LOOK: 5 of the richest women in tech

MANILA, Philippines - Tech is usually seen as a male-dominated industry, having been dominated by billionaires like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg.

There are a few women who have made it to the top of the tech world, although their wealth is still far from the billions that Gates and Zuckerberg have.

To compare, Gates has a net worth of $85.1 billion, while Hewlette Packard CEO Meg Whitman, the richest woman in tech, has a net worth of $1.3 billion.

Here are the five wealthiest women in the technology sector, according to Wealth-X.

Mobile users can view the desktop version of the slideshow here.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

8 predictions for the super-rich in Year of the Goat

MANILA, Philippines - The Chinese Year of the Goat starts today, February 19.

Wealth-X gave 8 predictions for the ultra high net worth (UHNW) population in China for the coming year:

1. Social mobility will drive an increase in China’s UHNW population in the lowest wealth tiers;

2. UHNW wealth is expected to grow at a faster rate than the Chinese UHNW population, with an additional $80 billion of wealth being created during the year;

3. Flows of UHNW wealth outside of China will increase, with 5 percent more of UHNW assets held in foreign businesses;

4. Tier 1 cities will increase in relevance with 60 percent of China’s UHNW population calling the four cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou home by the end of the year;

5. Public wealth is expected to grow faster than private wealth in China with an additional $45 billion held in public companies;

6. Luxury spending in China will decrease by 4 percent due to the government’s anti-corruption crackdown;

7. Chinese philanthropy will increase this year, with a 24 percent rise in the number of private foundations established;

8. The number of UHNW expatriates in China will increase by 40 percent over the course of the year.

The Goat is the eighth zodiac sign in the 12-symbol Chinese horoscope.

Wealth-X data shows that 8.4 percent of the world's UHNW population was born in the year of the Goat, the fourth most common Chinese Zodiac sign for UHNW individuals.

Goat UHNW individuals have the lowest proportion of fully self-made UHNW individuals and these individuals are 10 percent wealthier than the global average for UHNW individuals.

Although only six percent of all Goat UHNW individuals are involved in the technology sector, the most prominent "goat" is Bill Gates.

Gates, who founded Microsoft, is the world's richest man. He was born in 1955, another year of the Goat.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

5 bachelor billionaires you should know

MANILA, Philippines - Still looking for that tall, handsome and wealthy guy to sweep you off your feet?

Wealth-X, a leading ultra high net worth intelligence and prospecting firm, has compiled a list of the wealthiest, youngest and most eligible bachelors in the world.

"They’re all under the age of 35 and richer than Midas – and single," Wealth-X said.

1. Scott Duncan, 32

The American billionaire is estimated to be worth $5.5 billion. Duncan, who lives in Houston, is the only son of the Duncan family, which made its money through energy company Enterprise Products.

2. Thomas Persson, 30

Persson, the son of Sweden's richest man Stefan Persson, is estimated to have a net worth of $2.8 billion. His family owns fast fashion giant H&M, where his older brother Karl-Johan is president and CEO.

3. Evan Thomas Spiegel, 24

The founder of popular mobile app Snapchat has an estimated net wealth of $1.7 billion. Spiegel started Snapchat with a fellow Stanford University student, Filipino-American Bobby Murphy.

4. Carl Erik Hagen, 27

Hagen is the only son and heir to Norwegian holding company Canica. The Norwegian is estimated to be worth $1.7 billion.

5. Prince Albert II Maria Lamoral Miguel Johannes Gabriel von Thurn and Taxis, 31

 The German aristocrat's net wealth is estimated at $1.5 billion. He is also known as a champion racing car driver.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Which billionaire lost $7B of his fortune in 2014?

MANILA, Philippines - This billionaire earned an extra $18.5 billion in 2014, making him the biggest financial gainer of the year, according to Wealth-X. Another billionaire, on the other hand, lost $7 billion, making him the biggest financial loser of 2014.

Wealth-X, a leading ultra high net worth intelligence and prospecting firm, said Alibaba founder and executive chairman Jack Ma added $18.5 billion to his wealth this year, bringing his total net worth to $29.2 billion. The 173 percent increase in his fortune was attributed to Alibaba's blockbuster IPO in September, and its stock's continued strong performance.

Highly-respected investor Warren Buffet ranked second on Wealth-X's list of top financial gainers, with a $13.5 billion increase in his fortune to $72.6 billion in 2014.

Bill Gates, who is still the world's richest man, added another $10.5 billion to his wealth in 2014 to reach $83.1 billion.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg saw his fortune increase by $8.4 billion to reach $33.1 billion this year.

French-Israeli businessman Patrick Drahi added $5.1 billion to his wealth to hit $12.9 billion in 2014. Drahi founded telecommunications company Altice, which raised $1.8 billion from an IPO in January.

Biggest loser

Wealth-X also compiled the year's biggest financial losers.

Russian billionaire Leonid Mikhelson lost $7 billion, more than 40 percent of his wealth, due to the plunging Russian ruble, as well as weak oil prices. Mikhelson, who is the biggest shareholder of natural gas producer Novatek, is now worth $10 billion.

Japanese tycoon Masayoshi Son, who is the CEO of Soft Bank, saw a $5.9 billion reduction of his wealth this year, bringing it to $13.2 billion.

Hong Kong's second richest man Lui Chee Woo lost $5.5 billion of his fortune in 2014. His wealth is now at $14.1 billion. He is the chairman of K. Wah Group, which owns Galaxy Entertainment Group.

Amazon president, chairman and CEO Jeff Bezos' wealth was also reduced by $5.5 billlion this year, leaving him with $28.9 billion.

Sheldon Adelson, who is chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands, lost $5.2 billion of his fortune this year. His wealth is now estimated at $30.1 billion.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Who's the richest footballer in Europe?

MANILA, Philippines - Who is the wealthiest football player in Europe?

As the European football season kicks off, Wealth-X released its list of the richest footballer playing in the European football leagues. Wealth-X is the world’s leading ultra high net worth intelligence and prospecting firm.

The 10 footballers on the list are collectively worth more than $1 billion. Most of them play for clubs in Spain, France and the United Kingdom.

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is the richest footballer in Europe, and in the world, with an estimated net worth of $230 million.

Ronaldo, who won UEFA's Best Player in Europe on Thursday, is the world's most expensive footballer, costing $132 million when he was transferred from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009.

On second spot is Argentine star Lionel Messi who is worth an estimated $180 million. The FC Barcelona star is also the richest non-European footballer playing in the continent.

In third place is Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who plays for Paris St-Germain. His net worth is estimated at $100 million.

In fourth place is British star Wayne Rooney, who plays for Manchester United. He is worth an estimated $95 million.

Ranked fifth is Chelsea player Didier Drogba, whose net worth is estimated at $90 million.

Here's the top 10 richest players in Europe:
1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) $230 million
2 Lionel Messi (Barcelona) $180 million
3 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris St-Germain)$100 million
4 Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) $95 million
5 Didier Drogba (Chelsea) $90 million
6 Samuel Eto’o (Everton ) $75 million
7 Yaya Toure (Manchester City) $70 million
8 Frank Lampard (Manchester City) $60 million
9 Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) $55 million
10 Fernando Torres (Chelsea) $50 million.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Which billionaire made $37-M a day in 2013?

MANILA, Philippines - Which billionaire made the biggest financial gain in 2013?

According to Wealth-X's calculations, American business magnate and investor Warren Buffet made $37 million (around P1.64 billion) a day in 2013.

In 2013, Buffett's net worth grew by $12.3 billion to $59.1 billion, making him number 1 on Wealth-X's list of billionaires who made the biggest financial gains this year.

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates ranked second on the list, with an $11.5 billion increase in his net worth to $72.6 billion as of end 2013.

On third spot is American casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, whose net worth jumped by $11.4 billion to $35.4 billion.

Fourth place is Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos with an $11.3 billion increase in his net worth to $34.4 billion, followed by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg with a $10.5 billion increase in his net worth to $19.1 billion.

The top 10 includes Japanese Softbank founder Masayoshi Son; Google founder Sergey Brin and Larry Page; Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd. founder Lui Che-Woo and prominent investor Carl Icahn.

Wealth-X said the individuals on the top 10 list collectively gained $101.8 billion in 2013, an average gain of $10.2 billion each.

On average, the top 10 made $29 million per day in 2013, and increased their wealth by 41.6%.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com