Asia's richest families

With Asia's culture of family businesses, it is no wonder that many of the region's largest companies are family firms, with members of the family taking part.

A recent report on CNBC.com compiled a list of Asia's wealthiest families, with data from Wealth-X, a research firm that provides information to private banks and consulting firms.

Net worth was calculated based on public and private holdings, estimated cash salaries, dividends, and all other investible assets.

For each of the families in the list, at least two members play an active part in the business.

The top 20 richest Americans

NEW YORK - Investor George Soros, at 81, has for the first time made the list of the 10 wealthiest Americans, Forbes Magazine reported on Wednesday in the 2011 edition of its annual rich list.

Less surprising, Bill Gates again topped the list with a net worth of US$59 billion (S$75.9 billion), up US$5 billion. The Microsoft founder has been the wealthiest American every year since 1994.


Everyone in the top 20 saw their wealth rise in the past year with the exception of investor Warren Buffett, whose fortune fell by US$6 billion to US$39 billion as the value of his shares in Berkshire Hathaway dropped.