Despite global economic uncertainties, the euro zone debt crisis, and fears of a hard landing in China, the mega-rich — the one percent of the one percent — have had a great year.
The world’s billionaire club has added to its numbers and increased its wealth even as equity, currency, and commodity markets have suffered one of their most volatile periods. The number of billionaires worldwide grew 9.4 percent to 2,160, expanding their wealth by 14
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more Despite global economic uncertainties, the euro zone debt crisis, and fears of a hard landing in China, the mega-rich — the one percent of the one percent — have had a great year.
The world’s billionaire club has added to its numbers and increased its wealth even as equity, currency, and commodity markets have suffered one of their most volatile periods. The number of billionaires worldwide grew 9.4 percent to 2,160, expanding their wealth by 14 percent to $6.19 trillion — a $760 billion jump over the previous year, according to research firm Wealth-X.
Wealth creation among billionaires did vary according to regions, depending on the extent of the economic slowdown in their part of the world. The overall wealth of the larger group of ultra-high-net-worth individuals, those worth $30 million and more, dropped nearly 2 percent this year.
Here is a list of the top 10 countries with the most billionaires for the period between August 2011 and July 31, 2012 compiled by Wealth-X.
Click ahead to find out where the mega-rich live. Click here to see the original slideshow on CNBC.com.
Photo: REB Images | Getty Images
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Wed, Oct 10, 2012