RIYADH — Four Saudi citizens were named this year in Bloomberg Markets' inaugural list of the 200 world's richest people, whose net worth totals $2.7 trillion, about the size of the gross domestic product of France, the fifth-biggest economy in the planet. Bloomberg Markets' inaugural list of the 200 world's richest people, worth a total of $2.7 trillion, about the size of the gross domestic product of France, will be published in the magazine's December 2012 issue, showcasing the 200 mega rich and their fortunes this year through Oct. 5. Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, CEO of Kingdom Holding Company, topped the list of Saudi billionaires, with $22.9 billion, ranking 20th in the world. Mohammed Al-Amoudi, active in the energy field, is second among Saudis, with $10.1 billion, ranking 100th among the world's wealthiest. The third Saudi billionaire is Sulaiman Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Rajhi, Chairman of Al-Rajhi bank, with $ 7.9 billion, and ranking 140th in the top 200 list. Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber, the businessman in the field of resorts and hospitality through MBI International, was the last Saudi on the list, ranking 142nd, with a wealth estimated at $7.8 billion. The Mexican Carlos Slim, a telecommunication tycoon, tops the list with $77.5 billion, followed by Microsoft CEO Bill Gates with $64.34 billion, then the Spanish Amancio Ortega, founder of Inditex SA, the world's largest clothing retailer, with $53.6 billion, followed by Warren Buffet with $48.4 billion. Bloomberg News unmasked more than 30 hidden billionaires this year. Brazil's Dirce Navarro de Camargo inherited her late husband's industrial conglomerate, Camargo Correa SA, in 1994. Elaine Tettemer Marshall controls 15 percent of Koch Industries Inc., the second-largest closely held company in the US. With fortunes of about $12 billion each, both women remain billions shy of Gina Rinehart, the richest woman in the Asia-Pacific region. She's squabbling with her children over the family's $19.1 billion minerals empire. Bloomberg News also revealed Zong Qinghou as mainland China's richest man, who had a net worth of $20.1 billion on Oct. 5. The once poor soda seller today commands the Hangzhou Wahaha Group Co. beverage empire. With soft drinks producing hard cash, wealth creation is booming in China – and beyond. — SG/Agencies
