News Column

'Forbes Israel' Ranks Wealthiest Jews

April 6, 2012
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg scores 20th place overall.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg scores 20th place overall.

Oracle Corporation co-founder and CEO Larry Ellison is the world's wealthiest Jew, with a fortune of $36 billion in 2012, according to "Forbes Israel". He is followed by casino operator Sheldon Adelson, with $24.9 billion (14th place overall); New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, with $22 billion (20th place overall); George Soros, with $20 billion; and Google Inc. co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, with $18.7 billion each (24th place overall).

In 6th to 10th place are Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, with $17.5 billion, Dell Inc. Michael Dell, with $16.5 billion; Microsoft Corporation CEO Steve Ballmer, with $15.7 billion; investor Carl Icahn, with $14 billion; and Brazilian banker Joseph Safra at 52 with $13.8 billion (52nd place overall).

Idan Ofer is the richest Israeli, with a fortune of $6.2 billion, and his brother, Eyal Ofer has a fortune of $5.8 billion, which they inherited from their father, Sammy Ofer who died in June 2011. Sammy Ofer was ranked 79th in the 2011 Billionaires list, with $10.3 billion; Idan Ofer is ranked 161st and Eyal Ofer is ranked 173rd overall in this year's list.

Beny Steinmitz is the second richest Israeli, with $5.9 billion, followed by industrialist Steff Wertheimer, with $4.2 billion; Bank Hapoalim and Shikun u'Binui Holdings Ltd. controlling shareholder Shari Arison, with $3.9 billion; Arnon Milchen, with $3.8 billion; Alexander Machkevich, with $2.8 billion; Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. co-founder, chairman and CEO Gil Shwed and Delek Group Ltd. controlling shareholder Yitzhak Tshuva, with $1.9 billion each; and diamond merchant and Africa-Israel Investments Ltd. chairman Lev Leviev, with $1.7 billion.

Check Point co-founder Marius Nacht, insurance man Shlomo Eliahu, Playtech Cyprus Ltd. (AIM:PTEC) controlling shareholder Teddy Sagui, and Morris Kahn close the Israeli billionaires, with $1.2 billion each, and tied for 1,015 place in the global rankings.

The aggregate fortune of the 14 Israeli billionaires is $42.7 billion.

Other Jews on the list include Roman Abramovich, with $12.1 billion; Lev Blavatnikm with $11.9 billion; Ralph Lauren, with $7.5 billion; Ron Lauder, with $3.4 billion, and David Azrieli and Haim Saban with $2.9 billion each.



Source: (c)2012 the Globes (Tel Aviv, Israel)


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