Photographs: Reuters.
The world has 1,210 billionaires with a combined wealth of $4.5 trillion, according to The Forbes magazine.
There are more billionaires from BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) nations than from Europe. Brazil, Russia, India and China are home to 108 of the 214 new billionaires.
Meet the richest people in 30 countries...
1. Carlos Slim Helu (Mexico)
World rank: 1
Net worth: $63.3 bn
Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim Helu beat Americans Bill Gates and Warren Buffett as the wealthiest person on earth. He is also the richest Mexican.
(Net worth as of Nov 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Photographs: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters.
Mukesh Ambani (India)
World rank: 9
Net worth: $22.6 billion
Mukesh Ambani is the richest Indian. Chairman of Reliance Industries, Mukesh Ambani retained the title of India's richest man, with a net worth of $22.6 billion this year, despite seeing a drop of $4.4 billion.
(Net worth as of Nov 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Photographs: Charles Platiau/Reuters.
Bill Gates (United States)
World rank: 2
Net worth: $59 billion
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft is the richest Amercian.
(Net worth as of Nov 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Photographs: Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters.
Bernard Arnault (France)
World rank: 4
Net worth: $41 billion
Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of the French conglomerate LVMH is the richest man in France.
(Net worth as of Nov 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Photographs: Miguel Vidal/Reuters.
Amancio Ortega (Spain)
World rank: 7
Net worth: $31 billion
Amancio Ortega, a fashion entrepreneur is the richest man in Spain.
(Net worth as of Nov 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Photographs: Paulo Whitaker/Reuters.
Eike Batista (Brazil)
World rank: 8
Net Worth: $30 billion
Entrepreneur and president of the EBX Group, Batista is the wealtiest in Brazil.
(Net worth as of Mar 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Photographs: Bobby Yip/Reuters.
Li Ka-Shing (Hong Kong)
World rank: 11
Net Worth: $22 billion
Chairman, Hutchison Whampoa Ltd, Li Ka-Shing is the richest man in Hong Kong.
(Net worth as of November 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Karl Albrecht (Germany)
World rank: 12
New Worth: $25.5 bn
Karl Albrecht is a German entrepreneur who founded the discount supermarket chain Aldi.
(Net worth as of March 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Stefan Persson (Sweden)
World rank: 13
Net worth: $24.5 billion
Stefan Persson is the chairman and main shareholder in fashion company Hennes & Mauritz (H&M).
(Net worth as of March 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Vladimir Lisin (Russia)
World rank:14
Net worth: $24 billion
Steel tycoon Vladimir Lisin is the richest man in Russia. He is the chairman of Novolipetsk Steel.
(Net worth as of March 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Photographs: Fred Greenslade/Reuters.
David Thomson & family (Canada)
World rank: 17
Net worth: $23 billion
David Thomson was the chairman of Thomson Corporation since 2002 and after the acquisition of Reuters, he is now the chairman of the merged entity, Thomson Reuters.
(Net worth as of Nov 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Photographs: Paul Hackett/Reuters.
Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud (Saudi Arabia)
World rank: 26
Net worth: $19.6 billion
Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud is a member of the Saudi royal family. He is the nephew of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.
An entrepreneur and international investor, he made a fortune with investments in real estate and the stock market.
(Net worth as of Mar 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Michele Ferrero & family (Italy)
World rank: 32
Net worth: $18 billion
Michele Ferrero owns one of Europe's largest chocolate companies, Ferrero SpA.
(Net worth as of March 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Aliko Dangote (Nigeria)
World rank: 51
Net worth: $13.8 billion
Aliko Dangote is the owner of the Dangote Group, which has operations in several countries.
(Net worth as of March 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Photographs: Toby Melville/Reuters.
Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor & family (United Kingdom)
World rank: 57
Net worth: $13 billion
Gerald Cavendish, the Duke of Westminster is the owner of property company Grosvenor Group.
(Net worth as of March 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Robert Kuok (Malaysia)
World rank: 61
Net worth: $12.5 billion
Most of his businesses are privately held by him or his family. Apart from a range of businesses in Malaysia, his companies have investments in many Asian countries.
(Net worth as of March 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Photographs: Reuters.
John Fredriksen (Cyprus)
World rank: 71
Net worth: $10.7 billion
John Fredriksen is a shipping tycoon who owns world's largest oil tanker fleet.
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The richest people in 30 countries
Photographs: Reuters.
Stefan Quandt (Germany)
World rank: 72
Net worth: $10.7 billion
A German engineer and industrialist, Stefan Quandt owns 17.4 per cent stake in auto maker BMW.
(Net worth as of March 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Photographs: Fredy Builes/Reuters.
Luis Carlos Sarmiento (Columbia)
World rank: 75
Net worth: $10.5 billion
Luis Carlos Sarmiento is the president of banking conglomerate Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores, SA, of which he is the majority shareholder.
(Net worth as of March 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Horst Paulmann & family (Chile)
World rank: 76
Net worth: $10.5 billion
Horst Paulmann is the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Cencosud.
(Net worth as of Nov 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Photographs: Stephanie McGehee/Reuters.
Nasser Al-Kharafi & family (Kuwait)
World rank: 77
Net worth: $10.4 billion
Chairman of M.A. Kharafi & Sons, Nasser Al-Kharafi is the richest man in Kuwait. His business spans across engineering, construction, maintenance to other services related to oil, water resources and management, chemicals, power and energy and food.
(Net worth as of March 2011)
...
The richest people in 30 countries
Sammy Ofer & family (Israel)
World rank: 79
Net worth: $10.3 billion
Sammy Ofer is a shipping tycoon in Israel.
(Net worth as of Nov 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Photographs: Denis Balibouse/Reuters.
Ernesto Bertarelli & family (Switzerland)
World rank: 81
Net worth: $10 bn
In 1996, Bertarelli became the CEO and deputy chairman of Serono, a pharmaceutical company founded by his father.
Later, the company was sold to Merck KGaA in January 2007 for $13.3 billion, forming the new company Merck-Serono. Bertarelli and his sister split a combined $9 billion stake.
(Net worth as of Nov 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Photographs: Denis Balibouse/Reuters.
Robin Li (China)
World rank:95
Net worth: $9.4 bn
A Chinese entrepreneur, he is the co-founder of China's most popular search engine Baidu.
(Net worth as of Nov 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Petr Kellner (Czech Republic)
World rank: 97
Net worth: $9.2 bn
The wealthiest man in the Czech Republic, Kellner owns 94.36 per cent of PPF group.
(Net worth as of Nov 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Rina Ginehart (Australia)
World rank: 100
Net worth: $9 bn
A mining entrepreneur, Rina Ginehart is the heiress of Hancock Prospecting.
(Net worth as of Nov 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Pallonji Mistry (Ireland)
World rank: 103
Net worth: $8.8 bn
It may come as a big surprise to most readers, but Mistry, construction tycoon is indeed the richest man in Ireland.
He is the chairman of Shapoorji Pallonji Group, which has 18.5 per cent stake in Tata Sons.
(Net worth as of Nov 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Photographs: Lee Jae-Won/Reuters.
Lee Kun-Hee (South Korea)
World rank: 105
Net worth: $8.6 bn
Chairman of Samsung Electronics, Lee Kun-Hee is the richest person in South Korea.
(Net worth as of Nov 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Masayoshi Son (Japan)
World rank: 113
Net worth: $8.1 billion
Masayoshi Son is the founder and chief executive officer of SoftBank Capital, and the chief executive officer of SoftBank Mobile.
(Net worth as of Nov 2011)
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The richest people in 30 countries
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken (The Netherlands)
World rank: 124
Net worth: $7.5 billion
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken is the owner of a controlling interest in the world's third-largest brewer, Heineken International.
(Net worth as of Nov 2011)
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