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The World's Billionaires list: Three decades of ten-figure fortunes

Published: Apr 11, 2017 07:31:22 AM IST
Updated: Apr 11, 2017 10:45:35 AM IST

We're nothing if not masters of timing. nearly 30 years ago, on October 5, 1987, Forbes published its first tally of the world’s billionaires. Exactly two weeks later, on Black Monday, the Dow plummeted by 22 percent in one session, severely denting some of those fortunes. Our luck has since improved: This year, amid global strength in stock and commodities markets, the worldwide billionaire count has reached 2,043, an all-time high (just 140 made our inaugural class). Geographic and gender diversity have increased, too—the former much more than the latter. Here’s a (very ritzy) walk down memory lane.

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The World's Billionaires list: Three decades of ten-figure fortunes

(This story appears in the 28 April, 2017 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)

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