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Forbes list of the richest Americans of 2011

For the 18th straight year, Bill Gates tops Forbes’s list of the wealthiest Americans. Despite the economic woes plaguing many Americans, the net worth of many of the top 10 richest on Forbes’ list grew in 2011.

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Economic troubles plaguing many American families did not hit Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates’s wallet. His fortune grew by $5 billion, putting his net worth at $59 billion, ahead of all other billionaires on the list.

Steven Senne / AP

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