World's 100 richest gained $241B last year

The planet's 100 richest people piled on $241 billion to their combined net worth of $1.9 trillion in 2012, Bloomberg reports.

As 77% of American households face higher payroll taxes in 2013, the new year will continue to tilt toward the wealthy.

"Last year was a great one for the world's billionaires," said John Catsimatidis, who owns the oil-and-gas conglomerate Red Apple Group. "In 2013, they will continue looking for investments around the world — and not necessarily in U.S. — that will give them an advantage."

According to Bloomberg's daily ranking of the richest 100, only 16 netted a loss in 2012. Fortune smiled broadly on fortunes in retail and telecommunication, which averaged 20% gains.

Who came out on top? Amancio Ortega, the "mysterious" founder of the Spanish clothing retailer Inditex SA. His $22.2 billion piggy bank fattened up to $57.5 billion.

Bloomberg's index uncovered 54 "hidden" billionaires, including the fourth-richest woman in America, Elaine Tettemer Marshall, 70, of Dallas. She was worth $14.1 billion in 2012, thanks to her 14.6% ownership of privately held Koch Industries, the Kansas-based multinational conglomerate controlled by Charles and David Koch.