Amazon's Bezos becomes world's fourth-richest man

SAN FRANCISCO — Amazon stock closed at $673.25 Wednesday, solidifying CEO Jeff Bezos' position as the fourth-richest person in the world.

Bezos actually passed the milestone on Tuesday, when Amazon's upward trend put his fortune at $58.2 billion, Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index said.

Bezos overtook Carlos Slim, Mexico’s telecommunications baron, who had been in fourth place.

Bloomberg's list is slightly different than the one kept by Forbes. Its real-time Richest People on the Planet list puts Bezos at No. 5, still behind Slim.

Amazon is moving steadily upward, up 2.1% Wednesday. Its shares became the most expensive on a valuation basis in the Standard & Poor's 500 on Wednesday.

Amazon breaks barrier: Now most costly stock

Amazon’s stock has risen 113% this year, earning Bezos $29.6 billion since Jan. 1, according to the Bloomberg Index, which ranks the world’s 400 richest people.

Bezos became the third-richest American last month after a profitable quarter buoyed Amazon's stock.

Amazon's Bezos now third-richest American

At the beginning of the year, he was just 13th on the list of wealthiest Americans, according to Bloomberg.

The Seattle area is now home to Nos. 1 and 3 on the list. Microsoft founder Bill Gates is still the world's richest person, worth $85 billion, according to the Index.

Second on Bloomberg's list is Amancio Ortega of Spain, the founder of clothing retailer Inditex SA, with $73.7 billion. Third is U.S. investor Warren Buffett, with $63.2 billion.