20 richest people in 20 major countries

New Delhi: Forbes has released their annual list of the world's richest people ranking a giant 1,645 billionaires across the globe. Among the top 50 are the usual faces of tech (as in Facebook and Google), the impresarios behind Walmart, H&M and LVMH, the e-retail king of Amazon.com, Jeff Bezos, and hedge fund king George Soros.Here is a list of 20 rich people in 20 major countries:The richest Indian: Mukesh AmbaniNet worth: US$18.6-billionForbes rank: 40Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani may have retained his title as India's richest person for 7th year in a row, but his place among the world's richest people has dropped to lowest in eight years. As per latest Forbes rich list, Ambani is ranked 40th globally with net worth of $18.6 billion — the highest for any Indian. The current networth of USD 18.6 billion of Mukesh Ambani also marks a significant decline from $43 billion of wealth recorded in 2008, when he was ranked 5th richest across the world. It was in the year 2008 itself, when Mukesh Ambani entered the top league of 10 richest people in the world and remained there for four consecutive years till 2011.The richest American: Bill GatesNet Worth: $76 billionForbes Rank: 1With a net worth of $76 billion, the Microsoft Corporation co-founder reclaimed the top spot after a four-year hiatus, toppling Mexico's telecommunications mogul Carlos Slim Helu. Bill Gates, bounced back mostly because of rise in the company's stocks. After years focused on his philanthropy, Gates plans to spend more of his time working with product managers at Microsoft as rivals like Google and Apple continue to outshine the company in the market.The richest Mexican: Carlos Slim HeluNet worth: US$72-billionForbes rank: 2Carlos Slim Helu is a Mexican billionaire and the second richest man in the world with a net worth of $72 billion. Carlos Slim Helu was born January 28, 1940 in Mexico City, Mexico and has a substantial influence over the telecommunications industry in Mexico and much of Latin America. Often compared to the likes of Rockefeller, Carnegie, Stanford and J P Morgan, he is often Robber Baron of 21st century. He has holdings in telecommunications (America Movil), banking (Grupo Financiero Inbursa) and mining (Minera Frisco), as well as Philip Morris, New York Times, Saks and Caixabank. Through his family's holding company, Grupo Carso, Slim also commands a large presence in the Mexican construction industry. The richest Spaniard: Amancio OrtegaNet worth: US$64-billionForbes rank: 3Amancio Ortega Gaona is a Spanish fashion executive and founding chairman of the Inditex fashion group, best known for its chain of Zara clothing and accessories retail shops. He added $7 billion to his fortune this past year, expanding the gap between him and number four, Warren Buffett. He recently stepped down as chairman of Inditex but still owns 60% of its shares and has begun growing a real estate portfolio with an estimated value of US$5-billion. He owns the iconic Torre Picasso, a 43-story skyscraper in Madrid (Google is a tenant). In the past year, he's bought four new buildings in Madrid, New York and London for around $830 million, taking the number of buildings he owns to 26.The richest French: Liliane BettencourtNet worth: US$34.5-billionForbes rank: 11Liliane Bettencourt is a Paris born businesswoman, philanthropist, and socialite who has a net worth of $34.5 billion. Bettencourt is a principal shareholder of L'Oreal, a shareholder in Nestle, and one of the richest women in the world. She co-founded the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation with her husband and daughter to support scientific research, humanitarian projects, and the arts. Bettencourt is no longer involved in running the company her father started but her grandson has a seat on the board. The family is looking to increase its stake in the company to 33% thanks to a planned purchase of 8% from Nestle later this year.The richest Hong Konger: Li Ka-shingNet worth: US$31-billionForbes rank: 20Li Ka-shing is Asia's richest man and is currently based in Hong Kong. Ka-shing Li is currently seated as the Chairman of the Board of Cheung Kong Holdings and Hutchison Whampoa Limited (HWL). He is also considered as the largest operator of container chemicals in the world. In addition to that, he was named as the world's largest retailer of health and beauty products. His stakes in Hutchinson Whampoa, Cheung Kong and Husky Energy, plus rich dividends of $1.7 billion in just the past two years, allowed him to hold onto the top spot in his region.The richest Saudi Arabian: Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal AlsaudNet worth: US$20.4-billionForbes rank: 30One of some three-dozen living grandsons of the first Saudi King Abdulaziz, this prince is a prominent but atypical royal. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal owns a broad swath of stakes in private and public companies in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East, mostly through Kingdom Holding Co., 5 per cent of which is listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange. Holdings include stakes in News Corp, Citigroup, hotel management companies Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Movenpick Hotels & Resorts and Fairmont Raffles Holding, as well as hotel real estate such as the swanky Hotel George V in Paris and a stake in the Savoy Hotel in London. The Prince has a $500 million personalized Airbus A380 also called the ‘Flying Palace' along with a collection of more than 300 cars of the best breed is simply jaw dropping. The richest Chinese: Wang JianlinNet worth: US$15.1-billionForbes rank: 64Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin is the Chairman of the Dalian Wanda Group, one of China's largest real estate developers, and also the world's largest operator of movie theaters. A household name in China, where his enormous Wanda Plaza shopping centres are the most popular attractions in the 71 cities they grace, Mr Wang has very global ambitions. Jianlin had earlier announced his plans to build a hotel in London to rival the Ritz, the tallest apartment block in Europe on the south bank of the Thames. In total, he owns 75 department stores, 85 shopping plazas and 51 five star hotels. After buying U.S. movie chain AMC in 2012, Wang listed it on the New York Stock Exchange in December. The richest New Zealander: Graeme HartNet worth: US$7-billionForbes rank: 191Graeme Hart, New Zealand's wealthiest man, has moved up the Forbes list of the world's richest people after adding $2 billion to his net worth in 2013. Hart's new net worth is estimated to be $7 billion or NZ$8.36 billion after his global packaging company, Reynolds Group Holdings, has amassed several acquisitions. The international empire is now estimated to generate annual revenues of $14 billion. Hart also owns Carter Holt Harvey, an Australasian paper, packing and building supplies company.The richest Austrian: Dietrich MateschitzNet worth: US$9.2-billionForbes rank: 136Dietrich Mateschitz is an Austrian businessman who founded the Red Bull energy drink company and holds 49 percent of the company's shares. Born in Sankt Marein im Mürztal, Styria, Austria, to a family of Croatian ancestry, Dietrich Mteschitz, earned a degree in Marketing from the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration. He now splits his time between his home in Salzburg, Austria, and the island he owns near Fiji. He also owns a Formula-1 racing team, a Formula-1 racing circuit, and two separate football clubs.The richest Dutch: Charlene de Carvalho-HeinekenNet worth: US$10.4-billionForbes rank: 113Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken is the owner of a controlling interest in the world's third-largest brewer, Heineken International. She is also among the richest women on the planet, thanks to her 25% controlling stake in Dutch brewer Heineken, which she inherited from her late father, Freddy Heineken, a decade ago. The company has more than 170 premium brands in more than 65 countries. A mother of five, she studied law at the University of Leiden. She is a member of St. Moritz's elite Corviglia Ski Club and enjoys photography, music and architecture.The richest Singaporeans: Robert and Philip NgNet worth: US$11-billionForbes rank: 106Robert and Philip Ng are Singaporean billionaire brothers who have a net worth of $10.1 billion. Born to real estate tycoon, Ng Teng Fong, they inherited most of their wealth from their late father who developed more than 700 hotels, malls and condos in Singapore and Hong Kong. Private real estate holdings through family's Far East Organization are valued at more than $6 billion. . In an Australian expansion, the brothers bought Sydney landmark, the Clocktower Square, for $64 million in October and Perth's Harbour Town Center, a shopping complex, for $183 million through their Singapore-listed Far East Hospitality Trust. The richest South Korean: Lee Kun-HeeNet worth: US$11.1-billionForbes rank: 102Lee Kun-hee is a South Korean business tycoon and the Chairman of Samsung Electronics. He had resigned in April 2008, owing to Samsung slush funds scandal, but returned on March 24, 2010. Born in Uiryeong, South Korea, Lee Kun-Hee graduated from Waseda University in Japan, and attended business school at George Washington University briefly. It was his decision to focus on cutting-edge technology in the 90s, that grew Samsung Electronics into the world's largest flat screen and semiconductor producer. The company also has an increasingly successful mobile phone arm. In addition to his work at Samsung, he also sits on the International Olympic Committee, and was the driving force behind bringing the 2018 Olympics to South Korea.The richest Filipino: Henry Sy and familyNet worth: US$11.4-billionForbes rank: 97Henry Sy is also referred to as the Sam Walton of the Philippines. It is largely due to his fortune which is based on ShoeMart. Henry launched ShoeMart in 1958 but he really got started after World War II by collecting and selling shoes that were left behind by American soldiers. By 1972, Henry opened his first department store in 1972. At present, he owns the largest retail and shopping mall business in the Philippines. In November his property unit SM Land snatched a $1.2 billion contract to reclaim land in Manila, next to his Mall of Asia complex.The richest Thai: Dhanin Chearavanont and familyNet worth: US$11.4-billionForbes rank: 97Chearavanont family is a Thai Chinese business family based in Bangkok, Thailand with ancestral roots in Shantou, China. The C.P. Group is one of Asia's largest conglomerates and operates in agriculture, telecommunications, marketing, distribution and logistics, international trading, petrochemicals, property and land development, crop integration, insurance, automotive, and pet foods. Among his 2013 deals: a $6.6 billion offer by his CP All, the world's third-largest operator of 7-Eleven stores to acquire discount retailer Siam Makro. He also bought a 15% stake in Ping An Insurance for $9.4 billion.The richest Malaysian: Robert KuokNet worth: US$11.5-billionForbes rank: 95Robert Kuok is an influential Malaysian Chinese businessman who has a net worth of $11.5 billion. Among one of the richest people in southeast Asia, he acquired his net worth from his various companies and investments in many countries. The 90-year old has built a business empire that includes palm oil, shipping, media, hotels and real estate.The richest Swiss: Ernesto BertarelliNet worth: US$12-billionForbes rank: 92Ernesto Bertarelli is an Italian born Swiss businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He graduated from Babson College and then went on to earn an MBA from Harvard Business School in the early 90s. He became CEO of Serono in 1996. He became co-owner of the company, which produces pharmaceuticals in 1998, after his father, the founder, passed away. He and his sister, the co-owner, changed the company's focus from pharmaceuticals to biotechnology. In addition to his work at Serono, he also served on the board of USB AG for seven years, and currently manages multiple investments through Kedge Capital Group and Northill Capital, and helms Ares Life Sciences, a medical technology investment firm.The richest Ukrainian: Rinat AkhmetovNet worth: US$12.5-billionForbes rank: 88Rinat Leonidovych Akhmetov is a Ukrainian businessman and oligarch. Born in Donetsk, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union, Rinat Akhmetov graduated from Donetsk National University with a degree in Economics. He has made the majority of his wealth through coal and energy production. He is the founder of System Capital Management, and controls 60 per cent of coal and energy production in the Ukraine through his subsidiary, DTEK.The richest Brit: Gerald Cavendish GrosvenorNet worth: US$13-billionForbes rank: 81Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor is UK's richest landlord. Known formally as the 6th Duke of Westminster, he owns 190 acres in Belgravia, an area adjacent to Buckingham Palace and one of London's most expensive neighborhoods. He was born in the county of Omagh in Northern Ireland to father Robert Grosvenor (5th Duke of Westminster) and mother Viola née Lyttelton. His wealth is due to ownership large areas of lands across Britain and several properties in different cities. Grosvenor formed Grosvenor Group which is one of the largest property developers in the United Kingdom. Last year London-based Grosvenor Group added £395m profit to its kitty and has built up a war chest of nearly £1 billion to return to global property markets. It plans to expand out of its traditional London stamping ground into Asia, especially China, and in November it spent £70m acquiring luxury properties in Scotland.The richest Colombian: Luis Carlos SarmientoNet worth: US$14.2-billionForbes rank: 72Luis Carlos Sarmiento Angulo is a Colombian billionaire and the wealthiest man in Colombia. Luis Carlos Sarmiento Angulo took a fortune amassed in the construction industry and invested it in banks. His Grupo Aval now controls one third of all banking in Colombia.