Eleven Koreans made it onto Forbes magazine’s list of the world’s billionaires this year, marking a nearly threefold increase from 2009 as many of the nation’s wealthiest individuals benefitted from a surge in their stock holdings.
The lofty list of the richest individuals on the globe includes a few new faces from Korea this year.
Shin Chang-jae, chairman of Kyobo Life Insurance Co., SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Hyundai Motor Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun made the list for the first time ever.
According to the magazine’s April issue, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee, who recently announced a comeback after a hiatus lasting almost two years, is the only Korean in the top 100. Lee in fact came in exactly at 100, a huge leap from 205 last year. Lee had an estimated wealth of $7.2 billion as of Feb. 12 - more than double the $3 billion calculation for 2009 - as the value of his stock holdings in Samsung Electronics Co. and Samsung Life Insurance Co. appreciated.
Samsung Life Insurance shares are trading at around 120,000 won ($105) on the over-the-counter market ahead of its initial public offering, which is scheduled for May. Samsung Electronics closed at 820,000 won yesterday, up 59 percent from March of last year. Lee ranked as the 17th-richest man in the Asia-Pacific region.
Chung Mong-koo, chairman of Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, came in at 249 versus 468 a year ago. His fortune is valued at $3.6 billion. Hyundai Motor Co.’s share price nearly doubled in the last year, closing at 116,000 won yesterday. Forbes compiles the list every year by analyzing the value of everything from real estate and paintings to yachts, planes and cash.
Jay Y. Lee, chief operating officer of Samsung Electronics, placed 536th with an estimated fortune totaling $1.9 billion. The only son of the chairman, Lee is a major shareholder in several companies including Samsung Everland Inc. and Samsung SDS Co.
Chung Mong-joon, chairman of the ruling Grand National Party, and Shin of Kyobo tied for 616th with $1.6 billion, while Shin Dong-bin, vice chairman of Lotte Group, and Shin Dong-joo, vice chairman of Lotte Japan, tied for 655th with $1.5 billion each.
The world’s richest man is Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim Helu, president of Mexico-based Grupo Carso, according to Forbes.
link: http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2918396
No comments:
Post a Comment