According to Forbes real-time billionaire rankings around 2017, who was recognised as the world’s second-richest person, behind Bill Gates?

Introduction / Context:
The rankings of the world’s richest individuals change over time as stock prices and business valuations fluctuate. Around 2017, Forbes real-time billionaire lists frequently reported changes near the very top positions. This question asks you to identify who, at that time, was recognised as the second-richest person in the world, with Bill Gates still commonly cited as number one.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The time frame is around 2017.
• The source is Forbes real-time billionaire rankings.
• Bill Gates is considered the benchmark at number one in the question wording.
• Options are Amancio Ortega, Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates.

Concept / Approach:
In 2017, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s wealth increased dramatically as Amazon’s share price rose. During this period, Forbes and other financial news outlets highlighted that Jeff Bezos had moved into the second position on several real-time lists of billionaires, overtaking earlier contenders such as Warren Buffett and Amancio Ortega. Therefore, when the question asks who was “now” the second-richest person behind Bill Gates (for that time), the intended answer is Jeff Bezos.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Bill Gates was widely reported as the richest person in the world for many years. Step 2: Remember the news around 2017 announcing that Jeff Bezos had become the world’s second-richest person, later even briefly surpassing Bill Gates. Step 3: Consider that Amancio Ortega and Warren Buffett also held very high positions, but Jeff Bezos’s rapid rise in Amazon’s valuation made him the key new challenger for the top spot that year. Step 4: Since the question is framed in the context of that 2017 shift, the second position behind Bill Gates points to Jeff Bezos. Step 5: Therefore, select “Jeff Bezos” as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Financial news from 2017 repeatedly reported milestones like “Jeff Bezos becomes the world’s second-richest person” as his net worth climbed. Although the exact day-to-day ranking can fluctuate, exam questions generally refer to these widely reported changes. Warren Buffett and Amancio Ortega sometimes occupied the second or third spots in earlier periods, but the headline change around 2017 centred on Jeff Bezos's leap to number two and beyond, confirming that he is the intended answer here.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Amancio Ortega: He has been extremely wealthy and, in some earlier lists, ranked very high, but the question’s focus on the 2017 shift towards a technology-driven billionaire points more accurately to Jeff Bezos. Warren Buffett: Similarly, he long occupied a top-three position but around 2017 was overtaken by Jeff Bezos in several real-time rankings. Bill Gates: The question itself treats Bill Gates as the benchmark number one, so he cannot also be the answer for second place.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often remember different years' rankings and mix them up, or they rely on a vague memory that Ortega or Buffett were close to the top. Another pitfall is ignoring the timeframe and answering based on current rankings rather than the 2017 context. To avoid such confusion, always note the year mentioned in the question and mentally connect it with the major headlines from that time regarding the billionaire rankings.

Final Answer:
Around 2017, Forbes real-time billionaire rankings widely recognised Jeff Bezos as the world’s second-richest person behind Bill Gates.