you ve interviewed carlos slim. tell us, how did he get so rich? he edges out bill gates and warren buffett. first time an american hasn t been on the list in more than a decade. most of his money does come from telecom. he has land lines in mexico and throughout latin america and he also has a huge mobile phone company, but he also has a hotel chain, a restaurant chain, he manufactures cigarettes, ceramic tiles. remember there is no carpeting in latin america. civil construction. oil platforms. brokerage firm. a commercial bank. an insurance company. and also the largest single shareholders in sachs 5th avenue. biggest investor in the new york times as well. last year when they desperately needed debt he loaned them $215 million. the new york times each year has to pay him $35 million a year just in interest payments