JOIN USMukesh richest Indian for second time
Mukesh has been ranked fourth in the global list, topped by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim Helu ($53.5 billion), up from the seventh spot in 2009.
Leading the pack of 50 Indians in the list, Mukesh has added over $9.5 billion to his networth in the past 12 months.
Mukesh is followed by steel czar Lakshmi Mittal, who ranks fifth on the global list with $28.7 billion. Mittal, has gained over $9 billion in the last year.
Wipro chairman Azim Premji, the next Indian on the list, is far below at the 28th place with a networth of $17 billion, although his rank has skyrocketed from the 83rd position last year with an addition of over $11.3 billion.
Anil Ambani, who was ranked at the 34th position in 2009, slipped two positions below to the 36th spot despite an increase of $3.6 billion in his networth at $13.7 billion.
Shashi and Ravi Ruia, the promoters of the Essar Group, were ranked at the 40th position, up from 86th last year, with a net worth of $13 billion. The cumulative wealth of Indian billionaires has jumped by $118.9 billion and now stands at about $227.9 billion.
The Indian presence has doubled to 50 (from 24 a year ago) in the club of world’s billionaires. “The world has 1,011 10-figure titans, up from 793 a year ago,” Forbes said.
The league of 10 richest persons in the world now includes just two Indians — Mukesh Ambani and Lakshmi Mittal.
The list is dominated by Americans, two of whom have been ranked second and third — Bill Gates and legendary investor Warren Buffett.
The Gujarati college dropout Shahid Balwa is among the 97 billionaires worldwide who made their debut in the latest Forbes rich-list.
Balwa, who is into real estate, has fortune worth $1 billion. He stands at the 937th position.