Bill Gates, founder of software giant Microsoft, remains America's richest person, according to Forbes magazine's annual rich list.

Gates, whose net worth is estimated to be close to $60bn, tops the list for the 14th consecutive year.

Investment guru Warren Buffet was second, with a personal fortune of $52bn, followed by casino magnate Sheldon Adelson on $28bn.

Oracle boss Larry Ellison remained in fourth place, while Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page made the top 10 for the very first time.

The Forbes 400 says that Brin and Page have a net worth of $18.5bn each - putting them fifth on the list.

Forbes: "Wall Street led the charge, despite this summer's market jitters."

Dell chief executive Michael Dell and casino mogul Kirk Kerkorian also made the top 10.

To make this year's list of the top 400 fortunes in the US a minimum net worth of $1.3bn was required - up $300m from last year.

The collective net worth of those listed this year jumped by a whopping $290bn to $1.54 trillion.

Of the top 400 richest Americans, 270 were entirely self-made, 74 inherited their money and 39 were women, according to the 25th anniversary edition of the Forbes 400.

Fund manager John Arnold, 33, is the youngest billionaire on the list, with a net fortune of $1.5bn, while the oldest is John Simplot, 98, with $3.6bn.

"Wall Street led the charge, despite this summer's market jitters. Nearly half of the 45 new members made their fortunes in hedge funds and private equity," Forbes said.

Gates, who set up Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975, is also known for his charity work.

The Gates Foundation, established in the name of Gates and his wife Melinda, has spent over $11bn since its inception in 1994, around half of which has been spent on global health issues.