The Richest of the rich

• Net Worth: $40.7 bil
• Home State: Washington
• Marital Status: married , 2 children
• Harvard University, Drop Out

Microsoft founder no doubt sleeping easier after settling pesky federal antitrust suit. This year the world’s richest man will even get a little extra pocket change – about $100 million – from company’s first shareholder dividend. Microsoft no longer the torrid growth machine it once was, but is weathering tech storm better than most. Having kicked himself upstairs to more cerebral job of chief software architect, Gates is busy working with developers to push Microsoft beyond the desktop into devices like tablet PCs, cell phones, TVs. Maintaining secrecy on next version of Windows (dubbed Longhorn, set for release in 2005), claims it’s not just an upgrade. Meanwhile tackling global health and education with $24 billion Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Funds flowing to disease prevention (polio, AIDS), vaccine development; lately buying drug stocks. Diversifies own wealth via Cascade Investments: Corbis, stakes in Republic Services, Canadian National Railway, Gabelli Asset Management.

Britney Spears’ ’sad’ mistakes

Britney Spears’ mother says it’s “sad the whole world” saw her daughter make mistakes.

Lynne Spears – who recently rekindled her fragile relationship with Britney after the singer’s stint in rehab – says her daughter is finding it difficult to figure out her problems.

Lynne told Us Weekly magazine: “You go into a time in your life with the world watching and you are just trying to figure yourself out. It’s sad that the whole world had to watch her make mistakes that all of us have made at one time or another.”

Britney, who has two sons Sean Preston and Jayden James, with estranged husband Kevin Federline, recently cut Lynne out of her life and refused to speak to her.

Sources claimed the ‘Toxic’ singer was furious with Lynne for making her check into rehab to seek help for her alleged alcohol addiction and post-natal depression earlier this year.

However, the pair have since patched up their differences and are said to be moving on with their relationship.

Lynne says things are a lot better now but admits Britney still has a long way to go.

The mother-of-three added: “Britney Jean Spears is the sweetest and the most sensitive and loving of all my children. She’s just figuring things out.”

Paris Hilton decides against appeal

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A day after a tearful Paris Hilton was ordered back to jail, the hotel heiress said she won’t appeal her 45-day jail sentence and is “learning and growing” from her time behind bars.

Her change of heart came Saturday when she announced in a statement released by one of her attorneys that she won’t fight her sentence after a brief stint under house arrest at her Hollywood Hills home.

“Today, I told my attorneys not to appeal the judge’s decision,” Hilton said in the statement. “While I greatly appreciate the sheriff’s concern for my health and welfare, I intend to serve my time at L.A. County Jail.”

The celebutante was at a maximum-security detention center, where she was believed to be undergoing medical and psychiatric evaluations to determine the best jail to keep her in as she serves the rest of her sentence.

Hilton, in tears and screaming for her mother, was taken to the downtown Twin Towers facility Friday afternoon after Superior Court Judge Michael T. Sauer ordered her back to jail.

“Being in jail is by far the hardest thing I have ever done,” she said in the statement. “During the past several days, I have had a lot of time to think and I believe that I am learning and growing from this experience.”

Hilton added she was “shocked” by the attention her case has received and suggested the public and media focus on “more important things like the men and women serving our country in Iraq.”

Her lawyers had sought to keep her out of jail on grounds that the 26-year-old was suffering an unspecified medical condition. Sauer suggested that could be taken care of at jail medical facilities.

Although authorities wouldn’t discuss Hilton’s condition, citing privacy laws, Sheriff Lee Baca indicated it was psychological.

He said she arrived at her original jail with a condition he hadn’t been apprised of and that it immediately began to deteriorate to the point that he feared for her safety.

Sheriff’s officials expect Hilton to be at Twin Towers at least through Sunday.

Which jail the heiress will end up at depends on the results of her assessment by the facility’s doctors.

Sauer sentenced Hilton to 45 days in jail and said she could not serve it at home. When she was released she had served only three full days but was credited with five because she surrendered to authorities late Sunday night after attending the MTV Movie Awards and was released early Thursday morning. Before her release, she was fitted with an ankle bracelet and ordered not to leave her house until her sentence was up.

Hilton was expected to serve only 23 days because of a state law that requires shorter sentences for good behavior. She was credited with both her time served in jail and at home, so by Saturday she had completed seven days of her sentence. With time off for good behavior, she could be released in a little more than two weeks.

Hilton’s path to jail began Sept. 7, when she failed a sobriety test after police saw her weaving down a street in her Mercedes-Benz on what she said was a late-night run to a hamburger stand.

She pleaded no contest to reckless driving and was sentenced to 36 months’ probation, alcohol education and $1,500 in fines.

In the months that followed, she was stopped twice by officers who discovered her driving on a suspended license. The second stop landed her in Sauer’s courtroom, where he sentenced her to jail.

Paris Hilton’s parents visit

Kathy and Rick Hilton recently visited their daughter Paris in prison for the first time.The brief meeting took place with a glass security partition between them. The mother of the Simple Life star revealed that her daughter is suffering from a cold and lack of sleep, but that she is doing well.

“It’s tough in there. It’s cold,” Kathy Hilton said after she and Paris’s father Rick had a 30-minute visit with their daughter on Tuesday. “It’s just good to see her.”

“She was very happy,” Kathy said. “She wants to just do her time and get on with it.”

Hilton was also recently dropped by her talent agency.

Paris Hilton is serving a 23 day sentence in a Los Angeles prison for violating her parole by driving on a suspended driver’s license.

Toney handed steroids suspension

Three-time world champion James Toney has tested positive for steroids and has been given a one-year suspension.

The state of California Athletic Commission issued the ban, pending an appeal, and said Toney tested positive after beating Danny Batchelder in May.

Batchelder also tested positive and has also been suspended until 22 May, 2008.

Toney, 38, also tested positive for nandrolone two years ago and it cost him victory over then WBC heavyweight champion John Ruiz.

“They have a right to appeal,” said California Athletic Commission chief Armando Garcia.

“My recommendation is suspension until the end of the licensing year and a $2,500 (£1,267) fine for both.

“We will give them the 30 days to appeal. If they don’t, that’s what the suspension will be.”

Toney won a split decision over Batchelder, an outcome that will not be changed, Garcia said.

Toney is a former middleweight, super middleweight and cruiserweight world champion and has 70 wins from 79 fights.

Man Utd open up against Reading

Manchester United open up their Premiership defence with a home game against Steve Coppell’s Reading. Manager Sam Allardyce returns to the Reebok Stadium as his new side Newcastle open up against Bolton.

Newly-promoted Birmingham will travel to Chelsea, while Championship title winners Sunderland host Tottenham.

Play-off winners Derby face Portsmouth on the opening weekend, Liverpool are away to Aston Villa, while Arsenal host London rivals Fulham.

West Ham, who beat the drop thanks to a goal from Carlos Tevez at Old Trafford on the final day of last season, begin their new campaign at home to Manchester City.

Meanwhile, Wigan travel to Everton and Middlesbrough will be at home to Blackburn.

The first clash of the heavyweights falls on weekend of 18 and 19 August with Liverpool and Chelsea set to do battle.