Industrialists are inspirational figures. Their life trajectories display acts of grit, determination, sacrifice, perseverance, tenacity, resolve and brilliance in the way they set up, establish and sustain their businesses while providing employment opportunities as well as inspiration to thousands of individuals. But in a post-pandemic scenario their wealth, although legally acquired, has come to signify a wide inequality gap in countries across the world. “The number of billionaires (in 2020) on Forbes’ 35th annual list of the world’s wealthiest exploded to an unprecedented 2,755––660 more than a year ago. Of those, a record high 493 were new to the list––roughly one every 17 hours, including 210 from China and Hong Kong,” the magazine reported.On Monday, it was reported that India's Gautam Adani has surpassed Mukesh Ambani as Asia's richest man. But in a matter of 24 hours, Ambani regained the top position. Here’s a list of top 10 billionaires in Asia( as on 9th February 2022):
1. Mukesh Ambani (India): Mukesh Ambani is the chairman, managing director and largest shareholder of Relaince Industries (Ltd.). The conglomerate’s business encompasses oil refineries, mobile network/internet company Jio, retail business and green energy. He is the owner of Mumbai Indians IPL cricket franchise and owns a prime residential property in Mumbai worth USD400 million. His net worth is USD 89.2 billion. Reliance Industries is India’s select companies with a market capitalistaion of over USD100 billion. Country of origin: India Business: Oil refineries and mobile/internet network Net worth: USD89.2 billion.
2. Gautam Adani (India): Gautam Adani is the founder of the Adani Group. The Adani group is a business conglomerate which encompasses ports, green energy, power, transmission, gas pipeline and FMGC. The Adani group is the largest port operator in India. He is based out of Ahmedabad. The Adani Group’s 2020-21 revenue was reported to be USD5.3 billion. The Adani Group is India’s select companies with a collective market capitalistaion of over USD100 billion. His net worth is USD86.3 billion. Country of Origin: India Business: ports, green energy, power, transmission, gas pipeline and FMCG Net worth: USD86.3 billion. Photo: Image Credit: Gulf News archives
3. Zhong Shanshan (China) Zhong Shanshan is a Chinese billionaire. He is the founder and chairperson of the Nongfu Spring beverage company. He is China’s wealthiest citizen. He is also a majority owner of Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise, which produces vaccines and hepatitis test-kits. His net worth is USD 73.5 billion. Country of origin: China Industry: Beverages and Pharmaceuticals Net worth: USD73.5 billion. Photo: PA
4. Zeng Yuqun (China/ Hong Kong): Also known as Robin Zeng, he is a billionaire entrepreneur. He is the founder and chairman of the battery manufacturer Contempory Amperex Technology Limited (CATL). This company specializes in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles as well as battery management systems (BMS) making it the largest supplier of electric vehicle batteries in the world. The Ningde, China-based company reported revenue of $7.3 billion in 2020. In June 2018, CATL started trading publicly on the Shenzhen stock exchange. Country of origin: China/Hong Kong Business: Manufacturing of Lithium-ion batteries Net Worth: USD48.8 billion Pic: Photo credit: Twitter/@DoluBatarya
5. Ma Huateng (China): Ma Huateng is a Chinese billionaire. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Tencent. Tencent is one of the biggest investment, gaming and entertainment conglomerate in the world. The company developed WeChat, China’s largest instant messaging application. His net worth is said to be USD48.1 billion. WeChat has 1.3 billion users. Country of Origin: China Business: Technology and Internet Net worth: USD48.1 billion.
6. Zhang Yiming (China) Zhang Yiming is a Chinese internet entrepreneur. He is the founder of ByteDance in 2012 under which video-sharing app TikTok was developed. ByteDance is the world’s most valuable startup. His net worth is estimated to be 44.5 billion. Country of Origin: China Business: Internet-based social media company Net worth: USD44.5 billion. Photo: Bloomberg
7. Jack Ma: Jack Ma is a Chinese billionaire and business magnate. He is the co-founder and former executive chairman of Alibaba Group. Alibaba is China’s largest e-commerce company. Ma also has a stake in payment serve Ant Group and he also co-founded Yunfeng Capital which is a private equity firm. His net worth is USD38.7 billion. Country of Origin: China Business: E-commerce Net Worth: USD38.7 billion.
8. Azim Premji (India): Azim Premji is an Indian businessman and engineer who was the chairman and the largest shareholder of Wipro Limited. Wipro is a business conglomerate which encompasses FMCG, information technology, consulting and lightings. His net worth is USD33.8 billion. Country of origin: India Net worth: USD33.8 billion Business: Wipro conglomerate which encompasses FMCG, information technology, consulting and lightings.
9. William Ding (China): William Ding is a Chinese billionaire and founder-CEO of NetEase. NetEase is a internet technology company providing online services regarding content, community and communications. Its email system has 595 million users registered. His net worth is USD33.2 billion. Country of Origin: China Business: internet service provider Net worth: USD 33.2 billion
10. He Xiangjian (China): He Xiangjian is the co-founder of Midea. Midea is one of China’s largest appliance makers such as heaters, refrigerators and washing machines. His net worth is USD28.8 billion. Country of origin: China Business: Home appliance manufacturing Net worth: USD28.8 billion.
