The latest list of the world's richest has 128 new entrants as the global recession cuts some fortunes.

New Zealand's richest man Graeme Hart has been overtaken by two Australian mining billionaires, according to Forbes' list of the world's richest people.

After a brief lapse during the recession, tech titans again dominate Forbes; annual list of the richest Americans.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is back at number one, edging ahead of Goldman Sachs fan Warren Buffett.

Notably, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg moved ahead of old-media tycoon Rupert Murdoch (number 38 on $6.2 billion).

The Forbes magazine list of 200 "best under a billion" top-performing companies in Asia – those worth under $US1 billion – includes one New Zealand company and 13 from Australia.

Indonesia and Vietnam were the only other countries to have only one company listed.

A resurgent Nasdaq has helped the geek crowd regain its mojo on Forbes’ annual list of the world’s richest people.

Top of the heap is Mexican telecommunications monopolist Carlos Slim, who moved a nose (well, $US500 million) ahead of previous champ Bill Gates.

Mr Slim’s wallet is about to get a little fatter, too. The mobile mogul recently lent the New York Times $US250 million at a nosebleed 14%.

Not that Mr Gates is hurting. Although now number two, the Microsoft co-founder saw his wealth increase by a tidy $US13 billion during 2009.

Graeme Hart has once again been named the richest man in Australasia by Forbes magazine, which has estimated his net worth at $US5.3 billion.

Last year Mr Hart nudged out gaming magnate James Packer to become the first New Zealander to be named the richest in Australasia by Forbes’ rich list.