|
RAPAPORT... Forbes' annual list of billionaires grew to 1,645 names in 2014, up from 1,426 one year ago and the list's aggregate net worth surged to $6.4 trillion, up from only $5.4 trillion in 2013.
Editors at the magazine unearthed a record 268 new ten-figure fortunes, including 42 new women billionaires, another record. In total, there are 172 women on the list, more than ever before and up from 138 in 2013. Bill Gates jumped to the top of the list this year, reclaiming the title of world’s richest person with a net worth of $76 billion. 
The number of diamond and jewelry industry names on the list grew this year. Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway maintained his spot on Forbes at No. 4 with a net worth of $58.2 billion, an increase of $5 billion from one year ago. Walmart's Walton family members occupied numbers 9, 10, 13, 14, 305 and 367 on Forbes' list for a combined net worth of about $150 billion.
Bernard Arnault and family of LMVH dropped five spots to No. 15 this year; however, their net worth jumped nearly $4 billion to $33.5 billion. Amazon.com's founder, Jeff Bezos, rose one spot to No. 18 and his net worth jumped $7 billion to $32 billion.
Francois Pinault and his family, majority shareholders of Kering (formerly PPR), fell five spots to No. 58, however, their net worth improved slightly to $15.5 billion.
Johann Rupert and family (the Richemont Group) rose two spots to No. 173 and their net worth increased nearly $1 billion to $7.6 billion. Nicky Oppenheimer and family fell nearly 30 places on the list to No. 205 and their net worth gained about $200 million to $6.7 billion. Patrizio Bertelli of Prada fame dropped to No. 234 on the list with a net worth of $6 billion, down by $700 million.
Laurence Graff and family lost six spots on the list this year to No. 305; however, Graff's net worth increased $500 million to $4.8 billion. Beny Steinmetz, lost 50 places on the list at to No. 367, but his net worth was on par with one year ago at $4.1 billion. Edward Lampert, the chairman of Sears, ranked at No. 551 with a net worth of $3 billion.
Mark Vadon, the founder of Blue Nile, debuted on the list at No. 1,270 with net worth of $1.35 billion. Diamantaire Lev Leviev fell to No. 1,284 from No. 974 last year and his network dropped by $200 million to $1.3 billion, according to Forbes.
India-based diamond dealer Nirav Modi fell 30 paces to No. 1,372 but the founder of Firestar Diamond improved his net worth by 20 percent to $1.2 billion. T.S. Kalyanaraman of Kalyan Jewellers ranked at No. 1,565 with a net worth of $1 billion.
|