The 2017 Hurun Global Rich List has ranked 2,257 billionaires from 68 countries and from 1,811 companies in another record-breaking year for the world\u2019s super-rich.<\/p>\n
Total billionaire wealth increased by 16% to US$8.0 trillion, the group said, equivalent to 10.7% of global GDP, and up from 7% of global GDP five years ago.<\/p>\n
It has been generally another good year for the billionaires of the world. 1,037 saw their wealth increase, with 343 new faces added to the billionaire club.<\/p>\n
The report found that 740 individuals saw their wealth decrease, while a further 276 dropped off the list.<\/p>\n
Chinese billionaires led the USA for the second year running, with 609 featured on the list, compared to 552 from the States.<\/p>\n
It has been a good year for Germany, which surged past India into third place. India lost 11 billionaires mainly on the back of demonetisation, while Russia lost 12 billionaires despite a 30% appreciation of the ruble to the dollar.<\/p>\n
As many as six South Africans feature on the list, the same number as in 2015.<\/p>\n
South Africa saw Nicky Oppenheimer & family – of De Beers Fame\u00a0– overtake Pepkor’s Chris\u00a0Wiese as the country’s wealthiest man\u00a0by a small margin. South Africa, as has been the case for several years, is represented by six billionaires, who mostly profited from a stronger rand in 2016, as indicated below.<\/p>\n Bill Gates<\/strong> is still the richest man in the world, despite only growing 1% to US$81 billion.<\/p>\n In December 2016, he launched a US$1 billion fund to invest in new forms of clean energy with aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to almost zero.<\/p>\n Warren Buffett<\/strong> held onto second place, increasing his wealth to US$78 billion, up US$10 billion after a surge in the Berkshire Hathaway share price.<\/p>\n So far Buffett has donated US$17 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, making him one of the world\u2019s top 3 most generous philanthropists, along with Bill Gates and George Soros.<\/p>\n Jeff Bezos<\/strong> of Amazon, has broken into the Top 3 for the first time, and at one point threatening even to take the Number One slot away from Bill Gates.<\/p>\n His wealth surged to US$72 billion, up 37%. Bezos cashed out US$671 million from selling 1% of his stake in Amazon.<\/p>\n Amancio Ortega<\/strong> of Zara, has dropped down one place to fourth with US$69 billion. Ortega\u2019s daughter Sandra Ortega Mera also makes the list with US$5.8 billion.<\/p>\n Mark Zuckerberg, <\/strong>the youngest of the Top 10, shot up to fifth, his highest ranking yet, after a US$11 billion surge in his fortune to US$58 billion.<\/p>\n Zuckerberg, along with wife Priscilla Chan, announced he plans to give away 99% of his Facebook stock.<\/p>\n Larry Ellison<\/strong>, of Oracle, was sixth with US$48 billion, up 4%. Ellison invests into real estate around the world, including a Rhode Island estate and historic gardens in Kyoto.<\/p>\n Carlos Slim Helu<\/strong>, the Mexican telecom tycoon, dropped out of the Top 5 after an 8% drop in wealth to US$46 billion. He hit major headwinds this year mainly due to the weaker Mexican peso.<\/p>\n Slim holds a 17% stake in The New York Times and announced the launch of a new television channel \u201cmade by Mexicans, for Mexicans\u201d in the US this year.<\/p>\n The Koch brothers<\/strong> Charles and David held onto two slots in the Top 10 and are major supporters of the Republican Party.<\/p>\n With a net worth of US$42 billion, Michael Bloomberg<\/strong>, former mayor of New York City, saw his wealth increase by 13% to keep him in the Top 10.<\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\nSouth Africa’s billionaires<\/h3>\n
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\n 2017 rank<\/th>\n 2016 rank<\/th>\n Name<\/th>\n 2016 Net worth (US$bn)<\/th>\n 2017\u00a0Net worth (US$bn)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n 247<\/td>\n 224<\/td>\n Nicky Oppenheimer<\/td>\n 6.0<\/td>\n 6.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 256<\/td>\n 213<\/td>\n Christo Wiese<\/td>\n 6.0<\/td>\n 5.9<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 294<\/td>\n 329<\/td>\n Johann Rupert<\/td>\n 4.6<\/td>\n 5.4<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 984<\/td>\n 1308<\/td>\n Koos Bekker<\/td>\n 1.6<\/td>\n 2.2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 1685<\/td>\n 1964<\/td>\n Patrice Motsepe<\/td>\n 1.0<\/td>\n 1.3<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 1685<\/td>\n 1964<\/td>\n Stephen Saad<\/td>\n 1.0<\/td>\n 1.3<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n The world’s top 10 billionaires<\/h3>\n
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\n 2017 Rank<\/th>\n 2016 Rank<\/th>\n Name<\/th>\n Net Worth (US$bn)<\/th>\n Wealth Change (%)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n 1<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n Bill Gates<\/td>\n 81<\/td>\n +1%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 2<\/td>\n 2<\/td>\n Warren Buffett<\/td>\n 78<\/td>\n +15%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 3<\/td>\n 4<\/td>\n Jeff Bezos<\/td>\n 72<\/td>\n +37%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 4<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n Amancio Ortega<\/td>\n 69<\/td>\n +8%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 5<\/td>\n 6<\/td>\n Mark Zuckerberg<\/td>\n 58<\/td>\n +23%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 6<\/td>\n 7<\/td>\n Larry Ellison<\/td>\n 48<\/td>\n +4%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 7<\/td>\n 5<\/td>\n Carlos Slim Helu<\/td>\n 46<\/td>\n -8%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 8<\/td>\n 9<\/td>\n David Koch<\/td>\n 43<\/td>\n -2%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 9<\/td>\n 8<\/td>\n Charles Koch<\/td>\n 43<\/td>\n -2%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 10<\/td>\n 11<\/td>\n Michael Bloomberg<\/td>\n 42<\/td>\n +13%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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