Forbes List: Slim Richest, Mukesh Ambani, Lakshmi Mittal Rank Fourth, Fifth
Mexican tycoon Carlo Slim Helu has beaten American Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to become the riches person on earth as per the 2010 Forbes list of the World’s Billionaires released on Wednesday, which places Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and steel Czar Lakshmi Mittal at four and fifth slots respectively, reported IANS.
In addition to Ambani and Mittal, the list contains four other Indians in top 50 while a total of 49 of them in a list of 1,011 riches people in the world, said report.
According to the US magazine, Slim’s fortune grew to estimated $53.5 billion, up $18.5 billion in 12 months, making him ahead of Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, who had held the title of world’s richest 14 of the past 15 years, report said.
With a $53 billion fortune, Gates is ranked second in the world. He is up $13 billion from a year ago as shares of Microsoft rose 50 percent in 12 months, while Buffett’s fortune jumped $10 billion to $47 billion on rising shares of Berkshire Hathaway. He ranks third, report said.
As compared to last year, the number of billionaires has doubled in 11 countries including China, India, Turkey and South Korea, report said.
Forbes placed Mukesh Ambani at fourth place with a fortune of $29 billion and said he had global ambitions. His younger brother Anil Ambani ranked 36 with a $13.7 billion fortune, said report.
Lakshmi Mittal, placed fifth, has a fortune of $28 billion and is, according to Forbes, ‘looking to expand his native India; wants to build steel mills in Jharkhad and Orissa but has not received government approval’, report said.
Forbes also describing Mittal as ‘London’s richest resident’ who oversees ArcelorMittal, world’s largest steel maker
Having a fortune of $17.0 billion, Azim Premji ranks 28, while Shashi & Ravi Ruia brothers, with their $15 billion fortune, take the 40th spot with a fortune of $13.0 billion, report said.
Last among the Indians in top 50 was Savitri Jindal, ranked 44th, with a fortune of $12.2 billion. She took over as head of OP Jindal Group after her husband died in a helicopter crash in 2005.
Among other Indians on the billionaires list were Kushal Pal Singh (74), Kumar Birla (86), Sunil Mittal (87), Anil Agarwal (113), Adi Godrej & family (148), Shiv Nadar (201), N.R. Narayana Murthy & family (616), Rahul Bajaj (880) and Vijay Mallya (937).
