What do business magnate Carlos Slim and El Chapo Guzmán have in common? Forbes list & lots of $$$

But elusive Mexican drug trafficking king is definitely on a down hill slide

Several years ago Joaquín "El Chapo" (Shorty) Guzmán, leader of Mexico's powerful Sinaloa Cartel (a/k/a Cartel del Pacifico), was ranked # 41 out of 67 in a Forbes list of the World's Most Famous People. And in a 2011 Forbes list of the World's Most Powerful People, he was # 55 out of 70. But Guzmán, 54, who escaped from a Mexican federal prison in January 2001 and has been on the lam ever since, continues to slide on Forbes list of the World's Richest People. This year, with an estimated net worth of a mere $1 billion, Shorty fell to a lowly 1,153. Perhaps the sputtering world economy has taken its toll on him, too.

Mexican communications magnate Carlos Slim captured top spot on the 2012 rich guy list once again, with an estimated personal fortune of $69 billion. Following him in second and third place were Americans Bill Gates (Microsoft, $61 billion) and Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway, $44 billion). In sixth place was U.S. software giant Larry Ellison (Oracle Corporation, $36 billion).

It was the third consecutive year on the World's Richest list for Slim and the fourth for Guzmán. Forbes says that in recent years El Chapo has been required to spend ever larger sums to protect Sinaloa Cartel operations, in part due to increased pressure by Mexican military forces. But at the same time his organization has expanded southward into Central America.

Forbes claims that El Chapo Guzmán and his Sinaloa Cartel are responsible for at least 25% of the narcotics shipped from Mexico into the U.S., including marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine.

Is Mexico closing in on El Chapo Guzmán?: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/is-mexico-closing-in-on-el-chapo-guzman.html
U.S. confirms El Chapo is world's most wanted narco: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/01/us-confirms-el-chapo-guzman-is-worlds.html.
El Chapo WANTED, DEAD OR ALIVE: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/10/el-chapo-guzman-dead-or-alive.html.
El Chapo dominates U.S. narcotics trade: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/10/sinaloa-cartel-of-el-chapo-guzman.html.

Even Forbes Magazine reads this Blog: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/02/forbes-magazine-cites-mexico-gulf.html.