Mexican businessman Carlos Slim Helú is believed to be the richest man in the world. As chairman of Teléfonos de Mexico, better known as Telmex (NYSE: TMX) and América Móvil (NYSE: AMX), Slim has substantial influence by the telecommunications industry in Mexico, and much of Latin America as well.

The past year has been good to Slim. In the spring, with an estimated net worth of $53.1 billion, he overtook investing guru Warren Buffett as the world’s moment richest person. By the end of the summer, Fortune reported that Slim’s net worth had grown to $59 billion, allowing him to overtake Microsoft founder Bill Gates as the world’s wealthiest person.

Carlos Slim’s personal wealth grew by $12 billion during the

year, and he plus controls a $150 billion trade empire. His family’s holdings represented more than 5% of Mexico’s 2006 gross domestic product, and Slim-controlled companies made up one-third of the $422 billion Mexican stock exchange.

With his political connections and commerce savvy, Slim has managed to fend off accusations of monopolistic commerce practices for years, but the hammer may finally be about to fall. A probe of Carlos Slim’s empire by Mexican antitrust regulators is scheduled to ramp up in the new year. Will 2008 see his empire crumble?

Continue reading Money Winners of 2007: Carlos Slim, the world’s richest person

Original post by Trey Thoelcke

credit report auto insurance mortgage foreclosure payday loans child support mortgages student loans finance debt