In the latest version of the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, eight Swiss or Swiss-resident names figure among the 500 richest people in the world.
The richest of the Alpine-based billionaires is Geneva-based Ernesto Bertarelli, who according to his own self-description is a “Swiss entrepreneur active in the fields of business, finance, sport and philanthropy”.
Bertarelli is worth some $20.4 billion (CHF18.4 billion), according to the Bloomberg list, where he sits in 92nd place overall.
Behind him in 241st spot comes fellow Swiss-based Italian Gianluigi Aponte, whose $10 billion fortune stems mainly from his ownership of the Mediterranean Shipping Company, headquartered in Geneva.
Then there is Hansjörg Wyss (280th), Blocher siblings Magdalena Martullo and Rahel (334th and 342nd), and various shareholding families of pharma giant Roche: André Hoffmann (430th), Vera Michalski-Hoffmann (453rd) and Maja Hoffmann (454th).
Americans in top slot
Americans take nine of the top ten spots on the list, with Jeff Bezos topping the ranking with $190 billion. After Frenchman Bernard Arnault in second place, come the trio of Elon Musk (who has “slipped” in recent months due to the falling share price of Tesla), Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg.
Switzerland’s own unofficial “rich list” is usually drawn up by the Bilanz magazine, who in their 2020 edition put at the top of the list the family of Swedish-born (and deceased) Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad, with CHF56 billion. The Kamprad family is followed by the Hoffmans and Oeris, who control Roche (CHF29-30 billion), Gérard Wertheimer, the main shareholder of Chanel (CHF25 billion), the Safra family, active in the field of private banks and real estate (CHF21-22 billion), and the Blocher family (CHF15-16 billion).
While these fortunes are counted in billions, there are also a considerable number of millionaires in Switzerland. These numbered 438,000 in 2019, according to the Capgemini World Wealth Report 2020.
More
More
Switzerland boasts more millionaires but Covid-19 casts shadow
This content was published on
The number of wealthy people rose sharply last year in Switzerland as well as globally.
Two decades after tsunami, Swiss tourists flock to Southeast Asia
This content was published on
Twenty years after a catastrophic tsunami in Southeast Asia, the region is again a top destination for Swiss, including at Christmas.
Swiss forests better equipped for storms 25 years after Lothar
This content was published on
Twenty-five years after Hurricane Lothar wreaked havoc in Switzerland, the country’s forests are now better prepared, experts say.
Media: Swiss medical services done abroad are billed at Swiss rates
This content was published on
In Switzerland, some medical services carried out abroad are still billed at Swiss rates, despite costing less, RTS reports.
This content was published on
Sophie Hediger, a member of the Swiss national snowboard cross team, has died in an avalanche in Arosa. She was 26 years old.
This content was published on
Several Swiss films exceeded the 100,000 admissions mark worldwide in 2024 and received widespread praise at international film festivals.
Swiss Alpine resorts covered in white gold for Christmas
This content was published on
Many areas at low altitudes in Switzerland are enjoying a blanket of snow. In the mountains, intense precipitation has delighted skiers.
SWISS makes emergency landing in Austria after smoke in cockpit
This content was published on
Swiss International Airlines (SWISS) made an emergency landing of an Airbus in Graz, Austria on Monday evening after engine problems.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Roche heirs remain richest in Switzerland
This content was published on
The 300 richest people in Switzerland saw their combined fortunes fall slightly in 2020, as some sectors were hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.