There was good news for rich people on Thursday, when an annual listing of the world’s billionaires showed there were more of them than ever.
The 793 billionaires making the 2006 list published by Forbes magazine is an increase of 102 on last year. And the rich keep getting richer, with their total net worth up 18%. The combined value of their billions is put at $2,6-trillion, a fraction less than the US federal government’s entire Budget proposal for next year.
Microsoft chief Bill Gates maintains his position as the world’s richest man for the 12th consecutive year. His fortune is estimated at $50-billion, a billion dollars for each year of his life. Behind him is Warren Buffett (75) the American investment sage, with $42-billion to his name.
It was a good year for American billionaires. If you live in the US you are more likely to have a billionaire as a neighbour than anywhere else in the world. Of the almost 800 names on the list, 371 are from the US, an increase of 30 on last year.
The next most favoured nation is Germany, home to 55 of Europe’s 196 billionaires. The favourite city of the ultra-rich is New York, where 40 of them live. London is home to 23.
Ingvar Kamprad may not be a household name, but his Ikea home furnishing chain has given the 79-year-old Swede a net worth of $28-billion, ranking him fourth richest, just behind Mexican telecom entrepreneur Carlos Slim Helu’s $30-billion.
While there are no British rich in the top 10, an honorary Brit is at number 11: Roman Abramovich. The Chelsea owner’s estimated value is $18,2-billion.
Highest ranking British billionaires are Philip and Cristina Green, owners of the Arcadia retail empire which includes Bhs and TopShop, whose estimated net worth of $7-billion makes them the 74th richest. They are followed by Telegraph owners David and Frederick Barclay with $2,8-billion, the same as Richard Branson.
James Dyson, a Brit who moved his vacuum cleaner operation overseas, ranks 746th with $1-billion, alongside Harry Potter author JK Rowling and formula one motor racing magnate Bernie Ecclestone.
There are 78 women on the list, 10 up on last year. But the youngest person on the list is a woman, Hind Hariri (22) daughter of the assassinated prime minister of Lebanon, who inherited her father’s $1,4-billion.
Top 10
1 Bill Gates, US, worth $50bn (IT)
2 Warren Buffett, US, $42bn (finance)
3 Carlos Slim Helu, Mexico, $30bn (telecoms)
4 Ingvar Kamprad, Sweden, $28bn (retail)
5 Lakshmi Mittal, India, $23.5bn (steel)
6 Paul Allen, US, $22bn (IT/investment)
7 Bernard Arnault, France, $21.5bn (luxury goods)
8 Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Alsaud, Saudi Arabia, $20bn (investment)
9 Kenneth Thomson, Canada, $19.6bn (publishing)
10 Li Ka-shing, Hong Kong, $18.8bn (diversified investment) – Guardian Unlimited Â