AS03: The billionaires club

Tech has more than its fair share of the filthy rich, many of whom head up well-known companies. But influence and career longevity are about a lot more than a healthy bank balance, as Tony Hallett finds out...

What makes a billionaire? The simple answer is, of course, possessing at least one thousand million dollars, $1,000,000,000. Oh that we should be so straightforward when assessing tech Agenda Setters.

Every year this snapshot is taken it is apparent the industry's super-rich have more than a good chance of placing high up. So what of this year? Well, using the word billionaire a little loosely - we'll include those with paper worth over or close to the magic mark, or at least fortunes in the hundreds of millions that still raise eyebrows - we find around eight of the filthy rich club scattered across the list.

Bill Gates, the world's richest man, is in at number two - remarkably his highest ever Agenda Setters position - and yet his age-old nemesis Steve Jobs, no slouch himself in the bank account department, still tops him.

For the first time, Gates' main mucker, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, barely figures in the top 50. In past years it was assumed a split vote between the software giant's two main guiding lights prevented either from walking away with the trophy. However, this time out there was widespread criticism of the company's chief executive.

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