Cha-Ching! Arabs Leave Their Mark on Forbes’ Annual Billionaires List

By Farrah Hamid

March 16, 2010

It’s that time of the year again – when all of us common folk get blinded by the dollar-bill-hued light emanating from the stars on Forbes Magazine’s annual list of the world’s top billionaires. What, us, jealous, over gajillions of moolah that could easily propel a growing Muslim lifestyle website into Facebook-esque proportions? Nah! (We’re after you though Zuckerberg. You wunderkinds and your millions).

Surprisingly, we were actually expecting more individuals from Muslim-majority countries on this list, what with all the hype over Saudi oil sheikhs and their diamond encrusted Benzes. Guess that pesky recession didn’t make much of a difference for Bill Gates after all!

Still, the Middle East wasn’t without its lucky winners in the top 100, and you won’t see too many tall tales of extravagance here (well, aside from the purchases of an Airbus or two). Three out of the four are self-made billionaires, launching some of the most lucrative businesses in the world. Below are the 4 Middle Eastern billionaires that made it to the top 100 of Forbes esteemed list.

So sit back, relax, grab some popcorn and that ever-growing stack of bills – because it’s time for a weep-fest:

#19 – Prince alWaleed-Bin-Talal

Country: Saudi Arabia

Net worth: $19.4 bil

Why we’re dying of jealousy: He’s got his own Airbus A380

#64 – Mohammed Al Amoudi

Country: Saudi Arabia

Net worth: $10.0 bil

Why we’re dying of jealousy: He owns a gold mine (literally) in Ethiopia

#77 – Nasser Al-Kharafi & family

Country: Kuwait

Net worth: $8.7 bil