If current trends continue, Asia is set to overtake the US for the largest concentration of billionaire wealth by 2021.
A study by UBS has revealed that a new billionaire is created every 2nd day in Asia. Total billionaire wealth reached $6 trillion in 2016 and it is growing by the day. An increase in growth in the financial, technological, material and industrial sectors has led to a 17% increase amongst the super-rich.
1,500 billionaires directly or indirectly employ 28 million people.A bridge between capitalism and altruism is emerging! Billionaires are also now a big part of the tech community and are responsible for a lot of innovation and disruption. According to Josef Stadler, global head of ultra high net worth at UBS, “
"If you look at the balance of the value added by disruption versus the jobs destroyed by disruption, it is a positive balance. Studies tell us that 98 percent of the value added of tech innovation goes back to society and only 2 percent is left with the innovators… then you could argue and say billionaires are not only smart risk takers, they also contribute heavily back to the communities,"
A Chinese entrepreneur and investor, Yang Huiyan is the only woman on the top 10 list of richest people in asia. She is the majority shareholder of Country Garden Holdings, since her father transferred 70% of the shares to her before the company's IPO in 2007. Her estimated net worth is $20.4 billion.
The chairman of SF Express, which is the second largest courier and delivery services company in China. The only larger company in the market is China Past. He lives in Hong Kong with an estimated net worth of $21.2 billion
CEO of SoftBank Mobile and the chairman of Sprint Corporation, Masayoshi Son is the richest man in Japan, and the richest. His estimated net worth is $22.6 billion.
Majority shareholder of Henderson Land Development and real estate tycoon. He also has interests in internet services, hotels and restaurants. His estimated net worth is $28.7 billion
Founder of Dalian Wanda Group, China’s largest property development company, and also their largest cinema company. He found in the army for 16 years and is now an investor and philanthropist. His estimated net worth is $29.6 billion.
Chairman on CK Hutchison Holdings, Li-Ka Shing is the richest man in Hong Kong with an estimated net worth of $33.9 billion.
Mukesh is an Indian businessman. He is the majority shareholder, director and chairman of Reliance Industries Limited. The company has the highest market value of all countries in India, and his estimated net worth is $34.9 billion.
President and CEO of Tencent, Ma Huateng is one of Asia’s biggest internet entrepreneurs. His estimated net worth is $37.9 billion. Click here to find out more about Tencent.
Majority shareholder and chairman on Evergrande Group, a Chinese real estate development company. This businessman’s estimated net worth is $38.1 billion.
Founder of the Alibaba group, Jack Ma is the richest man in Asia. He has interests in payments, ecommerce and technology. His estimated net worth is $38.2 billion.