Number of Russian billionaires rises to 101

The number of billionaires in Russia grew to 101 from 62 last year.

In a recent survey of the world s richest people, leading Russia s billionaires is steel baron Vladimir Lisin. His estimated personal wealth of $24 billion has increased by some $10 billion since last year, moving him up 18 notches to place 14th among the richest.

Lisin, one of Russia s secretive tycoons, is followed by another metal magnate, Alexei Mordashov, the major shareholder and chief executive of Russia s biggest steelmaker Severstal. Mordashov moved to 29 on the list from 70 a year ago.

He replaced Mikhail Prokhorov, owner of the New Jersey Nets basketball team in the United States, as Russia s second-richest man. Russia s billionaires are known for fantastic displays of wealth that include buying sport teams around the world.

Russia accounts for a third of Europe s 300 billionaires, and 15 of the world s 100 richest people, more than all the other so-called BRIC countries combined (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and more than Saudi Arabia, and its capital Moscow is home to 79 of Russia s billionaires, more than any other city in the world.