And the billionaires get richer. It’s not just rhetoric, either. Last week Bloomberg presented data confirming the planet’s wealthiest residents added $241 billion to their collective net worth in 2012. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index—which ranks the world’s 100 wealthiest people daily—indicated the total net worth of the richest individuals equaled $1.9 trillion when the market closed Dec. 31.

The title of world’s richest still belongs to telecommunications mogul Carlos Slim, 72, major holder of Mexico’s America Movil SAB. Slim’s net worth increased by 21.6 percent to $13.4 billion in 2012.

Just behind Slim is Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, 57, who added $7 billion to his net worth in 2012. Microsoft stock actually equals less than 20 percent of Gates’ overall wealth, which increased by 2.9 percent last year.

More of the world’s wealthiest are as follows:

3) Amancio Ortega: Net worth $57.5 billion, richest man in Europe who owns a 59-percent stake in Inditex, the largest clothing retailer on Earth.

4) Warren Buffett: Net worth $47.9 billion, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway; operates insurance, manufacturing and energy services.

5) Ingvar Kamprad: Net worth: $42.9 billion, richest man in Sweden, controls IKEA—the largest furniture retailer in the world.

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