New York -- The global economy was so bad the past year there are 332 fewer billionaires in the world and those who are left are 23 percent poorer, Forbes magazine says.

They're still pretty wealth, though. Their average net worth is $3 billion and their collective worth is $2.4 trillion.

A year ago there were 1,125 billionaires. Now there are 793 -- a 30 percent drop, the business magazine reported Wednesday. It is the first time in six years there has had a net loss in the number of billionaires.

Forbes notes 373 names are gone from this year's list of the richest rich, with 355 the result of financial reversals and 18 who died. Another 38 names on this year's list are newcomers and another three are back on after rebounding.

Who's the richest of the rich? Bill Gates lost $18 billion but still reclaimed the top spot from his buddy, Warren Buffet, who fell to No. 2 after losing $25 billion, Forbes estimates.