Vagit Alekperov, Russia
2009 Net Worth: $7.8 billion
Deputy minister in the Soviet oil industry, in 1991 took three large ministry-controlled oil fields--Langepas, Urai and Kogalym (LUK)--and set up Lukoil, which was soon privatized in favor of Alekperov-controlled management. Now president of Lukoil, Russia's largest independent energy company. The firm's reserves are second only to ExxonMobil. Alekperov owns more than 20 of the company; upped his stake in past year.
Amancio Ortega, Spain
2009 Net Worth: $18.3 billion
With then-wife Rosalia Mera, also now a billionaire, started making dressing gowns and lingerie in their living room. Business became one of world's most successful apparel manufacturers. Today, Inditex has more than 4,000 stores in 71 countries. Sales: $12.3 billion. Ortega is chairman. Company exported its cheap chic Zara stores to four new markets last year: Ukraine, South Korea, Montenegro and Honduras.
Bernard Arnault, France
2009 Net Worth: $16.5 billion
France's richest man lost $9 billion in the past year as shares of his $22 billion (sales) luxury goods group, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, dropped 29. Sailing into new waters: bought Princess Yachts, one of Britain's oldest luxury motorboat manufacturers, last summer; picked up yacht builder Royal van Lent soon after. Via his investment arm, Groupe Arnault, owns French tour operator Go Voyages and has a stake in French retailer Carrefour.
Ernesto Bertarelli, Switzerland
2009 Net Worth: $8.2 billion
Took helm of biotech company Serono in 1996; inherited the business after father's death in 1998. Put Serono on the block in 2006, eventually selling to Germany's Merck in 2007. With his sisters, pocketed $9 billion. Avid sailor won the America's Cup for the second time with his Team Alinghi in 2007. In legal battle with fellow billionaire Larry Ellison to determine the rules of the next cup.
François Pinault & family, France
2009 Net Worth: $7.6 billion
Majority shareholder of luxury goods group PPR (formerly Pinault-Printemps-Redoute), whose brands include Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and Puma. Son François-Henri, who married actress Salma Hayek on Valentine's Day 2009, is chief executive of PPR; its stock has dropped by more than half in past year. Pinault also owns Chateau Latour, a winery that's been around since 1331, and auction house Christie's, which is restructuring itself and cutting staff amid the downturn.
Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor and family, United Kingdom
2009 Net Worth: $11 billion
The sixth Duke of Westminster is the U.K.'s wealthiest landowner. His Grosvenor property group has valuable holdings in the posh Mayfair and Belgravia neighborhoods of London where rents have fallen almost a third since last spring. Group recently entered into negotiations with banks to refinance debt of its troubled retail arm.
Hans Rausing, Sweden
2009 Net Worth: $10 billion
Father founded packaging giant Tetra Laval in 1944. Hans and brother Gad inherited the business. Hans sold his share to Gad for estimated $7 billion in 1995. Moved to U.K. in early 1980s to avoid punitive Swedish taxes. Resides on a 900-acre estate in village of Wadhurst in East Sussex; spends time collecting vintage cars.
Ingvar Kamprad and family, Sweden
2009 Net Worth: $22 billion
Opened first Ikea store 50 years ago; store's name is a combination of initials of his first and last name, his family farm and the nearest village. Retired in 1986; company's "senior adviser" still reportedly works tirelessly on his brand. Revenues up 7 to $27.4 billion in fiscal year 2008. Three sons all work at the company.
Liliane Bettencourt, France
2009 Net Worth: $13.4 billion
Europe's richest woman and L'Oreal's biggest shareholder is embroiled in a sensational scandal. Only daughter and heir, Françoise Bettencourt-Meyers, petitioned courts to investigate reported $1 billion worth of cash and gifts her mother allegedly gave to François-Marie Banier, 61, a well-known photographer, writer and painter whom she befriended. Daughter claims Banier took advantage of her mother, who became a widow in November 2007. Liliane denies it; mother and daughter apparently no longer speak. Case now in court.
Michael Otto and family, Germany
2009 Net Worth: $13.2 billion
Otto family's shopping center outfit. ECE Group. is taking advantage of weak markets to make inroads in America; recently agreed to buy stake in struggling U.S. mall giant Developers Diversified Realty. Already owns most of Crate & Barrel. Family's Paramount Group bought Deutsche Bank's Wall Street headquarters in 2007; reportedly paid a record price per square foot for lower Manhattan. Michael retired that same year after 26 years as chief executive; still heads supervisory board of $14.8 billion (sales) Otto Group.