Hurun Rich list: India pushes Russia out of third place in billionaire ranking

While the United States and China make up half of the world’s billionaires, India has broken into the top three by by scaling 27 places to replace Russia and is now Number 3 in the Hurun Global Rich List 2015, a ranking of the dollar billionaires across the world. Wealth of 60 percent of Russian billionaires declined in the face of the stagnating economy, devalued ruble and plummeting global oil prices. While the number of billionaires in the world grew by 222 to 2089, their total wealth dropped by 1.5 percent to $6.7 trillion. The average age of billionaires is 64, the same as last year. Bill Gates, the co-founder of the US technology giant Microsoft, remains the world’s richest person on the Hurun List, with a net worth of $85 billion. [caption id=“attachment_2079207” align=“aligncenter” width=“575”]  The top five billionaire’s of the world[/caption] “China has more billionaires listed on its stock exchanges than the USA, leading with 290 compared with 220 billionaires listed in the USA. The Chinese Shenzhen had a good year, with a gain of 42%, followed by India (32%) and Indonesia (21%). NYSE returned 9% while London Stock Exchange returned a declined growth of -3%,” the report said. According to the report, India has 97 billionaires, 27 more than last year and their combined wealth adds up to $266 billion. Mukesh Ambani (worth $20 billion and ranks 41 on the Hurun List) continues to retain his position as the richest Indian, followed by Dilip Shanghvi of Sun Pharma with an estimated wealth of $17 billion. At third spot is Pallonji Mistry and Family of Tata Sons with a wealth of $16 billion (Rs 96,000) crore. The other people who found a place in the top 10 are Azim Premji of Wipro (Rs 84,000 crore), Shiv Nadar of HCL Technologies (Rs 66,000 crore), Kumar Birla of Aditya Birla (Rs 60,000 crore), Sunil Mittal and Family of Bharti Airtel (Rs 60,000 crore), Anand Burman and Family of Dabur (Rs 34,800 crore), Uday Kotak of Kotak Mahindra (Rs 32,400 crore) and Gautam Adani of Adani Enterprises (Rs 28,800 crore). [caption id=“attachment_2079065” align=“aligncenter” width=“620”]  Hurun India  list[/caption] Meanwhile, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, at 30 is now the youngest member of the top ten billionaires in the world. His wealth soared 42%, moving him up 11 places no. 7.