Premji, Dhirubhai among Forbes' top 50 world billionaires

LONDON, JAN. 4. Two Indian families are among the 50 most richest in the world, according to the Forbes billionaire list 2000.

The pride of place goes to the families of Mr. Azim Premji and Mr. Dhirubhai Ambani.

Mr. Premji, owner of technology and IT major Wipro took the 43rd position with a wealth of $6.9 billion. Mr. Ambani and his family of the petrochemicals major Reliance Industries was ranked at the 45th position and accounted for a wealth of $6.6 billion. The Microsoft chief, Mr. Bill Gates, who was ranked first in 1999 with $90 billion retained the top position in 2000 also. However, his wealth has depreciated by 33.33 per cent to $60 billion due to global meltdown.

Both Indians have posted extraordinary growth rates during the year. The Ambanis posted a 450 per cent growth and their net worth was $6.6 billion against $1.2 billion in the previous year.

Similarly, in one year, Mr. Premji and family's wealth has grown from $2.8 billion to $6.9 billion, posting a growth of 146 per cent.

The Forbes list is dominated by the Americans with 23 billionaires coming from the U.S. Europe includes 13 billionaires - three each from Germany, France, Sweden; two from Switzerland and one each from Turkey and Italy. Canada had one billionaire in the list.

Second in the world's richest list was Mr. Lawrence Joseph Ellison of the U.S. ($47 billion) followed by another American, Mr. Paul Gardner Allen, ($28 billion).

Mr. Rupert Murdoch with a wealth of $9.4 billion was ranked 23rd.

Asia accounted for nine billionaires including two from India. Japan and Hong Kong had three billionaires each while Taiwan had one. Latin America accounted for two billionaires - one each from Mexico and Brazil while Saudi Arabia accounted for two billionaires.

- PTI

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Section  : Business
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