Forbes has published its list of the richest people in America, which shows Microsoft’s Bill Gates leading the way with a net worth of US$54 billion, US$9 billion ahead of Oracle’s Larry Ellison in third place.

Google’s Larry Page and Sergey Brin come in joint-11th place with a worth of US$15 billion each.

15th-placed Michael Dell (US$14 billion) just about tops Steve Ballmer’s US$13.1 billion fortune.

However, the further down the list you read and the more interesting things become.

The Forbes list shows that Mark Zuckerberg, worth US$6.9 billion in 35th place, comes ahead of Apple founder Steve Jobs, who ranks 42nd with a US$6.1 billion fortune to his name.

“Zuckerberg, the biggest percentage gainer on the Forbes 400 this year, has just agreed to donate $100 million to Newark's troubled schools,” reports Forbes.

You can find the full list here.