10 richest nerds in the world
Net worth
$61.3 billion
Skinny
The co-founder of Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), the world's largest software company, is technology's richest man. The chairman of Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft, was worth $61.3 billion as of the close of U.S. trading yesterday, although he did lose $805 million in the market dip on Tuesday. Gates's fortune has increased 9.2 percent this year, according to the ranking. About 77 percent of his fortune is held in Cascade Investment LLC, his personal holding company.