The following is based on the annual estimated wealth and assets assessment compiled and published by American business magazine Forbes.
[3][4] Each year, Forbes employs a team of more than 50 reporters from a variety of countries to track the activity of the world's wealthiest individuals.
According to Forbes, they received three types of responses—some people try to inflate their wealth, others cooperate but leave out details, and some refuse to answer any questions.
Since stock prices fluctuate rapidly, an individual's true wealth and ranking at the time of publication may vary from their situation when the list was compiled.
[5] Family fortunes dispersed over a large number of relatives are included only if those individuals' holdings are worth more than a billion dollars.