Russian Alisher Usmanov tops British rich list

[April 22, 2013]  LONDON (AP) -- Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov is Britain's richest person, displacing steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, who held the distinction for the past eight years, according to a list published Sunday.

The Sunday Times, which publishes the annual list, said Mittal's fortune fell 21 percent in the past year to 10 billion pounds ($15 billion) as share values in his ArcelorMittal steel business tumbled.

The Indian-born tycoon, who was No. 1 on the list for the longest time since its first edition in 1989, dropped to fourth on this year's list.

Usmanov, 59, is valued at 13.3 billion pounds ($20.25 billion). The Times said his fortune rose by about 1 billion pounds, buoyed by the strong performance of his London-listed cellphone operator MegaFon and his stake in Russian iron ore producer Metalloinvest.

The billionaire also owns a 29 percent stake in English soccer club Arsenal and several homes in the U.K., including a mansion formerly home to late oil baron J. Paul Getty.

In total, the Times said the 1,000 wealthiest people named on the list have added 35.4 billion pounds to their wealth.

Two other Russians were in the top five: Len Blavatnik, whose wealth jumped 45 percent to 11 billion pounds, is second; Roman Abramovich, who owns Chelsea soccer club and is valued at 9.3 billion, is in fifth place.

The highest-placed British-born person on the list was Gerald Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, who owns much of London's sought-after luxury property. He was ranked eighth and is estimated to be worth 7.8 billion pounds.

[Associated Press]

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