World's richest people got poorer in 2015
- By Chen Boyuan
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E-mail China.org.cn, January 4, 2016
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Wang Jianlin, Chairman of China's Dalian Wanda Group Co., speaks at a summit brainstorm on future trends during the 2014 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 10, 2014. [Xinhua] |
The fluctuating stock market has taken a heavy toll on billionaires, as reports show that the 400 wealthiest people in the world shed a total of US$19 billion in 2015. In China, among the 50 billionaires that emerged in the first half of last year, only 19 retained the status throughout the year.
Kenneth Fisher, founder of California-based Fisher Investment, believed that the wealth shrinkage was the result of multiple factors, including the decline in commodity prices and a slowdown in emerging markets.
The Bloomberg Billionaire Index shows that as of Dec. 28, 2015, Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim suffered the biggest loss in 2015, as his company's stock price retreated 25 percent, vaporizing almost US$20 billion. Slim rose to be the richest man in the word in May of 2013, and has slipped to the fifth. Legendary U.S. investor Warren Buffett came at third in the ranking, as his company Berkshire Hathaway has reported their first loss since 2011at US$11.3 billion. The world's top billionaire Bill Gates also suffered wealth shrinkage of US$3 billion in the past year.
By contrast, Spanish fashion businessman Amancio Ortega has pocketed another US$12.1 billion to his wealth, taking his assets to US$73.2 billion. He surpassed Slim and Buffett to become the world's second wealthiest man, and his wealth is within a US$10 billion-gap of Gates'.
Founder of Amazon.com Jeff Bezos made the most money in the past year. His assets increased by US$31 billion, reaching US$59 billion in 2015. His ranking climbed to the fourth spot from 16th during 2014.
Top Asian billionaire Wang Jianlin, founder of China's Dalian Wanda Group, saw his wealth increase despite the gloomy market. He qualified for the Bloomberg ranking. The runner up, Hong Kong businessman Li Ka-shing, grew his wealth by US$321 million, or 1.1 percent. Ma Yun (Jack Ma) came at third, as his wealth expanded by US$1.5 billion, an increase of 5.3 percent year on year.
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