The Mikati brothers have been crowned Lebanon\'s wealthiest businessmen The Mikati brothers have been crowned Lebanon\'s wealthiest businessmen in a rich-list compiled by business news agency Bloomberg. The list included the names of six Lebanese billionaires , with the Mikati brothers at the top, climbing from the rank 409 the last year to 377 this year. Four members of the Al-Hariri family, who are Bahaa Al-Hariri (491), Saad Al-Hariri (764), Ayman Al-Hariri and Fahd Al-Hariri (960 both) also featured on the list.
Lebanese-origin Mexican businessman Carlos Slim Helu retained his spot as the richest man on the planet according to the agency, which lists the world\'s 20 richest persons.
Slim\'s fortune of $ 67.5 billion stems from holdings in communication, banking and real estate construction. Microsoft owner Bill Gates came in second place with a fortune of $ 61.3 billion. Fellow American Warren Buffett took third place with $ 43.9 billion. The fourth is Swedish Ingvar Kamprad with $ 41.8 billion, and the fifth is the French Bernard Arnault with $ 41.2 billion.
According to the website\'s annual report, the largest number of billionaires is found in the USA which hosts 425 of them, then Asia and the Pacific with 315, Europe with 310, North America (excluding the USA) with 90 and Africa and the Middle East with 86 billionaires.
As for the Middle East, Saudi Prince Al-Walid Ibn Talal is the richest man in the region and numbered 29 internationally with $ 18 billion. After him came Saudi Mohammed Al-Amoudi at 61 with $ 12.5 billion.