RAPAPORT... Forbes magazine published its annual list of the world's richest players for 2010, adding 218 new billionaires this year. The publishing group compiled a list of 1,011 billionaires who had a combined net worth of $3.6 trillion in 2010, up  from a total net worth of $2.4 trillion in 2009. The world's wealthiest man was Carlos Slim Helu of Mexico, with an estimated fortune of $53.5 billion, an increase of $18.5 billion over the previous year's tally. The list included a number of executives involved in the  diamond and jewelry industry.

Warren Buffett  of Berkshire Hathaway was ranked as the world's third-richest man with $47 billion, after coming in second place one year ago. Bernard Arnault of LVMH ranked as number seven, with a net worth of $27.5 billion. One year ago, Arnault was ranked number 15.  Amazon.com's Jeffrey Bezos moved up 25 spots to  number 43 on the list, with a net worth of $12.3 billion. Francois Pinault and family of the retailer PPR were rated number 77 for having a net worth of $8.7 billion.

Nicky Oppenheimer and his family had a net worth of $5 billion for 2010 and were ranked at number 154 on the 2010 list, down from number 98 in 2009.  Laurence Graff dropped 69 spots to number 374, with a net worth of  $2.5 billion.  Beny Steinmetz of the Steinmetz Diamond Group was assigned number 488, with a net worth of  $2 billion, while Lev Leviev fell 187 spots to number 655, recording a net worth of $1.5 billion in 2010. Jack Ma of the Internet retailer Alibaba Group was ranked number 828, with a net worth of $1.2 billion.

LH