Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim is the world's richest person, jumping past Americans Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to become the first person from a developing nation to top the list, according to Forbes magazine.

The rise of Slim, 70, the son of an immigrant shopkeeper who amassed a $53.5 billion fortune and bought a major stake in The New York Times, is part of an increased presence on the list of billionaires from emerging countries, according to Forbes.

Slim's worth surged in the past year as his cell-phone holdings rebounded in value. He is the first non-American to top the list since 1994.

The 2010 Top 10 list also includes two billionaires from India and one from Brazil, reflecting the increasing importance of developing nations, the magazine said.