Mukesh Ambani is the richest Indian: Forbes

Business tycoon Mukesh Ambani has retained his title of being the world's richest Indian, despite an erosion of $4.7 billion in his wealth in the past year as he beat 47 billionaires from India in Forbes magazine's annual list of the world's richest people.

India's top 10 richest billionaires included Savitri Jindal & family (world rank 80), Sunil Mittal & family (113), Kumar Mangalam Birla (116) Anil Ambani (118) Dilip Shanghvi (124) Shashi & Ravi Ruia (133) and Kushal Pal Singh (153). The world list also has nine of

Indian-origin living in countries like Indonesia, Ireland, Thailand, UK and the US, taking the total number of billionaires hailing from India to 57. India's 48 billionaires have a total networth of a $194.6 billion.

The list has only two women billionaires from India, both matriarchs of big corporate houses. Jindal Group's Savitri Jindal is ranked 80 in the rich list, with a networth of $10.9 billion. Chairperson of the media group Bennett Coleman Indu Jain, 75, is ranked 578th in the Forbes list, with a networth of $2.2 billion.

The 54-year-old Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, with a networth of $22.3 billion, is ranked 19 in the global rich list. "Mukesh Ambani is the world's richest Indian, despite losing $4.7 billion in the past year," Forbes said.

ArcelorMittal Chairman Lakshmi Mittal stands at the 21st position with a $20.7 billion networth. Forbes said Mittal lost $10.4 billion in the past year, more than anyone else in the world and dropped out of the top 10 rankings for the first time since 2004. Mittal had ranked sixth in last year's list when his networth was $31.1 billion.

Wipro boss Azim Premji is the third richest Indian in the list. With a networth of $15.9 billion, 66-year-old Premji is ranked 41. With an $8.1 billion networth, Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Mittal is ranked 113.

Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group Chairman Anil Ambani comes in at 118th position, with networth of $7.8 billion, only about a third of that of his wealthier elder brother.

"Despite patch up with brother Mukesh that included a much photographed reunion in their late father's hometown, Anil Ambani continues on a losing streak, down $1 billion in past year and down Rs 34.2 billion from his 2008 peak," Forbes magazine said.