The aggregate net worth of the world’s top moguls stood at $1.9 trillion at the market close on 31 December, the index said. Among the standout features was that retail and telecommunications fortunes grew by about 20 per cent on average during the year. Of the 100 people who appeared on the final ranking of 2012, only 16 registered a net loss for the 12-month period, the index said, Bloomberg reported.

As the report pointed out, the growth occurred at a time when equity markets around the world rose last year; the MSCI World Index of developed countries’ shares rose by 13.2 per cent during the year; the Standard and Poor’s 500 Index of equities rose by 13.4 per cent to close.

Carlos Slim, the telecommunications magnate who controls Mexico’s America Movil SAB, held his title as the richest person for the entire year. His net worth rose $13.4 billion - or 21.6 per cent over the year.