Jack Ma (Alibaba), Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Patrick Drahi are this year’s top gainers

The Biggest Gainers And Losers Of 2014. Wealth-X study.

According to Wealth-X, the biggest gainer of 2014 was Alibaba founder and executive chairman Jack Ma, the former English teacher-turned billionaire entrepreneur. Ma’s fortune swelled by
US$18.5 billion this year to US$29.2 billion, representing an increase of 173%, largely due to Alibaba’s blockbuster IPO in September and the subsequent strong performance of the company’s stock.

Legendary investor Warren Buffett came in second place on the Wealth-X list of this year’s top gainers. The Berkshire Hathaway chairman raked in US$13.5 billion in 2014, a 23% increase from last year, to push his fortune to US$72.6 billion. The world’s richest man, Bill Gates, saw his net worth grow by US$10.5 billion in 2014 to reach US$83.1 billion, earning him third place on the Wealth-X ranking of this year’s biggest gainers.

The individual who lost the most money this year is Russian tycoon Leonid Mikhelson. The biggest shareholder of natural gas producer Novatek lost US$7 billion, or 41% of his wealth, in 2014, due to the plummeting Russian currency, weak oil prices and economic sanctions imposed by the West over the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Mikhelson’s fortune now stands at US$10 billion.

The biggest gainers and losers of 2014, according to Wealth-X, one of the world’s leading ultra high net worth (UHNW) intelligence firm
Biggest Gainers of 2014:

1. Jack Ma:
Net Worth In Dec 2013 (US$ billion) – 10.7;
Net Worth In Dec 2014 (US$ billion) – 29.2;
Gain/Loss (US$ billion) – 18.5;
Gain/Loss (%) 173%.
2. Warren Buffett:
Net Worth In Dec 2013 (US$ billion) – 59.1;
Net Worth In Dec 2014 (US$ billion) – 72.6;
Gain/Loss (US$ billion) – 13.5;
Gain/Loss (%) 23%.
3. Bill Gates:
Net Worth In Dec 2013 (US$ billion) – 72.6;
Net Worth In Dec 2014 (US$ billion) – 83.1;
Gain/Loss (US$ billion) – 10.5;
Gain/Loss (%) 14%.

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4. Mark Zuckerberg
Net Worth In Dec 2013 (US$ billion) – 24.7;
Net Worth In Dec 2014 (US$ billion) – 33.1;
Gain/Loss (US$ billion) – 8.4;
Gain/Loss (%) 34%.
5. Patrick Drahi
Net Worth In Dec 2013 (US$ billion) – 7.8;
Net Worth In Dec 2014 (US$ billion) – 12.9;
Gain/Loss (US$ billion) 5.1;
Gain/Loss (%) 65%.

The biggest losers of 2014, according to Wealth-X:

1. Leonid Mikhelson
Net Worth In Dec 2013 (US$ billion) – 17;
Net Worth In Dec 2014 (US$ billion) – 10;
Gain/Loss (US$ billion) -7;
Gain/Loss (%) -41%.

2. Masayoshi Son
Net Worth In Dec 2013 (US$ billion) – 19.1;
Net Worth In Dec 2014 (US$ billion) – 13.2;
Gain/Loss (US$ billion) -5.9;
Gain/Loss (%) -31%.
3. Lui Chee Woo
Net Worth In Dec 2013 (US$ billion) – 19.6;
Net Worth In Dec 2014 (US$ billion) – 14.1;
Gain/Loss (US$ billion) -5.5;
Gain/Loss (%) -28%.
4. Jeff Bezos
Net Worth In Dec 2013 (US$ billion) – 34.4;
Net Worth In Dec 2014 (US$ billion) – 28.9;
Gain/Loss (US$ billion) -5.5;
Gain/Loss (%) -16%.
5. Sheldon Adelson
Net Worth In Dec 2013 (US$ billion) – 35.3;
Net Worth In Dec 2014 (US$ billion) – 30.1;
Gain/Loss (US$ billion) -5.2;
Gain/Loss (%) -15%.