5 Billionaires Surprisingly Richer Than An Entire Nation

By siliconindia | Friday, 28 March 2014, 11:42 Hrs

4. The Koch Brothers

Total Wealth: $40 Billion each

Charles Koch, the co-owner and the CEO of Koch Industries was the sixth richest man in the world as Forbes estimated his wealth to be $34 billion. Similarly, David Koch the co-owner and the Executive Vice President of the Koch Industries stood at seventh position on the rich list with a net worth of $34 billion in 2013. Both the brothers inherited their father’s businesses during those days when Koch Industries was mainly into oil refining. Later, they extended their business to fields like commodity trading and services, consumer products, Lycra fiber, Dixie paper products, process and pollution control equipments and technologies. As of now, the Koch Brothers total net worth is $40 billion each that is more than Panama’s total GDP in 2012, $36.25 billion. Panamanian economy is considered as one of the fastest growing and best managed in Latin America and the country is into banking, commerce, tourism, and trading.

5. Christy Walton

Total Wealth: $37.6 Billion

Wal-Mart heir Christy Walton is the first highest-ranking woman in this list with total wealth of $36.7 billion. She inherited her fortune from her late husband John T. Walton-the son of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. She inherited $18.2 billion in 2005 following the death of her husband in a plane crash. Her current net worth is $36.7billion. Wal-Mart contributes to increase her fortune in bulk along with First Solar, where her husband had invested heavily. She was declared world’s ninth richest person in November 2013. Condé Nast Portfolio magazine ranked her as the highest female philanthropist.

The San Diego Natural History Museum, The Philanthropy Roundtable, national association of trustees and staff and the San Diego Zoological Society are the organizations to which she makes regular donations. Today Christy’s wealth is more when compared to Jordan’s total GDP in 2012 that’s around $31.01 billion. This country is classified as the “upper middle income” by the World Bank and their economy is mainly dependent on insufficient supplies of water, oil and other natural resources.