An Unprecedented Population Boom In Billionaires: Super Wealthy OR Richie rich club?

According to the Forbes magazine, number of billionaires of in the world has grown 350% in the last 14 years, to include 1,645 men and women — an unprecedented population boom in billionaires: super wealthy and ultra-rich.

The amount collectively held by billionaires has risen sevenfold to $6.4 trillion. One reason could be: The rise and inter-connectivity of the emerging economies of developing countries.

For example, China the world’s 6th largest economy a decade ago; now it has the world’s 2nd largest economy with an estimated $10 trillion in GDP.

China now has the second-highest number of billionaires in the world (152 billionaires) behind the 492 billionaires in the United States.

With 111 billionaires, Russia is right up there, right behind the United States and China. Another incredible example, in 2004, India had 5 billionaires – now it has 56.

When considering India’s super wealthy with over $3.75 million in assets, India’s “Richie rich club,” as the Guardian described them, have a net worth of one trillion dollars, which is expected hold assets worth a trillion dollars, which is expected to grow to $4 trillion in 4 years.

Top 12 countries with most billionaires:

1. United States: The United States has 492 billionaires and at the top of the list: Bill Gates, chairman and founder of Microsoft. He’s worth about $72 billion, which also makes him one of the richest people on the planet.

2. China: There are 152 billionaires in China and the number keeps growing. Wang Jainlin, head of the Wanda Group, is China’s richest man. He’s worth about $14 billion.

3. Russia: There are 111 billionaires in Russia. In number one spot: Uzbek-born businessman Alisher Usmanov.

4. Germany: There are 85 billionaires in Germany. And the richest? Dieter Schwarz, the chairman of a large supermarket chain. His estimated net worth is about $26 billion. Schwarz doesn’t like to be in the spotlight so, no picture for you.

5. Brazil: Brazil is home to 65 billionaires including Jorge Paulo Lemann. With a net worth of $24 billion, the banker is Brazil’s richest person. He’s also a citizen of Switzerland. And shy.

 6. India: There are 56 billionaires in India and the richest of them all is Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani. He’s worth $25 billion.

 7. United Kingdom: It’s somewhat of a surprise that the UK has just 47 billionaires. At the top of the heap is Major General Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster. The British landowner is worth some $14 billion.

8. Hong Kong: Hong Kong operates as a Special Administrative Region of China, under the principle of one country, two systems. There are 45 billionaires in the SAR. The richest of them all is tycoon Li Ka-shing, chairman of Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. and Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd. He’s worth more than $34 billion.

9. France: At 9th spot on our list is France, with 43 billionaires. Liliane Bettencourt, the principal shareholder of L’Oréal, has a net worth of $33 billion, making her the richest person in France and the second richest woman in the world.

 10. Italy: Rounding out the Top Ten is Italy, with 35 billionaires. Chocolate magnate Michele Ferrero is the richest person in Italy with a net worth of $26 billion.

 11. Canada: Thirty-two billionaires call Canada home. With a net worth of around $22 billion, David Thomson, the chairman of Thomson Reuters, is Canada’s richest person.

 12. Australia: There are 29 billionaires in Australia, including Gina Rinehart. With a net worth of nearly $18 billion, the mining heiress is the richest person in Australia and the 6th richest woman in the world.