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The
number of U.S. dollar billionaires in mainland China more than
doubled to 596 from last year's 242, according to a list of
China's super-rich published by Hurun Reports Inc. That compares
with 537 American billionaires, it said.
"Despite the slowdown in the economy, China's richest have
defied gravity, recording their best year ever, and creating
more wealth than any country has ever done before in a year,"
said Hurun Report chairman Rupert Hoogewerf.
China's booming information technology industry was the
fastest-growing source of wealth, with the number of individuals
from the industry on the list jumping 43 percent on last year.
Wanda property group head Wang Jianlin took first place with an
estimated fortune of $34.4 billion, overtaking Alibaba Group
Holding Ltd <BABA.N> executive chairman Jack Ma, after a plunge
in the e-commerce giant's share price.
Four property developers made it into the top 10, while tech
billionaires accounted for another four, including Tencent
Holdings Ltd <0700.HK> founder Pony Ma in fourth place with an
$18.8 billion fortune and cellphone maker Xiaomi Inc [XTC.UL]
co-founder Lei Jun in fifth position with $14.2 billion.
According to Hurun, 16 of the 1,877 people on its rich list are
in different degrees of trouble with the Chinese authorities,
including seven under investigation, four awaiting sentencing
and three who have disappeared altogether.
Individuals needed wealth of at least $320 million to make the
list.
(Reporting By Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Richard Pullin)
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