While Chinese stocks are underperforming their Japanese neighbors', the decision of which Asian language to learn (in order to potentially better your future) is clear. As Hurun Research notes, half of the richest women in the world (with assets in excess of $1 billion) are from China - including 3 from the Top 5 and 6 of the Top 10. Asia was home to the highest number of billionaires this year with most of them operating in real estate sector. The total wealth of the 1453 billionaires amounted to a staggering US$5.5 trillion, the equivalent of China’s GDP and the so-called 'Ten-Zero-Club' - individuals with over USD10bn - grew by 25 to 108 people. The USA still ranks #1 (exceptionally) for the country with the most billionaires - at 409!

Via Shanghai Daily,

One out of four on the list of 50 richest women in China is involved in real estate business. And 18 percent of them are in the financial sector. Also from the real estate sector is Chen Lihua, 72, of Fu Wah International, who ranks No. 2 on the list with 37 billion yuan of self-earned wealth. According to Hurun, half of the richest women in the world with assets valued in excess of US$1 billion are from China, including three among the top five and six among the top ten. Rupert Hoogewerf, founder of Hurun Research Institute, said: "This generation of Chinese women entrepreneurs have not only earned themselves a high status in their country, but also secured an unshakable position on the global stage.”

And if you are shooting for the moon, dust off the James Bond tuxedo and head over to meet Yang Huiyan. At 32, she is the heiress to property developer Country Garden, and has retaken the title of China’s richest woman from another property tycoon Wu Yajun, 49, this year, according to the Hurun List of Richest Women in China 2013 released today.





Via Hurun.net,

On the 2013 list, Hurun Report has ranked 1453 individuals with personal wealth of US$1 billion or more. Asia was home to the highest number of billionaires this year with most of them operating in real estate sector. The total wealth of the 1453 billionaires amounted to a staggering US$5.5 trillion, the equivalent of China’s GDP. The average age is 63. One in ten is female. This past year has seen a rebound in the wealth of private sector. Stock markets in the US have risen and the US dollar has got stronger, rising against the Brazilian Real by 19%, Indian Rupee by 12% and Japanese Yen by 6%, making it harder for locals to make the cut-off. The Hurun Global Top Ten grew by 26% on average. The so-called ‘Ten-Zero Club’ – individuals with US$10bn – grew by 25 individuals to 108 billionaires. Real Estate produced the most billionaires – 219, accounting for 16% of the entire list. The USA:Ranks No 1 with 409 billionaires. Investments, TMT and retail are the top three sources of wealth for American billionaires, with 102, 88 and 40 billionaires respectively. The combined wealth of the US billionaires is US$1712bn, with New York as their capital.

And in graphic format from a different source (via Visual.ly):