Steve Ballmer, Microsoft

Ranked at 16th position in the overall list, Steven A Ballmer became CEO of Microsoft Corporation in 2000. He is the first person to have become a billionaire in US based on stock options received as an employee of a corporation which was not founded by him.

Ballmer, a classmate and friend of founder Bill Gates, he joined Microsoft in 1980 and was the first business manager hired by Gates. During the past 20 years, Ballmer has headed several Microsoft divisions, including operations, operating systems development and sales and support.

Described as ebullient, focused, funny, passionate, sincere, hard-charging and dynamic, Ballmer has infused Microsoft with his own brand of energetic leadership, vision and spirit over the years as different from the course that was followed by Gates.

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook

A new entrant in the list this year is Facebook CEO Mark Elliot Zuckerberg, who holds an overall 25th position.

His entry in the list indicates the importance that social media has come to hold in present times with Facebook often being referred to as the most successful and popular social networking sites.

A Harvard University dropout, Zuckerberg launched Facebook in 2004 from his Harvard dorm room. Initially supposed to be a networking site for university grads, FB was thrown open for everybody in 2006, after which it took off.

Mark is responsible for setting the overall direction and product strategy for the company. The website currently claims to have more than 100 million active users worldwide.

He also heads the design of Facebook's service and development in the core technology and infrastructure.

Last year, Facebook sold 1.6 per cent stake to Microsoft Corp for $240 million, spurning a competing offer from online search leader Google.

According to Forbes Magazine (2008) Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire and possibly, the youngest self-made billionaire ever, with an estimated net worth of $1.5 billion.

Larry Ellison, Oracle

Positioned at 37th spot, Lawrence Joseph Ellison is co-founder and CEO of Oracle Corporation. He is the highest-paid tech CEO with an annual compensation package amounting to an astounding $192.92 million.

Sixty-three-year-old Ellison started Oracle in 1977. Two years younger to arch-rival Microsoft Corp, Oracle also went public a day before Microsoft in 1986.

In the past three years, Oracle has spent $19 billion buying 21 software companies, including PeopleSoft for $11 billion and Siebel Systems for $5.9 billion. A licensed pilot, Ellison is said to own several unusual aircrafts. He has also been honoured with many awards, including Entrepreneur of the Year from the Harvard School of Business.

In 2000, Forbes listed Ellison as the world's second richest man, worth $47 billion to Bill Gates's $60 billion. In 2007, Forbes had Ellison slipping to fourth place, worth only $26 billion.

Howard Stringer, Sony

Chairman and CEO of Sony Corporation, Sir Howard Stringer holds the 39th position on the list. He joined Sony Corporation in May 1997.

A British businessman, he became the chairman and CEO of Sony Corporation America in 1998. In June 2005, he became the chairman and CEO of Sony Corporation. He is also the corporate head of Sony Corporation's Entertainment Business Group.

Prior to joining Sony, Howard spent 30 years serving CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System) Inc. As president of CBS from 1988 to 1995, he was responsible for all its broadcast activities.

A native of Cardiff, Wales, Howard received the title of Knight Bachelor in the New Year Honours list of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on December 31, 1999. Not a techie by qualification, Stringer holds a BA and an MA degree in modern history from Oxford University.

Mukesh & Anil Ambani, Reliance Industries & Reliance ADA Group

After making their way into the league of richest persons, India's warring billionaire brothers -- Mukesh and Anil Ambani -- have made it at the 67th position in the list for the first time.

Both Mukesh and Anil together have a combined net worth of $85 billion. They inherited their father's sprawling industrial conglomerate in 2002.

Later in 2005, the business was split with Mukesh getting the oil, gas, and petrochemical business, while Anil got the telecom and banking operations.

The magazine quoted, "Already a big player in Bollywood, Anil is on the cusp of buying into DreamWorks with a $500-million-plus capital investment. He also plans to finance films for the production companies of George Clooney, Tom Hanks, and Brad Pitt."

Elder brother Mukesh owns one of the largest petrochem businesses in the world. The group of companies led by both the brothers are growing at a scorching pace.