Almost all billionaires recorded a loss in their net worth due to the global recession. Bill Gates lost US $ 18 billion but regained the top spot with a net worth of US $ 40 billion. Average net worth of the individuals on the list is US $ 3 billion.
Indian billionaires seem to have been hit the hardest. The total number of Indian billionaires is 24. 29 billionaires dropped off the list. Anil Ambani, who was the biggest gainer on last year's Forbes' list was the biggest loser this year. His net worth fell down by US $ 32 billion and the current net worth is US $ 10.1 billion. His rank slipped from 6th in 2008 to 34th this year. His elder brother Mukesh is the richest Indian with a net worth of US $ 19.5 billion.
According to the this report the combined net worth of India’s 100 richest people, at $276 billion, is almost a quarter of the country’s GDP.
Another noteworthy aspect is that India’s billionaires have done better than their global counterparts in accumulating their wealth. For instance, the 100 richest Indians are worth $276 billion, while their Chinese counterparts have a net worth of $170 billion only. The three richest Indians are worth $79.5 billion, while it takes 24 Chinese billionaires to make the $80-billion figure.
This is very much credit-worthy for a nation which constitutionally advocates socialism and is vowed to prevent accumulation of wealth in few hands. As a matter of fact, the world bank reports (on the basis of 2005 data) 456 million people in India earn less than $1.25 a day. Modern India seems to be incubating a few islands of immense luxury to thrive upon the vast sea of utter destitution. Forget about the euphoric picture of a tide taking us all up into the heavens, one should be really lucky if ever manage to get in to a boat !!!
The Indian billionares list :
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