world's richest people 2011 Canada's rich list Forbes magazine released

world's richest people 2011 Canada's rich list Forbes magazine released : Forbes magazine has released its annual list of billionaires, offering a peek inside the bank accounts of the world's richest people.

It's a list that is increasingly drawn from countries outside of North America and Europe. The magazine found a record number of billionaires this year, more than 1,200, who command a total net worth of $4.5-trillion, or more than three times Canada's GDP. Canada's billionaires had a combined fortune of US$85B, up 15% from 2010, and the country added two billionaires to the list and lost three

RANKING

Canada lost its distinction as the country boasting the most billionaires in the Americas outside of the United States, falling to Brazil this year. The ranking for countries in the magazine's "Latin America and Canada" region shows Brazil with 30 billionaires, Canada with 24. But Canada's surging stock market, coupled with Mexico's, were leading factors driving up the region's combined billionaire wealth to a record $419B.

FACEBOOK

They were the subject of an Oscar-nominated movie, but the founders of Facebook also cashed in this year, accounting for six billionaires, four of them new to the list. Mark Zuckerberg, the 26-year-old co-founder of the social networking site that boasts 600 million members, ranked 52nd on the list with $13.5B, up from $4B in 2010. Co-founders Dustin Moskovitz and Eduardo Saverin also joined investors Sean Parker, Russian Yuri Milner and Peter Thiel on the list.

WINNERS

Topping the Canadian list again this year was David Thomson, chief executive of media empire Thomson Reuters, who increased his family's wealth by $4B to $23B, the magazine said. The Thomson family strengthened its lead over business rival, Bloomberg owner Michael Bloomberg, whose fortunes fell to $18.1B. Eleven Canadian billionaires added to their fortunes this year, including B.C. entrepreneur Jim Pattison, whose businesses range from car dealerships to supermarkets, who added nearly $2B to his $5.8B fortune. Clayton Riddell, the founder of Calgarybased Paramount Resources Ltd., nearly doubled his net worth to $2.5B from $1.3B last year. Paul Desmarais increased his wealth to $4.5B.

NEW TO THE RICH LIST

Two Canadians broke into the billionaires' club this year, and one reemerged. The Vancouver-based designer yoga wear company Lululemon Athletica Inc, owned by Dennis "Chip" Wilson, pictured right, saw its stock soar 170% in the past year, which helped net Mr. Wilson $1.9B in personal wealth. Gerald Schwartz, founder of private equity firm Onex Corp., is worth $1B, according to the magazine.

Forbes also listed Frank Stronach, pictured left, as a new entrant to the billionaires' list, although the auto parts magnate and founder of Magna International was on the list in 2009. A dispute with shareholders that caused Mr. Stronach to give up control of the company in exchange for a $1B payout helped put him back on the list with a net worth of $1.7B.

LOSERS

A number of Canadian billionaires lost money this year. Galen Weston saw his fortune descrease to $7.1B. Barry Sherman, the chairman and CEO of Apotex, Canada's largest generic drug maker, saw his fortune fall nearly $1B to $2.9B. Research In Motion executives Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis had their net worth slashed by a combined $800M to $3.6B, while the Irving family, whose business interests in Atlantic Canada stretch from oil to lumber and media, saw its fortune fall by $500M to $3.5B. Three Canadians fell off the list from last year: Toronto entrepreneur Alexander Shnaider, Research In Motion cofounder Douglas Fregin and Michael Lee-Chin, the mutual fund manager.

WORLD'S RICHEST

Once again, Mexican telecoms giant Carlos Slim Helu topped the list as the richest man in the world, with a net worth of $74B, up $20B from last year. His net worth was $18B more than the second-richest man, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, although the magazine said Mr. Gates would have retained the title if he had not given $28B of his personal fortune to his foundation. The magazine said Mr. Slim Helu saw his fortunes rise thanks to a strengthening peso and Mexican stock market, successful real estate and mining ventures and a merger with Latin America's largest wireless provider.

TOP 15 world's richest people 2011

1 David Thomson and family, $23B, media (The Thomson Corp.)
2 Galen Weston and family, $7.1B, retail (Loblaw)
3 Jim Pattison, $5.8B, media, retail (Jim Pattison Group)
4 Paul Desmarais, $4.5B, finance (Power Corp.)
5 James and Arthur Irving, $3.5B, oil (Irving Group of Companies)
6 Emanuele (Lino) Saputo, $3.4B, dairy (Saputo Inc.)
7 Jeffrey Skoll, $3.2B (eBay)
8 David Azrieli and family, $3.1B, shopping malls (Canpro Investments)
9 Bernard (Barry) Sherman, $2.9B, pharmaceuticals (Apotex Inc.)
10 Guy Laliberte, $2.5B, Cirque du Soleil
11 Clayton Riddell, $2.5B, oil and gas (Paramount Resources Ltd.)
12 Wallace McCain, $2.3B, food (McCain Foods Ltd.)
13 N. Murray Edwards, $2.2B, oil and gas (Canadian Natural Resources)
14 Charles Bronfman, $2B, liquor (Seagram)
15 Daryl Katz, $2B, pharmacies (Katz Group)
15 Daryl Katz, $2B, pharmacies (Katz Group) For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today

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