In the ever-evolving landscape of global wealth, Asia stands as a powerhouse with individuals who have amassed staggering fortunes. As of 2024, the continent boasts some of the wealthiest tycoons, each contributing significantly to the economic tapestry of their respective nations. Let’s delve into the lives and fortunes of Asia’s richest men, the visionary titans shaping industries and economies.
Asia’s Richest Person 2024
After a turbulent year, Indian tycoon Gautam Adani has reclaimed his title as Asia’s richest person, as per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The founder of Adani Group is now valued at $97.6 billion, ranking 12th globally. Adani, a self-made industrialist, surged $13 billion in net worth in the last two days, surpassing Mukesh Ambani. This remarkable rebound follows a tumultuous period marked by accusations of stock manipulation and accounting fraud, resulting in an over $80 billion dip in Adani’s fortune in early 2023.
What is Bloomberg Billionaire Index?
The Bloomberg Billionaires Index, initiated in March 2012, is a daily assessment of the net worth of the world’s top 500 wealthiest individuals. Providing profiles of each billionaire, the index includes a tool for comparing the fortunes of multiple individuals. Updated daily at the New York stock market close, it serves as a comprehensive and real-time resource for tracking global wealth fluctuations.
Top-10 Richest Man in Asia By January 2024
As per the Bloomberg Billionaire Index, Gautam Adani, with the net worth of $97.6 billion, holds the title of the richest man of Asia in 2024, followed by Mukesh Ambani, Zhong Shanshan and Colin Zheng Huang.
Here is the list of top-10 richest person in Asia:
Richest Men in Asia 2024 | |||
Rank | Name | Country | Net Worth (in USD Billions) |
1. | Gautam Adani | India | 97.6 |
2. | Mukesh Ambani | India | 94.3 |
3. | Zhong Shanshan | China | 62.9 |
4. | Colin Zheng Huang | China | 50.4 |
5. | Zhang Yiming | China | 43.4 |
6. | Tadashi Yanai and Family | Japan | 37.2 |
7. | Li Ka-shing | Hong Kong | 35.3 |
8. | Ma Huateng | China | 34.0 |
9. | William Ding | China | 33.3 |
10. | Shiv Nadar | India | 31.2 |
Asia’s Richest Man – Gautam Adani
Country: India
Age: 61 years
Net Worth: $97.6 Billion
Source of Wealth: Infrastructure, commodities, self-made
With a staggering net worth of $97.6 billion, Gautam Adani leads the $32 billion Adani Group, a conglomerate spanning ports, airports, energy, and environmental initiatives. Transforming from a trading firm in 1988, he now stands among Asia’s wealthiest individuals. Renowned as India’s top airport operator and the key controller of Gujarat’s significant Mundra Port, Adani further solidified his position by strategically acquiring Holcim’s Indian assets in 2022, elevating him to the status of India’s second-largest cement producer.
Second Wealthiest Person of Asia – Mukesh Ambani
Country: India
Age: 66 years
Net Worth: $94.3 Billion
Source of Wealth: Diversified
As the second wealthiest individual in Asia, Mukesh Ambani, serving as the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, made a strategic entry into the Indian Premier League (IPL) by acquiring Mumbai Indians in 2008. Reliance’s telecom and broadband service, Jio, has garnered nearly 450 million subscribers, and the recent launch of Jio Financial Services in August underscores the company’s diversification efforts. Notably, in July 2023, an agreement between BlackRock and Jio Financial Services led to the creation of Jio BlackRock, a joint venture aimed at providing innovative investment solutions in India.
Third Richest Man in Asia – Zhong Shanshan
Country: China
Age: 68 years
Net Worth: $62.9 billion
Source of Income: Beverages, pharmaceuticals, self-made
Occupying the position of the third wealthiest individual in Asia, Zhong Shanshan, the mastermind behind Nongfu Spring, a bottled water company, also holds the title of the wealthiest Chinese. His diverse career, spanning construction, journalism, and beverage sales, eventually led him to successful entrepreneurship. Notably, he wields influence over Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy, a key player in producing rapid Covid-19 diagnostic tests. As of the close of 2022, Zhong Shanshan maintained his status as the richest individual in China, boasting a fortune of $62.3 billion in the preceding year.