It was a record year for the richest people on earth, as the number of billionaires jumped 13% to 2,043 from 1,810 last year, the first time ever that Forbes has pinned down more than 2,000 ten-figure-fortunes. Their total net worth rose by 18% to $7.67 trillion, also a record. The change in the number of billionaires — up 233 since the 2016 list — was the biggest in the 31 years that Forbes has been tracking billionaires globally. Gainers since last year’s list outnumbered losers by more than three to one.
Oligarch Watch
Forbes: World has 2,043 billionaires, including 6 in Ukraine
FC Shakhtar Donetsk players hoist club owner, Rinat Akhmetov, in Donetsk on April 28, 2013, to celebrate after the team played a draw against FC Metalist Kharkiv.
Forbes magazine's latest rankings puts Akhmetov at the top of Ukraine's list of billionaires -- with a net worth of $4.6 billion.
