Ohioans on the 2017 list, saw his fortune rise to $3.8 billion, up three spots to No. 474. Mathile sold The Iams Company to Procter & Gamble for $2.3 billion in 1999.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates remains the richest person in the world for the fourth year in a row with a fortune of $86 billion, up from $75 billion last year. Amazon’s Jeff Bezos had the best year of any adding a stunning $27.6 billion to put his fortune at $72.8 billion.

According to Forbes, the U.S. continues to lead the world in billionaires with a record 565, up from 540 in 2016. China added 76 last year — the most of any country — to bring its total to 319. Germany has the third most with 114 and India is fourth with 101.

Here are the ten richest people in the world and their net worth:

1. Bill Gates, $86 billion, Microsoft (United States)

2. Warren Buffett, $76.5 billion, Berkshire Hathaway (United States)

3. Jeff Bezos, 72.8 billion, Amazon.com (United States)

4. Amancio Ortega, $71.3 billion, Zara (Spain)

5. Mark Zuckerberg, $56 billion, Facebook (United States)

6. Carlos Slim Helu, $54.5 billion, telecom (Mexico)

7. Larry Ellison, $52.2 billion, software (United States)

8. Charles Koch, $48.3 billion, diversified (United States)

9. David Koch, $48.3 billion, diversified (United States)

10. Michael Bloomberg, $47.5 billion, Bloomberg LP (United States)

Ohioans on the list include: 

224. Les Wexner, $6.4 billion, retail (New Albany)

474. Clay Mathile, $3.8 billion, pet food (Brookville)

867. Denise York, $2.4 billion, San Francisco 49ers (Youngstown)

1940. Nancy Lerner, $1 billion, finance (Cleveland)

1940. Norma Lerner, $1 billion, finance (Cleveland)

1940. Randolph Lerner, $1 billion, finance (Cleveland)