Il "nine zeros" club, or the small group of those who own at least one billion dollars, had 2012 members in 1453, for a total of 5.500 billion dollars, equal to China's GDP. This is stated by a report by the Hurun Center in Shanghai which adds, however, that "for every declared billionaire there are probably two others who for various reasons remain silent", thus bringing the number of billionaires to around 4.000.
The map drawn up by the Hurun Report sees Asia in first place among the continents, with 608 billionaires against 440 in North America and 324 in Europe. Among countries, the United States leads, with 409, over China, which stops at 317, while among cities, Moscow leads, with 76 billionaires.
Between the sectors stand out the real estate, which has 219 names in the standings. Telecommunications (at 200) and investments (169) follow. In the luxury sector, which falls under European jurisdiction, France beats Italy, with Bernard Arnault and Liliane Bettencourt outdistancing Leonardo Del Vecchio (first among Italians, in 49th place), Miuccia Prada and Giorgio Armani.
Leading the ranking of the super-rich is XNUMX-year-old Mexican Carlos Slim, owner of a telecommunications empire in Latin America. His net worth is around $66 billion. Following in the standings, the US financier and well-known philanthropist Warren Buffet, with 58 billion, and the Spanish Amancio Ortega, founder of Zara, with 55 billion.
The oldest in the ranking is the American banker David Rockefeller, 98 years old, while the youngest is the founder of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg, in 42nd place with assets of 17 billion dollars.
There are 14 Italians in the standings. Leading the Italian contingent, as mentioned, is the owner of Luxottica Leonardo Del Vecchio, with 16 billion. In front of him there would be only Michele Ferrero, 20 billion, who however is not considered Italian as a resident of Monaco.
