Number of millionaires increases. - The economic crisis is not a source of financial difficulties for everybody. According to the latest issue of the US magazine Forbes, the number of millionaires has increased again throughout the world. There are now 1,226, compared to 1,210 the year before. This is an absolute record since this list first began 25 years ago. These super-rich individuals together are worth $4,600 billion, an increase of $1,000 billion over the past 12 months, their average wealth standing at $3.7 billion. They come from 58 different countries and with 425 billionaires, the US tops this list. Morocco is now on this list the first time, with three entries. With an estimated fortune of $69 billion, Carlos Slim from Mexico is the richest person on the planet, ahead of the co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates from the US ($61 billion) and US businessman Warren Buffett ($44 billion). The highest European on the list is Bernard Arnault, from France, the owner of the luxury LVMH group, who is in fourth place with an estimated fortune of $41 billion, followed by Amancio Ortega from Spain, the creator of the Zara clothes brand, with $37.5 billion. (IL/transl.fl)