Bill Gates still world's second richest person

Microsoft's co-founder was once again topped by Mexican businessman Carlos Slim Helu, according to Forbes' list of the world's billionaires.

Bill Gates is the world's second richest person but its most charitable, according to Forbes.

Bill Gates is now worth $67 billion. But he's still only No. 2 among the world's wealthiest people.

Released today, Forbes' ranking of the richest people on the planet found Gates' fortune up $6 billion this year. The increase came not so much from Microsoft stock, which has show little signs of life, but from other financial holdings and private investments.

More importantly, Forbes dubbed Gates the world's most generous person. The Microsoft chairman continues to devote a large amount of his fortune to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with the goal of wiping out polio, malaria, and other dangerous diseases. The foundation has already spent more than $28 billion on its various causes.

Even further, Gates has convinced other billionaires across the world to join the Giving Pledge in which they promise to donate the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes. Gates also teamed up with fellow billionaire Carlos Slim Helu to build a $25 million agricultural research center in Mexico, which leads us to the world's richest man.

With a net worth of $73 billion, Helu topped the richest list for the fourth consecutive year. His wealth climbed $4 billion this year, thanks to rising investments in his own companies. His mobile telecommunications business America Movil is his healthiest asset at $36.3 billion, according to Forbes.

Oracle chief Larry Ellison took fifth place with a worth of $43 billion, making him the third wealthiest man in the U.S. behind Gates and Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett. His fortune increased this year thanks in no small part to a 20 percent climb in his own shares of Oracle. Like Gates and Helu, Ellison has also been donating some of his vast wealth to philanthropic causes.

Dell CEO Michael Dell checked in with $15.3 billion, while Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer followed with $15.2 billion.Other tech players on Forbes' list included Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos with $25.2 billion and Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin with $23 billion and $22.8 billion, respectively.

Most of the tech billionaires saw their wealth increase this year, but not all.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg watched his net worth fall to $13.3 billion from $17.5 billion last year, lowering his ranking to 66 from 35. Tied into the price of Facebook stock, Zuckerberg's fortune has been on the same roller coaster ride. After sinking to less than $20 last August, the stock has continued to rise and fall over the past several months.

A total of 1,426 people made the Forbes billionaires list for a net worth of $5.4 trillion, up from $4.6 trillion last year.