For the first time in history, the number of billionaires in China exceeds that of the United States.
With its 596 billionaires (which only last year grew at the rate of 5 new ones per week), the country of the red lanterns today surpasses that of Uncle Sam, stuck at 537.
If we also counted the other countries of "Greater China" (Hong Kong among all) there would be no more games, with a total of 715 billionaires.
“China is now officially the most profitable country for those who want to do business,” declares Rupert Hoogewerf, author of the comparative study on behalf of the Hurun Research Institute, which every year draws up a “world rich list” (here is the one from 2015). “It is only the first phase towards a very rapid overtaking also in terms of Gross Domestic Product”. China's GDP is currently larger than that of India and Russia combined.
Remaining with the internal ranking, the richest new "comrade" is the 61-year-old Wang Jianlin, head of the Wanda construction group. He outperforms the old leader of the ranking, 51-year-old Jack Ma, founder of the Alibaba portal. Other notable data: ultra-rich women make up 20% of the total, and 188 Chinese billionaires are under 40.
