Who was Forbes’ richest person in 1997?

Bill Gates was Forbes’ richest person in 1997.

Forbes placed Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates at the top of its 1997 world-billionaire ranking. His fortune was tied primarily to his ownership of Microsoft, whose Windows operating system and Office software were central products during the personal-computer boom.

Gates first reached the number-one position on Forbes’ annual billionaire list in 1995. He remained at or near the top for many years as Microsoft’s market value rose and as he retained a substantial shareholding. The 1997 ranking therefore belongs to the early period of his long run as the world’s richest person.

Forbes’ annual estimates are snapshots based on share prices and other available information at a stated date. They should not be confused with later real-time rankings. Warren Buffett, Carlos Slim and Michael Dell became associated with different years and wealth milestones, which can cause confusion when older Forbes lists are compared.