Which billionaire made over $3 million an hour over the past year?
lovemoney staff
22 May 2017
Highest-gaining tycoons
President Donald Trump's fortune may be down a billion, according to the latest Forbes Rich List, but there are plenty of other billionaires who have raked it in over the past year. From the luxury goods magnate who boosted his fortune by $7.5 billion (£5.8bn) to the online shopping mogul who made an eye-watering $3.2 million (£2.5bn) an hour, here are the world's highest-gainers.
George Soros: $300 million (£231m)
Boasting a net worth of $24.9 billion (£19bn), the planet's number one currency speculator and hedge fund titan made $300 million (£231m) in the past year. Although Soros reportedly lost $1 billion (£769m) when the stock market rallied following his nemesis Trump's shock presidential victory, wise investment decisions, including pulling out of gold during the fourth quarter of 2016, mitigated the mega-philanthropist's losses.
Jim Walton: $400 million (£308m)
Walmart scion Jim Walton hasn't done too badly at all over the past year, increasing his net worth by $400 million (£308m) to $34 billion ($26bn), but the supermarket heir, who runs family-owned bank Arvest, hasn't made as much money as siblings Alice and S. Robson Walton, despite the rising Walmart share price.
Beate Heister & Karl Albrecht Jr: $1.3 billion (£1bn)
Beate Heister and Karl Albrecht Jr own the Aldi Süd chain of supermarkets, which operates stores in southern Germany, the UK, the USA and other countries around the world. The family-controlled company reported record sales in 2016, taking the publicity-shy siblings' net worth to an impressive $27.2 billion (£21bn).
Jorge Paulo Lemann: $1.4 billion (£1.1bn)
Brazil's richest person got even richer this past year. Investor Jorge Paulo Lemann saw his holdings, which include a sizable stake in Burger King and Tim Hortons parent firm Restaurant Brands International, increase in value during 2016 and early 2017. A tidy $1.4 billion (£1.1bn) better off, the shrewd financier is now worth $29.2 billion (£23bn).
Alice Walton: $1.5 billion (£1.2bn)
When it comes to generating money, Walmart heiress Alice Walton has managed to eclipse her brother Jim over the past year. By virtue of her Walmart shares, trusts and holdings, the arts patron has amassed $1.5 billion ($1.2bn), which gives her a net worth of $33.8 billion (£26bn).
Phil Knight & family: $1.8 billion (£1.4bn)
Nike co-founder Phil Knight stood down as chairman last June, but that hasn't stopped him expanding his net worth by $1.8 billion (£1.4bn) this past year. As Nike revenues hit record levels, up from $30.6 billion (£24bn) in 2015 to $32.4 billion (£25bn) in 2016, Knight and his family, who own millions of shares in the sportswear firm, are now worth $26.2 billion (£20bn).
S. Robson Walton: $2.2 billion (£1.7bn)
Over the past year, S. Robson Walton has overtaken his brother Jim to become the wealthiest Walton sibling. Thanks to his colossal Walmart holding and outside investments, the supermarket heir accrued $2.2 billion (£1.7bn) in the last 12 months and is now worth $34.1 billion (£26.4bn).
Wang Jianlin: $2.6 billion (£2bn)
China's richest person Wang Jianlin has been pumping money into the Hollywood movie industry of late and his investments are clearly paying off. During the past year, Jianlin has boosted his net worth by $2.6 billion (£2bn). The entertainment and real estate magnate's fortune now stands at $31.3 billion (£24bn).
Maria Franca Fissolo & family: $3.1 billion (£2.4bn)
Along with her children, Maria Franca Fissolo assumed control of Italian confectionery giant Ferrero when her husband, company founder Michele Ferrero, died in 2015. The Nutella maker reported excellent financial results in 2016 and the family is $3.1 billion (£2.4bn) richer in 2017, rocking a net worth of $25.2 billion (£20bn).
Liliane Bettencourt: $3.4 billion (£2.6bn)
Liliane Bettencourt has consolidated her position as the world's wealthiest woman over the past year, increasing her net worth by $3.4 billion (£2.6bn) to a cool $39.5 billion (£31bn). The L'Oréal heiress owns 33% of the cosmetics behemoth, which experienced strong growth in 2016, hence the increase in Bettencourt's personal wealth.
David Thomson & family: $3.4 billion (£2.6bn)
David Thomson, or the 3rd Baron Thomson of Fleet to give him his proper title, is chairman of media company Thomson Reuters. Along with his family, the ennobled Canadian owns more than 400 million shares in the company, which have been trending up over the last year. The family's net worth now stands at $27.2 billion (£21bn).
John Mars: $3.6 billion (£2.8bn)
John Mars, pictured here receiving his honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II, inherited a third of Mars Inc., the company founded by his grandfather, from his father Forrest Mars Sr. His sister Jacqueline and his brother Forrest Jr, who died last June, got the remaining two-thirds. The family firm reported buoyant revenues and profits in 2016, upping Mars' net worth, which hit $23.4 billion (£18bn) this year.
Jacqueline Mars: $3.6 billion (£2.8bn)
Likewise, Jacqueline Mars has also cleaned up to the tune of $3.6 billion (£2.8bn) over the past 12 months. On the back of the family company's robust financial performance in 2016, the candy and pet food heiress is now worth $23.4 billion (£18bn).
Li Ka-Shing: $4.1 billion (£3.2bn)
The richest person in Hong Kong has his fingers in many lucrative pots, including significant holdings in the shipping, telecoms and retail industries. Overall, the tycoon's businesses have been performing in a stellar fashion this past year, and Li is now worth $31.2 billion (£24bn), up from $27.1 billion (£21bn) in 2016.
Amancio Ortega: $4.3 billion (£3.3bn)
Zara boss Amancio Ortega has made big bucks this past year. In 2016, his Inditex firm, of which he owns 60%, enjoyed a 10% jump in profits, and a rise in dividend payouts has helped increase Ortega's net worth by $4.3 billion (£3.3bn), giving him a personal fortune of $71.3 billion (£55bn).
Carlos Slim: $4.5 billion (£3.5bn)
Mexico's richest man lost $27.1 billion (£21bn) in 2015, and while he gained $4.5 billion (£3.5bn) last year, his 2017 net worth of $54.5 billion (£42bn) is still down $22.6 billion (£17.bn) compared to 2015. The share price of his firm América Móvil plummeted in 2015 and only really began to recover last October.
Sheldon Adelson: $5.2 billion (£4bn)
Casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson has cleaned up this past year. The chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands, one of the world's largest casino companies, Adelson has gained $5.2 billion (£4bn). His firm has shown strong performance and its share price has been trending upwards since January 2016.
Sergey Brin: $5.4 billion (£4.2bn)
Another billionaire who has seen his fortune soar on the back of rising share prices, Sergey Brin has made a mint of late. The president of booming Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, Brin is now worth $39.8 billion (£30.1bn), up from $34.4 billion (£26.6bn) in 2016.
Larry Page: $5.5 billion (£4.3bn)
Larry Page, who is CEO of Alphabet Inc., co-founded Google along with Sergey Brin back in 1998. Page owns more shares in Alphabet Inc. than Brin, so he pulled in more money last year. His net worth now stands at a massive $40.7 billion (£31.5bn).
Steve Ballmer: $6.5 billion (£5bn)
The former CEO of Microsoft has increased his net worth by $6.5 billion (£5bn) over the past year. Ballmer's many holdings, which include a 4% stake in Twitter and full ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team, have performed brilliantly of late, and his personal fortune has hit $30 billion (£23bn).
Michael Bloomberg: $7.5 billion (£5.8bn)
Media mogul Michael Bloomberg has had a fantastic year, adding $7.5 billion (£5.8bn) to the coffers. Now worth $47.5 billion (£36.5bn), the ex-mayor of New York and passionate philanthropist owns 88% of his eponymous media, data and financial software company, which has been posting bumper profits in recent months.
Bernard Arnault: $7.5 billion (£5.8bn)
Put the Moët on ice as LVMH posted record revenues in 2016 and chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault, who owns a 62.5% controlling stake in the French luxury goods conglomerate, has boosted his personal fortune by $7.5 billion (£5.8bn). The company boss is now worth $41.5 billion (£32.1bn).
Jack Ma: $7.8 billion (£6bn)
Jack Ma might also want to crack open a bottle or two of champagne to celebrate. Alibaba revenues have surged and the chairman of China's answer to Amazon has seen his net worth increase by $7.8 billion (£6bn) this past year. The online shopping magnate is now worth $28.3 billion (£22bn).
Larry Ellison: $8.6 billion (£6.7bn)
Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison has had a splendid year financially. Last November, Oracle snapped up NetSuite for $9.3 billion (£7.2bn) and Ellison made $3.5 billion (£2.7bn) from the deal – he owned 35% of NetSuite at the time of purchase. This windfall, coupled with Oracle's strong performance, has netted Ellison $8.6 billion (£6.7bn), giving him a personal fortune of $52.2 billion (£40bn).
David Koch: $8.7 billion (£6.7bn)
Together with his brother Charles, David Koch owns 84% of private conglomerate Koch Industries. The group, which has interests in manufacturing, petroleum refining, commodities trading and ranching, has been performing exceptionally well during the past year, and David Koch is now worth $48.3 billion (£37.4bn).
Charles Koch: $8.7 billion (£6.7bn)
Sharing in his younger brother's good fortune, Charles Koch also gained $8.7 billion (£6.7bn) over the past year. Lke his sibling, the ridiculously wealthy American tycoon is now worth $48.3 billion (£37.4bn).
Bill Gates: $11 billion (£8.5bn)
The world's richest man pulled in $11 billion (£8.5bn) during the past year, more cash to spend on his ambitious philanthropic endeavors. Now worth $86 billion (£66.5bn), the Microsoft co-founder has made a killing recently from his bumper stock portfolio, which includes 69 million shares in Berkshire Hathaway and millions of shares in Waste Management Inc.
Mark Zuckerberg: $11.4 billion (£8.8bn)
Mark Zuckerberg made a staggering $31 million (£24m) a day in the past year. The Facebook boss, who holds a 24% stake in the social network he co-created, has been laughing all the way to the bank as the Facebook share price has soared. All the more money to donate to worthy causes as Zuckerberg has vowed to give away the vast majority of his fortune to charity.
Warren Buffett: $14.8 billion (£11.4bn)
The legendary investor with the Midas touch can seemingly do no wrong, and Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway firm is one of the most successful businesses in the world – its share price has consistently trended upwards since 2009. Needless to say, in the past year, Buffett has raked it in. His net worth now stands at $75.6 billion (£58.4bn), making him the second richest person in the world.
Jeff Bezos: $27.6 billion (£21.3bn)
The Amazon share price has more than trebled since the beginning of 2015, so it's no wonder Jeff Bezos, who owns 16.9% of the e-commerce retailer, has seen his net worth skyrocket by $27.6 billion (£21.3bn) in the past year, equivalent to an incredible $3.2 million (£2.5m) an hour. The Amazon boss, who also holds shares in Google, is now worth $72.8 billion (£56.3bn).
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