Despite the declining fortune, it software magnate Azim Premji is the sole Indian to make the grade among the 50 richest in the world. According to the Sunday Times rich list 2002 published on Sunday, Premji with a fortune worth 4.5 billion pounds — down from 4.8 billion pounds in 2001 — is the 49th richest in the world. America’s Robson Walton with a staggering fortune worth 73 billion pounds is the richest in the world (up from 45.3 billion pounds in 2001) and Bill Gates, Microsoft chief is the second richest (37.5 billion pounds, the same as in 2001). There are as many as 40 NRIs among the richest 1,000 people in Britain with Lakshmi Mittal figuring as the 22nd richest with a fortune of 900 million pounds, down from 1,000 million pounds in 2001. The Hinduja brothers — Srichand and Gopichand — the second richest Asians are listed as the 35th richest in Britain with wealth worth 700 million pounds, the same as the previous year. Lord Swaraj Paul, chairman of Caparo, one of the biggest family-owned steel manufacturers in Britain, retains his position as the sixth richest Asian. With a fortune worth 280 million pounds, he is listed as 122nd richest in Britain richer than Queen Elizabeth II. Incidentally, the Queen Elizabeth II is listed as the 125th richest with a fortune worth 275 million pounds. The Jatania brothers led by 37-year old Mike who are into cosmetics and beauty products are the third richest asian and 52nd richest in Britain with a fortune worth 548 million pounds — up from 300 million pounds in 2001. The Jatania brothers also find a place as one of the 20 richest in the fashion business along with Tom Singh (new look) who is worth 160 million pounds, the same as last year. Bhikhu and Vijay Patel (pharmaceuticals) are the fifth richest Asians and 118th richest in Britain (298 million pounds). Kirit and Meena Pathak, who run Pathak Spices, are listed among the richest husband and wife team. They are worth 45 million pounds. “Mittal’s appetite for gobbling up steel plants has made him a household name in Britain,” the rich list says. In the past year his private lnm Group has taken over the huge but run-down Sidex Plant in Romania, the largest state-owned company with a workforce of 28,000. Mittal took on some debt at sidex and plans a 250million pound investment programme over the next 10 years.
