India ranks 6th in billionaire numbers

Country's total billionaire wealth fell by $5 bn to $175 bn; total wealth of world's billionaires rose 12% to $7.3 trillion

India has retained its sixth position in the number of billionaires residing in the country. It is home to 100 such people, with a collective net worth of $175 billion. Globally, the number of ‘uber-rich’ people has reached a record 2,325.

According to the Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census 2014, released on Wednesday, though the number of billionaires in the country has decreased from 103 last year, India still enjoys a decent sixth position (the same as last year) in the top 10 league.

Interestingly, India has a higher number of billionaires than Switzerland, Hong Kong and France, among others. With 28 billionaires, financial capital Mumbai is among the top 20 ‘billionaire cities’ globally — the top being New York, which is home to 103 billionaires.

THE SUPER-RICH CLUB

• India has 100 billionaires, collectively having $175 bn in networth
   
• The country had 103 billionaires in 2013
   
• There are 2,325 billionaires worldwide, with the addition of 155 new ones in 2014
   
• With 28 billionaires, Mumbai is among the top 20 'billionaire cities' globally
   
• New York is home to 103 billionaires
   
• Europe, with 775 billionaires, is the region with the most billionaires and billionaire wealth ($2.37 trillion)

On the top 40 list of billionaire countries/territories, the US maintained its position as the first, with a population of 571 billionaires in 2014, followed by China (190) and the UK (130) respectively in the second and third positions.

According to the the report, which looks at the global billionaire population from July 2013 to June 2014, India’s billionaire population has decreased three per cent to 100 and the total billionaire wealth has fallen by $5 billion to $175 billion.However, the world’s population of billionaires continues to grow. The global billionaire population reached a record 2,325, with addition of 155 new ones in 2014, a rise of seven per cent from last year.

“The combined wealth of the world’s billionaires increased 12 per cent to $7.3 trillion, higher than the combined market capitalisation of all the companies that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average,” the report said.

Europe, with 775 billionaires, is the region with the most number of billionaires and their combined wealth ($2.37 trillion). Asia boasts the largest billionaire wealth increase, with the fortunes of the region’s billionaires growing 18.7 per cent over the past year.

“The region (Asia) is responsible for 30 per cent of the net increase in global billionaire wealth in 2014. Asia’s billionaire population grew 10 per cent in the year, with 52 new entrants into the billionaire club. Of them, 33 are from China,” the report said.