#20 Top 20 Billionaires in the World

David Thomson and Family

Net Worth: $19 billion

Source: Thomson Reuters

Residence: Canada

• Chairman of Thomson Reuters knocks longtime rival Michael Bloomberg out of top 20.

• Firm acquired financial commentary site Breakingviews in December.

• Grandfather Roy founded the media group in 1934.

• With brother Peter, serves as cochair of family's investment concern, Woodbridge.

• Also owns CTVglobemedia; multimedia outfit's holdings include Canada's national newspaper, The Globe and Mail, and dozens of TV channels and radio stations.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109046/worlds-billionaires-2010

#19 Top 20 Billionaires in the World

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Alsaud

Net Worth: $19.4 billion

Source: Diversified

Residence: Saudi Arabia

• Net worth of globe-trotting investor and nephew of the Saudi king is up $6.1 billion in the past year.

• Two-thirds of his fortune is held in his 95% stake in Saudi-listed investment vehicle, Kingdom Holding.

• In the five weeks leading up to Forbes' stock valuation date, Kingdom shares jumped 49%.

• Alwaleed and Kingdom Holding together own a 3.5% stake in Citigroup. As the bank's largest individual investor, he has been vocal in his support of its chief executive Vikram Pandit.

• Kingdom Holding also has large holdings in the Four Seasons and Fairmont hotel management chains.

• In late February News Corp. purchased a 9% stake in Alwaleed's Arab media and entertainment company Rotana, valuing the company at $770 million.

• His palaces and real estate are worth more than $3 billion.

• Owns jewelry collection he values at $730 million, plus four airplanes, including an Airbus A380.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109029/worlds-billionaires-2010

#18 Top 20 Billionaires in the World

S. Robson Walton

Net Worth: $19.8 billion

Source: Wal-Mart

Residence: U.S.

• Rob has been chairman of Wal-Mart since 1992.

• World's largest retailer benefited as cash-strapped shoppers looked to discount merchandise at start of economic slump.

• Boost may have waned; recently reported 1.6% decline in same-store sales in its U.S. Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores, warned of soft sales in current quarter.

• Still, shares up 7% in past 12 months and family fortune rose a combined $13 billion, largely recovering losses from market crash.

• Sam Walton started as J.C. Penney clerk. Opened Benjamin Franklin five-and-dime in 1945; lost lease five years later. Founded Bentonville, Ark., general store with brother James in 1962.

• Today Walmart has $405 billion in annual sales, 2 million employees, more than 8,400 stores.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109029/worlds-billionaires-2010

#17 Top 20 Billionaires in the World

Liliane Bettencourt

Net Worth: $20 billion

Source: L'Oreal

Residence: France

• Makeup heiress' fortune rebounding with L'Oreal shares.

• Company, founded by her father, celebrated its 100th birthday in 2009.

• Last year only daughter and heir, Francoise Bettencourt-Meyers, petitioned courts to investigate reported $1.4 billion worth of cash and gifts her mother allegedly gave to Francois-Marie Banier, 61, a well-known photographer, writer and painter whom she befriended. Daughter claims Banier took advantage of her mother, who became a widow in 2007. Liliane denies it; has been ordered to undergo psychological testing before July trial. Mother and daughter apparently no longer speak.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109029/worlds-billionaires-2010

#16 Top 20 Billionaires in the World

Alice Walton

Net Worth: $20.6 billion

Source: Wal-Mart

Residence: U.S.

• World's largest retailer benefited as cash-strapped shoppers looked to discount merchandise at start of economic slump.

• Boost may have waned; recently reported 1.6% decline in same-store sales in its U.S. Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores, warned of soft sales in current quarter.

• Still, shares up 7% in past 12 months and family fortune rose a combined $13 billion, largely recovering losses from market crash.

• Alice funded $100 million airport in Bentonville 1990; building Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109029/worlds-billionaires-2010

#15 Top 20 Billionaires in the World

Jim C. Walton

Net Worth: $20.7 billion

Source: Wal-Mart

Residence: U.S.

• Sam Walton started as J.C. Penney clerk. Opened Benjamin Franklin five-and-dime in 1945; lost lease five years later. Founded Bentonville, Ark., general store with brother James in 1962.

• Today Walmart has $405 billion in annual sales, 2 million employees, more than 8,400 stores.

• Jim runs family's Arvest bank.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109029/worlds-billionaires-2010

#14 Top 20 Billionaires in the World

Li Ka-shing

Net Worth: $21 billion

Source: Diversified

Residence: Hong Kong

• Betting on recovery, upped stakes in publicly traded conglomerates Cheung Kong and Hutchison Whampoa. Cheung Kong paid $100 million for shares in Russian aluminum maker Rusal ahead of its January Hong Kong public offering. Hutchison Whampoa is attempting to take its telecom subsidiary private for $545 million in cash; awaiting regulatory approval.

• Through HW, Li is world's largest operator of container terminals, world's largest health and beauty retailer by number of outlets, a major supplier of electricity to Hong Kong and a real estate developer.

• Has a large holding in Canadian oil firm Husky Energy, which recently announced its third discovery in South China Sea.

• Asia's most generous individual has given out $1.4 billion to education, medical research.

• Humble origins: quit school at age 15 to support his family; made plastic flowers that he exported to U.S. in the 1950s.

• Eldest son, Victor, helps him run businesses; son Richard struck out on his own in early 1990s and is a billionaire in his own right.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109029/worlds-billionaires-2010

#13 Top 20 Billionaires in the World

Stefan Persson

Net Worth: $22.4 billion

Source: H&M

Residence: Sweden

• "Cheap chic" mogul is chairman of Hennes & Mauritz (H&M); promoted son, Karl-Johan, 34, to chief executive in July.

• Retailer is known for bringing on big names like Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney to design affordable collections for its 1,900 stores.

• Continuing its designer collaborations with new shoe line with Jimmy Choo that debuted in November and knitwear line with Sonia Rykiel.

• Continues to expand internationally: opened first stores in Russia, Lebanon and South Korea in past year.

• His father, Erling, founded H&M in 1947; Stefan took over in 1982, gave up chief executive position in 1998.

• Reportedly acquired the village of Linkenholt in Hampshire, England, last summer.

• A founder of the Mentor Foundation, nonprofit that combats substance abuse among youth.

• Enjoys downhill skiing, tennis and golf.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109029/worlds-billionaires-2010

#12 Top 20 Billionaires in the World

Christy Walton and Family

Net Worth: $22.5 billion

Source: Wal-Mart

Residence: U.S.

• World's largest retailer benefited as cash-strapped shoppers looked to discount merchandise at start of economic slump.

• Boost may have waned; recently reported 1.6% decline in same-store sales in its U.S. Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores, warned of soft sales in current quarter.

• Still, shares are up 7% in past 12 months and family fortune rose a combined $13 billion, largely recovering losses from market crash.

• Sam Walton started as J.C. Penney clerk. Opened Benjamin Franklin five-and-dime in 1945; lost lease five years later. Founded Bentonville, Ark., general store with brother James 1962.

• Today Wal-Mart has $405 billion in annual sales, 2 million employees, more than 8,400 stores.

• Christy is the richest of the Waltons thanks to late husband John's early bet on First Solar; alternative energy stock up more than 350% since 2006 public offering.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109029/worlds-billionaires-2010

#11 Top 20 Billionaires in the World

Ingvar Kamprad and Family

Net Worth: $23 billion

Source: Ikea

Residence: Sweden

• Ikea's reputation under fire. In Russia company fired two top managers for allowing bribes to a power supplier. In France firm is facing an extended workers' strike.

• A former managing director has published a book exposing questionable ethics.

• Even Kamprad's frugal image is being questioned, as details of a fancier life (he reportedly drives a Porsche) emerge.

• Still, no one can question his success: peddled matches, fish, pens, Christmas cards and other items by bicycle as a teenager. Started selling furniture in 1947.

• Opened first Ikea store more than 50 years ago; chain's name is a combination of initials of his first and last name, his family farm and the nearest village.

• Retired in 1986; company's "senior advisor" still reportedly works tirelessly on his brand.

• Discount retailer now sells 9,500 items in 37 countries; prints catalog in 27 languages.

• Fiscal 2009 sales: $31 billion.

• Plans to open 15 stores in 2010, including one in Shenyang, China.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109029/worlds-billionaires-2010

#10 Top 20 Billionaires in the World

Karl Albrecht

Net Worth: $23.5 billion

Source: Supermarkets

Residence: Germany

• Owns discount supermarket giant Aldi Sud, one of Germany's (and Europe's) dominant grocers.

• Has 1,000 stores in U.S. across 29 states.

• Estimated sales: $37 billion.

• Plans to open New York City store this year.

• With younger brother, Theo, transformed mother's corner grocery store into Aldi after World War II. Brothers split ownership in 1961; Karl took the stores in southern Germany, plus the rights to the brand in the U.K., Australia and the U.S. Theo got northern Germany and the rest of Europe.

• Retired from daily operations.

• Fiercely private: little known about him other than that he apparently raises orchids and plays golf.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109029/worlds-billionaires-2010

#8 Top 20 Billionaires in the World

Eike Batista

Net Worth: $27 billion

Source: Mining, oil

Residence: Brazil

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• Vowing to become world's richest man--and he may be on his way. This year's biggest gainer added $19.5 billion to his personal balance sheet.

• Son of Brazil's revered former mining minister who presided over mining giant Companhia Vale do Rio Doce got his start in gold trading and mining. Insists Dad didn't help: "All my businesses started from zero. My father was a problem for me because he never let me near Vale."

• Made a pile in resources and other services, but two-thirds of his fortune comes from relatively new source, OGX Petróleo e Gas Participações, the oil-and-gas exploration company he founded in 2007 and took public a year later.

• Police raided his home in 2008, alleging Batista smuggled gold and unfairly influenced the acquisition of a railroad. He denied all wrongdoing, emerged unscathed.

• Onetime champion offshore powerboat racer.

• Formerly married to Playboy cover girl.

• Provided financing to Rio de Janeiro's Olympic committee, helping the city win its bid for 2016 Olympic Games.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109029/worlds-billionaires-2010

#7 Top 20 Billionaires in the World

Bernard Arnault

Net Worth: $27.5 billion

Source: Luxury goods

Residence: France

• Bling is back, helping fashion icon grab title of richest European as shares of his luxury goods outfit LVMH--maker of Louis Vuitton, Moet & Chandon--surge 57%.

• LVMH is developing upscale Shanghai commercial property, L'Avenue Shanghai, with Macau billionaire Stanley Ho.

• Renaissance man owns French tour operator Go Voyages, yacht builder Royal Van Lent; has a stake in French retailer Carrefour.

• Built Le Cheval Blanc in ski resort town of Courchevel, France, where he likes to spend New Year's Eve.

• Father, Jean, who died in January, made small fortune in construction; sale of that business later helped fund Arnault's move into real estate and eventually into luxury goods.

• Still a family affair: son Antoine, 32, and daughter Delphine, 34, sit on LVMH's board.

• Wife is a concert pianist; Arnault himself reported to be an excellent piano player.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109029/worlds-billionaires-2010

#6 Top 20 Billionaires in the World

Lawrence Ellison

Net Worth: $28 billion

Source: Oracle

Residence: U.S.

• Oracle founder's fortune continues to soar; shares up 70% in past 12 months.

• Database giant has bought 57 companies in the past five years.

• Completed $7.4 billion buyout of Sun Microsystems in January; acquired BEA Systems for $8.5 billion in 2008.

• Studied physics at U. of Chicago; didn't graduate.

• Started Oracle 1977; took public a day before Microsoft in 1986.

• Owns 52% stake in business-software company NetSuite; shares worth $480 million.

• Racing junkie owns 453-foot yacht Rising Sun with pal David Geffen. Won America's Cup in February, besting longtime rival billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109029/worlds-billionaires-2010

#5 Top 20 Billionaires in the World

Lakshmi Mittal

Net Worth: $28.7 billion

Source: Steel

Residence: India

• London's richest resident oversees ArcelorMittal, world's largest steel maker. Net profits fell 75% in 2009.

• Mittal took 12% pay cut amid slump but improved outlook pushed stock up one-third in past year.

• Looking to expand in his native India; wants to build steel mills in Jharkhad and Orissa but has not received government approval.

• Started in family steel business in India in 1970s; branched out on his own in 1994.

• Initially bought up steel mills on the cheap in Eastern Europe.

• Earned $1.1 billion for selling his interest in a Kazakh refinery in December.

• Sits on the boards of Goldman Sachs, EADS.

• Upped stake in struggling British soccer team QPR in February.

• Funding 400-foot sculpture to be built in London's Olympic Park in time for 2012 Olympics.

• Owns 12-bedroom mansion in London's posh Kensington neighborhood.

• Daughter-in-law Megha recently bought insolvent German fashion house Escada.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109029/worlds-billionaires-2010

#4 Top 20 Billionaires in the World

Mukesh Ambani

Net Worth: $29 billion

Source: Petrochemicals, oil and gas

Residence: India

• Global ambitions: His Reliance Industries, already India's most valuable company, recently bid $2 billion for 65% stake in troubled Canadian oil sands outfit Value Creations.

• Firm's $14.5 billion offer to buy bankrupt petrochemicals maker LyondellBasell was rejected.

• Since September company has sold Treasury shares worth $2 billion to be used for acquisitions.

• Late father, Dhirubhai, founded Reliance and built it into a massive conglomerate. After he died, Mukesh and his brother, Anil, ran the family business together for a brief time. But siblings feuded over control; mother eventually brokered split of assets, with Mukesh getting oil, gas and petrochemicals businesses.

• Still at odds with Anil over gas supply agreement; awaiting Supreme Court's final ruling.

• Owns cricket team Mumbai Indians.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109029/worlds-billionaires-2010