The recently released Forbes’ 35th Annual World’s Billionaires List include a record-breaking 2,755 billionaires.
This is despite the unprecedented repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on the wealth of the world’s richest persons across the globe.
“Despite the pandemic, it was a record-setting year for the world’s wealthiest—with a $5 trillion surge in wealth and an unprecedented number of new billionaires.”
Amazon.com Inc founder Jeff Bezos, worth $177 billion, has topped the list for the fourth consecutive year.
Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk, worth a $151 billion fortune, jumping to the second spot on the list from 31st position last year.
French luxury goods tycoon Bernard Arnault holds onto his spot at No. 3 with $150 billion with Bill Gates at No. 4 and Mark Zuckerberg, at $97 billion at No. 5 with $124 billion and $97 billion fortune respectively.
There are a record high 493 newcomers to the list—roughly one new billionaire every 17 hours, including 210 from China and Hong Kong and 98 from the U.S.
Ranked No. 10 and worth an estimated $84.5 billion, India’s Mukesh Ambani has become the richest person in Asia.
“The three richest Indians alone have added just over $100 billion between them,” Forbes said.
Other notable Indian billionaires include Gautam Adani (ranked 21, $58.5 billion), Shiv Nadar (ranked 63, 25.4 billion) and Lakshmi Mittal (ranked 107, 17.2 billion).
The Serum Institute of India’s Cyrus Poonawalla is ranked 169th on the Forbes list of the world’s billionaires with a net worth of $12.7 billion.
Forbes noted that India has the third-highest number of billionaires with 140 people included in the list.
This is followed by Germany with 136 and Russia with 117.