Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates again was listed as the nation's wealthiest person in Forbes magazine's annual rankings, released Thursday. Gates, who has a net worth of 9 billion, spoke at an event in Seattle to tout the release of Microsoft Windows Vista in this February 2007 file photo.

Bill Gates is still No. 1.

When it comes to the richest Americans, the chairman of Microsoft Corp. remains atop a list – the Forbes 400, released Thursday – that continues to cost more and more to join.

Gates checked in with a net worth of $59 billion, followed by investor Warren Buffett, with $52 billion.

Rounding out the top 10:

¢ Sheldon Adelson, casino magnate, $28 billion.

¢ Lawrence Ellison, chief executive officer of Oracle Corp., $26 billion.

¢ Sergey Brin, Google co-founder, $18.5 billion.

¢ Larry Page, Google co-founder, $18.5 billion.

¢ Kirk Kerkorian, investor, $18 billion.

¢ Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell Computer, $17.2 billion.

¢ Charles Koch, chairman and CEO of Koch Industries Inc., Wichita, $17 billion.

¢ David Koch, executive vice president and board member of Koch Industries, $17 billion.

This year’s Forbes 400, the magazine’s 25th annual edition, has 45 new members, nearly half of them making their fortunes on Wall Street through hedge funds and private equity.

To make the list this year took a net worth of at least $1.3 billion; the 400 people on the list have a collective net worth of $1.54 trillion, up $290 billion from a year ago.

For the complete list, visit www.forbes.com.