Carlos Slim keeps his lead over Bill Gates by more than a slim margin…

The 73-year-old Mexican businessman and telecommunications tycoon, who launched Ora.tv last summer, is still the world’s richest man, according to Forbes’ annual ranking of the world’s richest billionaires.

Slim, who has earned the title for the last four years, tops this year’s list with $73 billion in net worth.

He’s followed by Microsoft founder Bill Gates with $67 billion and Spanish fashion executive Amancio Ortega at $57 billion, according to the magazine.

Slim’s extensive holdings in a considerable number of Mexican companies through his conglomerate, Grupo Carso, SA de CV, have amassed interests in the fields of communications, technology, retailing, and finance.