Meet the world’s richest tycoons in real estate
Who are the wealthiest people in the property industry?
Money: that’s what they have.
Baby boomers may remember the pop hit “Money (That’s What I Want)” by Barrett Strong from the early 1960s – the Beatles also recorded their own version – while Generation X-ers grew up to the version made popular by The Flying Lizards in the 1980s. The majority of the world’s population want money, and some are fortunate enough to have lots, and lots, of it.
This week, Forbes released its full list of the world’s 500 richest billionaires of 2015, which includes a huge number of successful Baby Boomers and Gen X-ers, as well as some incredibly wealthy Millennials.
Coming out on top of the annual list is Bill Gates, founder and former chief of Microsoft Corporation, with USD79.2 billion in net fortune, beating Mexico’s telecom magnate Carlos Slim Helu (and family), whose net worth is USD77.1 billion.
Collectively, the world’s top 500 money makers are worth a whopping USD7.05 trillion, based on Forbes’ research. This year, 290 billionaires joined the top 500 list for the first time, adding an estimated USD650 billion in the total worth of the world’s elite 1 percent population.
We’ve filtered the super rich list to highlight the tycoons with significant involvement in the real estate, construction and design sectors, and here they are:
- Warren Buffett
Net Worth: $72.7 B
Source of wealth: Berkshire Hathaway
Property Report says: The billionaire-philanthropist has significant investments in real estate and has started to license the Berkshire Hathaway brand to Asia-based property agencies.
- Li Ka-shing
Net Worth: $33.3 B
Source of wealth: diversified
- Sheldon Adelson
Net Worth: $31.4 B
Source of wealth: casinos
- Lee Shau Kee
Net Worth: $24.8 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Wang Jianlin
Net Worth: $24.2 B
Source of wealth: real estate
Property Report says: One of China’s wealthiest citizens, Wang Jianlin heads the Dalian Wanda Group, which started its real estate business in 1988.
- Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud
Net Worth: $22.6 B
Source of wealth: investments
Property Report says: At 59, the Saudi prince has real estate holdings in several luxury hotel chains in London, New York and Monaco.
- Len Blavatnik
Net Worth: $20.2 B
Source of wealth: diversified
- Michael Otto & family
Net Worth: $18.1 B
Source of wealth: retail, real estate
- Paul Allen
Net Worth: $17.5 B
Source of wealth: Microsoft, investments
Property Report says: Allen co-founded Microsoft (he also came up with the company’s name) with topnotcher Bill Gates, and also owns Vulcan Real Estate that offers a full range of development and portfolio management services.
- Pallonji Mistry
Net Worth: $16.3 B
Source of wealth: construction
- Thomas & Raymond Kwok
Net Worth: $15.9 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Donald Bren
Net Worth: $15.2 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Aliko Dangote
Net Worth: $14.7 B
Source of wealth: cement, sugar, flour
- Cheng Yu-tung
Net Worth: $14.4 B
Source of wealth: diversified
Property Report says: Based in Hong Kong, Cheng’s New World group of companies is active in property, hospitality and infrastructure.
More: SM Prime Holdings teams up with Ayala Land and Megaworld to form #TeamTrident
- Henry Sy & family
Net Worth: $14.2 B
Source of wealth: diversified
Property Report says: The Sy Family’s most prominent investments are in commercial real estate, including the SM Malls, some of the biggest shopping malls in the world.
- Rupert Murdoch & family
Net Worth: $13.9 B
Source of wealth: media
Property Report says: Although his biggest source of income is through his media conglomerate, Murdoch in recent years has expanded his property holdings and now owns majority interest in Australia’s REA Group and India’s PropTiger.com.
- David & Simon Reuben
Net Worth: $13.7 B
Source of wealth: investments, real estate
- Lui Che Woo
Net Worth: $13.5 B
Source of wealth: casinos
- Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor & family
Net Worth: $12.6 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Philip Anschutz
Net Worth: $11.8 B
Source of wealth: investments
- Andrew Beal
Net Worth: $11.7 B
Source of wealth: banks, real estate
- Robert Kuok
Net Worth: $11.3 B
Source of wealth: diversified
Property Report says: The Malaysian-Chinese businessman built the first Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore in 1971.
- Joseph Lau
Net Worth: $10.9 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Mohammed Al Amoudi
Net Worth: $10.8 B
Source of wealth: oil, diversified
Property Report says: The Saudi Arabian sheikh made his fortune in real estate in the Middle East and Africa, and he is said to be the largest individual investor in Ethiopia.
- Mikhail Prokhorov
Net Worth: $9.9 B
Source of wealth: diversified
- Robert & Philip Ng
Net Worth: $9.6 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Ernesto Bertarelli
Net Worth: $8.8 B
Source of wealth: biotech, investments
- Pan Sutong
Net Worth: $8.6 B
Source of wealth: real estate
Property Report says: The chairman of the Goldin Group first ventured in real estate in 2007 when it developed an integrated business, leisure and residential hub in Tianjin.
- Peter Woo
Net Worth: $8.6 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Eyal Ofer
Net Worth: $8.5 B
Source of wealth: real estate, shipping
- August von Finck
Net Worth: $7.7 B
Source of wealth: investments
- Giorgio Armani
Net Worth: $7.6 B
Source of wealth: fashion
Property Report says: The celebrated fashion house is also a huge name in branded residences around the world, and now has significant projects across Asia, including China, the Philippines, Indonesia and India.
- Jim Pattison
Net Worth: $7.5 B
Source of wealth: diversified
- Johann Rupert & family
Net Worth: $7.4 B
Source of wealth: luxury goods
- Eli Broad
Net Worth: $7.2 B
Source of wealth: investments
- Charles Cadogan & family
Net Worth: $7.2 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Jay Y. Lee
Net Worth: $7.2 B
Source of wealth: electronics/tourism
- Walter Kwok
Net Worth: $7 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Ralph Lauren
Net Worth: $7 B
Source of wealth: Ralph Lauren
- Goh Cheng Liang
Net Worth: $6.8 B
Source of wealth: paints
- Gautam Adani
Net Worth: $6.6 B
Source of wealth: commodities, infrastructure
- Stephen Ross
Net Worth: $6.5 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Abdulla bin Ahmad Al Ghurair & family
Net Worth: $6.4 B
Source of wealth: diversified
- Richard LeFrak & family
Net Worth: $6.4 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Charles Schwab
Net Worth: $6.4 B
Source of wealth: discount brokerage
- Stanley Kroenke
Net Worth: $6.3 B
Source of wealth: sports, real estate
- Nassef Sawiris
Net Worth: $6.3 B
Source of wealth: construction
- Majid Al Futtaim
Net Worth: $6.2 B
Source of wealth: real estate, retail
- Hui Ka Yan
Net Worth: $6.2 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Michael Kadoorie & family
Net Worth: $6.2 B
Source of wealth: diversified
Property Report says: Educated in Switzerland, Kadoorie now lives in Hong Kong and is chairman of the company that owns and operates the renowned Peninsula Hotel Group.
- Chan Laiwa & family
Net Worth: $6.1 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Willi & Isolde Liebherr & family
Net Worth: $6.1 B
Source of wealth: construction
- Ira Rennert
Net Worth: $6.1 B
Source of wealth: investments
Property Report says: Rennert, an industrial entrepreneur, owns one of the most expensive homes in the world, located in Sagaponack, New York.
- Lu Zhiqiang
Net Worth: $5.9 B
Source of wealth: diversified
Property Report says: The Beijing resident owns China Oceanwide, a growing property company.
- Dennis Washington
Net Worth: $5.9 B
Source of wealth: construction, mining
- John Gokongwei Jr
Net Worth: $5.8 B
Source of wealth: diversified
Property Report says: 87-year-old Gokongwei is head of the Robinsons Malls and Robinsons Land empire, as well as budget carrier Cebu Pacific.
- Lin Yu-lin
Net Worth: $5.7 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Juan-Miguel Villar Mir & family
Net Worth: $5.7 B
Source of wealth: construction
- Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala & family
Net Worth: $5.6 B
Source of wealth: beer, investments
- Ray Lee Hunt
Net Worth: $5.6 B
Source of wealth: oil, real estate
- Quek Leng Chan
Net Worth: $5.6 B
Source of wealth: banking, real estate
- Thomas Schmidheiny
Net Worth: $5.5 B
Source of wealth: cement
- Hui Wing Mau
Net Worth: $5.4 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Harry Triguboff
Net Worth: $5.4 B
Source of wealth: property
- Leonard Stern
Net Worth: $5.3 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Vivien Chen & family
Net Worth: $5.2 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- James Packer
Net Worth: $5.2 B
Source of wealth: casinos
- Enrique Razon Jr
Net Worth: $5.2 B
Source of wealth: ports
Property Report says: Head of Bloombery Resorts, Razon moved up from last year’s ranking of 354th place. His investments include the highly successful Solaire Resorts and Casino in Manila’s Entertainment City.
Coming up in April: Manila’s new casino and entertainment district could give Las Vegas and Macau a run for their money
- Pansy Ho
Net Worth: $5 B
Source of wealth: casinos
- Yang Huiyan
Net Worth: $5 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Kwee brothers
Net Worth: $4.9 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Liang Wengen
Net Worth: $4.9 B
Source of wealth: construction equipment
- Frank Lowy
Net Worth: $4.9 B
Source of wealth: shopping malls
- Sam Zell
Net Worth: $4.9 B
Source of wealth: real estate, private equity
- Daniel Ziff
Net Worth: $4.9 B
Source of wealth: investments
- Dirk Ziff
Net Worth: $4.9 B
Source of wealth: investments
- Robert Ziff
Net Worth: $4.9 B
Source of wealth: investments
- Richard Branson
Net Worth: $4.8 B
Source of wealth: Virgin
Property Report says: Passionate about luxury getaways, the British mogul set up in the early 2000s a business called Virgin Limited Edition, a collection of unique retreats in the most prime and exotic locations.
Coming up: Virgin Limited Edition in Property Report’s April 2015 issue
- Ted Lerner
Net Worth: $4.8 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Andrew Tan
Net Worth: $4.8 B
Source of wealth: diversified
Property Report says: Filipino-Chinese tycoon Tan, chief executive of Megaworld Corporation, was chosen as Real Estate Personality of the Year at the second annual Philippines Property Awards.
- John A. Sobrato & family
Net Worth: $4.7 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Tong Jinquan
Net Worth: $4.7 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Lee Shin Cheng
Net Worth: $4.6 B
Source of wealth: palm oil, real estate
- Filaret Galchev
Net Worth: $4.4 B
Source of wealth: construction materials
- Ian & Richard Livingstone
Net Worth: $4.4 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Lucio Tan & family
Net Worth: $4.4 B
Source of wealth: diversified
Property Report says: Tan’s empire includes shareholdings in banking, airline, liquor, tobacco, and real estate via Eton Properties Philippines.
- Anthony Bamford & family
Net Worth: $4.3 B
Source of wealth: construction equipment
- Zarakh Iliev
Net Worth: $4.3 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- God Nisanov
Net Worth: $4.3 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Karen Pritzker
Net Worth: $4.3 B
Source of wealth: hotels, investments
- Kirk Kerkorian
Net Worth: $4.2 B
Source of wealth: casinos, investments
- Lin Rong San
Net Worth: $4.2 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Benu Gopal Bangur
Net Worth: $4.1 B
Source of wealth: cement
- David Consunji
Net Worth: $4.1 B
Source of wealth: construction
Property Report says: Consunji, a civil engineer, is chairman of DMCI Holdings, which is involved in urban real estate development, infrastructure and construction.
- Donald Trump
Net Worth: $4.1 B
Source of wealth: television, real estate
Property Report says: The bold and vibrant Trump runs the New York City-based Trump Organization with his children Ivanka, Eric and Donald Jr. His latest Asia-based projects include Trump branded residences and estates in India, Dubai and the Philippines.
- Samvel Karapetyan
Net Worth: $4 B
Source of wealth: development
- Mitchell Rales
Net Worth: $4 B
Source of wealth: manufacturing, investments
- Edward Roski Jr
Net Worth: $4 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Jerry Speyer
Net Worth: $4 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Sun Guangxin
Net Worth: $4 B
Source of wealth: diversified
- Riley Bechtel
Net Worth: $3.9 B
Source of wealth: engineering, construction
- Stephen Bechtel Jr
Net Worth: $3.9 B
Source of wealth: engineering, construction
- Nathan Kirsh
Net Worth: $3.9 B
Source of wealth: retail, real estate
- Bernard Marcus
Net Worth: $3.8 B
Source of wealth: Home Depo
- Krit Ratanarak
Net Worth: $3.8 B
Source of wealth: media, real estate
- Francis Choi
Net Worth: $3.7 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Huang Wei
Net Worth: $3.7 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Fredrik Lundberg
Net Worth: $3.7 B
Source of wealth: real estate, investments
- Akira Mori & family
Net Worth: $3.7 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- H. Ross Perot Sr
Net Worth: $3.7 B
Source of wealth: computer services, real estate
- Martin & Olivier Bouygues
Net Worth: $3.6 B
Source of wealth: construction, media
- Archie Aldis Emmerson
Net Worth: $3.6 B
Source of wealth: timberland, lumber mills
- John Gandel
Net Worth: $3.6 B
Source of wealth: shopping malls
Property Report says: Gandel is an Australian commercial real estate developer who made his fortune in Melbourne. He is also involved in office and hotel properties, and owns stakes in various Australian-listed real estate firms.
- Diane Hendricks
Net Worth: $3.6 B
Source of wealth: roofing
- Antti Herlin
Net Worth: $3.6 B
Source of wealth: elevators, escalators
- Igor Olenicoff
Net Worth: $3.6 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Sheldon Solow
Net Worth: $3.6 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Yitzhak Tshuva
Net Worth: $3.6 B
Source of wealth: real estate
- Edward DeBartolo Jr
Net Worth: $3.5 B
Source of wealth: shopping centres
This month: Check out the latest interior design trends from Property Report’s style council
- Ingvar Kamprad & family
Net Worth: $3.5 B
Source of wealth: Ikea
Property Report says: IKEA’s founder came up with the name of his global company using his initials, plus ‘Elmtayrd’, his family’s farm, and ‘Agunnaryd’, a nearby village from his birthplace.
- Beny Steinmetz
Net Worth: $3.5 B
Source of wealth: mining, diamonds, real estate
To view the full list, click here.
Did we miss anyone? Tell us in the comments, or message us on Twitter!
Image credit: devbattles.com
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