Forbes List Shows Diamond And Jewelry Tycoons' Wealth Up
March 04, 14
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Bernard Arnault and family of LMVH slipped to No. 15 this year from No. 10 in the previous year, however, they take comfort from the fact that their net worth is estimated to have risen by almost $4 billion to $33.5 billion.
Meanwhile, Francois Pinault and his family, the majority shareholders in Kering, previously PPR, also dropped by five places to No. 58 on the list, but their net worth also rose, to $15.5 billion.
And Johann Rupert and family, of the Richemont Group, climbed two places to No. 173, with their net worth rising by almost $1 billion to $7.6 billion.
British jewelry mogul Laurence Graff and family fell six places, however his net worth also rose – up $500 million to $4.8 billion.
Israeli diamond magnate Beny Steinmetz, dropped 50 spots to No. 367, and his net worth was estimated to be the same as last year at $4.1 billion.
Despite selling their share in De Beers for more than $5 billion, Nicky Oppenheimer and family dropped 30 spots to No. 205, however their net worth also climbed, with a modest $200 million gain to $6.7 billion.
Blue Nile founder Mark Vadon joined the list for the first time, coming in at No. 1,270 and an estimated net worth of $1.35 billion.
Israeli diamond tycoon Lev Leviev dropped 310 places to No. 1,284 from No. 974 last year as his fortune fell $200 million to $1.3 billion.
India-based diamond and jewelry mogul and the founder of Firestar Diamond, Nirav Modi, saw a 30-spot drop to No. 1,372, however his net worth is estimated to have soared 20 percent to $1.2 billion. Meanwhile, T.S. Kalyanaraman of Kalyan Jewellers joined the list at No. 1,565 with a net worth of $1 billion.
The latest list increased to 1,645 names from 1,426 last year, while the combined net worth jumped to $6.4 trillion from $5.4 trillion last year.
Microsoft founder Bill Gates was the top of the list this year, the richest person in the world with a net worth estimated at $76 billion.