The Greek Billionaires who Made Forbes’ List for 2021

There are more than ten Greek and Cypriot billionaires who are included on Forbes’ 35th annual list of the world’s wealthiest, published recently.

The number of billionaires throughout the world exploded to an unprecedented 2,755 — when it numbered 660 just more than a year ago.

Altogether these individuals are worth $13.1 trillion, up from $8 trillion on the 2020 list.

Of those, a record high 493 were new to the list – roughly one every 17 hours, including 210 from China and Hong Kong.

According to Forbes, Jeff Bezos is the world’s richest person for the fourth year running, worth $177 billion, up $64 billion from a year ago as a result of surging Amazon shares.

Elon Musk — the biggest gainer in dollar terms — rocketed into the No. 2 spot with a $151 billion fortune, a whopping $126.4 billion more than a year ago, when he ranked No. 31 and was worth $24.6 billion.

French luxury goods tycoon Bernard Arnault holds onto his spot at No. 3 but his fortune nearly doubled to $150 billion.

The top ten richest people are worth $1.15 trillion, up by two-thirds from $686 billion last year. Altogether, Europe’s billionaires are $1 trillion richer than a year ago, Forbes says.

Greek and Cypriot billionaires

Among the list of Forbes billionaires are several Greek and Cypriot entrepreneurs:

• Maritsa Lazari and Family ($2.9 billion-ranked 1,064)
• John Catsimatidis ($2.8 billion-ranked 1,111)
• Philip Niarchos ( $2.8 billion-ranked 1,111)
• Charles Dean Metropoulos ($2.6 billion-ranked 1,205)
• Aristotelis Mistakidis ($2.3 billion-ranked 1,362)
• George Argyros and Family ($2.1 billion-ranked 1,580)
• Ivan Savvidis ($1.7 billion-ranked 1,833)
• Vardis J. Vardinoyannis ($1.5 billion- ranked 2,141)
• Theodore Leonsis ($1.4 billion-ranked 2,141)
• Stelios Haji-Ioannou ($1.3 billion-ranked 2,378)
• Polys Haji-Ioannou ($1.1 billion-ranked 2,524)
• George Yancopoulos ($1.1 billion-ranked 2,524)

As Forbes notes, this year there are four people worth $100 billion or more — up from just one (Bezos) on last year’s list.

Besides Bezos, Musk and Arnault, there’s Bill Gates, who ranks No. 4 at $124 billion, buoyed by the strength of shares he owns in Microsoft, Canadian National Railway and tractor maker Deere & Company.

Rounding out the top five is Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, at $97 billion. He’s worth an eye-popping $42.3 billion more than a year ago; Facebook’s shares have risen 80% in the past year as people around the world used its social media platforms to stay in touch, Forbes says.