Mukesh Ambani richest Indian for second year

Mukesh Ambani, chief of petrochemicals giant Reliance Industries, has retained the title of being the world’s richest Indian for the second consecutive year, with a net worth of $29 billion in the Forbes’ list of wealthiest people on the planet.

Mukesh has been ranked fourth in the global list, topped by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim ($53.5 billion), up from the seventh spot in 2009.

Leading the pack of 50 Indians in the list, he has added over $9.5 billion to his net worth in the past 12 months.

Mukesh is followed by steel czar Lakshmi Mittal, who ranks fifth on the global list with a fortune of $28.7 billion. Mittal gained over $9 billion in the last year.

Wipro Chairman Azim Premji, the next Indian on the list, is far below at the 28th place with a net worth of $17 billion, although his rank has skyrocketed from the 83rd position last year, with an addition of over $11.3 billion.

The richest Indian’s brother, Anil Ambani, who was ranked at the 34th position in 2009, slipped two positions below to the 36th spot despite an increase of $3.6 billion in his net worth, at $13.7 billion.

Shashi and Ravi Ruia, the promoters of the Essar Group, were ranked 40th, up from 86th last year, with a net worth of $13 billion.

The cumulative wealth of Indian billionaires jumped by $118.9 billion and now stands at about $227.9 billion.

The Indian presence has doubled to 50 (from 24 a year ago) in the club of world’s billionaires. “The world has 1,011 10-figure titans, up from 793 a year ago,” Forbes said.

The league of 10 richest persons in the world now includes just two Indians — Mukesh Ambani and Lakshmi Mittal.

There are, in fact, five resident Indians (up from two last year) among the 50 richest persons in the world. Mittal is an Indian citizen, but resides in the UK.

Nine positions among top 100 from across the world are occupied by Indians: Mukesh Ambani (4th; $29 billion), Lakshmi Mittal (5th; $28.7 billion), Azim Premji (28th; $17 billion), Anil Ambani (36th; $13.7 billion), Shashi & Ravi Ruia (40th; $13 billion), Savitri Jindal (44th; $12.2 billion), K P Singh (74th; $9 billion), Kumar Birla (86th; $7.9 billion) and Sunil Mittal (87th; $7.8 billion).