Energy tycoon Li Hejun ousts Jack Ma as China's richest man
Chairman of Hanergy has an estimated wealth of US$26b
Energy tycoon Li Hejun, the chairman of Hanergy, has become the mainland's richest man, with an estimated wealth of US$26 billion, according to the latest Hurun rich list, released yesterday.
Li, whose business empire covers the hydropower, solar energy and wind energy sectors, is the 12th person to top the annual list in the past 16 years.
Dalian Wanda chairman Wang Jianlin ranked second with assets of US$25 billion and Alibaba chairman Jack Ma Yun third with US$24.5 billion.
Former Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, whose personal wealth rose 25 per cent last year to US$85 billion, once again topped the global list ahead of Mexican telecommunications tycoon Carlos Slim on US$83 billion and American investor Warren Buffett with US$76 billion.
Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing ranked 16th globally with US$32 billion, while Li Hejun ranked 28th globally, alongside Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad.
According to the list, the number of super rich people in the world, those with assets of US$1 billion or more, reached a record 2,089 last year, but their total wealth shrank by 1.5 per cent to US$6.7 trillion.
The United States, with 537 billionaires, and China, including Hong Kong, with 430, dominate the global list.