Forbes publiced the list with the 400 richest Americans. Number 1 is a suprise :-), this is Bill Gates with 57 billion. He stands at the first place for 15 years now. Sergey Brin and Larry Page positions where last year on place 5 and 6 with 18.5 billion. They now stand at place 13 and 14 with 15.9 en 15.8 billion dollar.

The Full list,
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/54/400list08_The-400-Richest-Americans_FinalWorth.html

And all 400 of them are billionaires!

But I see that quite a few show the source of income as "hedge funds", "banking", "investment" etc, so the list is probably already out of date.

from #5 & #6 to #13 & #14? Both lost $300.000.000?
FAIL!

It's all funny money until they cash out the stock options and after this week I can believe that list just got more interesting.

Tom, that's what Forbes is saying, see the list from last year here,
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/54/richlist07_The-400-Richest-Americans_Rank.html

This Year,
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/54/400list08_The-400-Richest-Americans_FinalWorth.html

TOMHTML: Sergei and Larry's drop is almost all due to the change in Google's share price, because that's the form of most of their wealth. No big deal.