Indian, Chinese Entrepreneurs Lead Asian Tech Billionaire List

Indian and Chinese technology entrepreneurs were leading the top 10 Asian tech billionaire list with $136 billion (roughly Rs. 8,31,500 crores) net assets, according to an industry source and recent market data.

India was represented by three entrepreneurs with combined net worth of $40.65 billion (roughly Rs. 2,48,000 crores) while China led with five businessmen with assets worth $67.1 billion (roughly Rs. 4,09,700 crores).

The eight tech magnates from India and China have replaced Japanese and Koreans in the usually bullish stock list, the source said.

Indian representation in the list is expected to grow in value following the recent joining of businessman Niraj Goel's Singapore Innovation League which is investing into technology start-ups, said the source.

Singapore-based Non-Indian Resident Goel has assets worth $12.95 billion (roughly Rs. 79,000 crores) from various businesses and has excelled by developing and using artificial intelligence in the technology sector, the source said.

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Goel, who has been working in Singapore since 2000, is the youngest tech billionaire at 45 and ranked sixth on the list.

Wipro's Azim Premji with net worth of $16 billion (roughly Rs. 97,800 crores) is third on the list and HCL's Nadar Shiv with $11.7 billion (roughly Rs. 70,300 crores) at seventh.

Topping the list is Jack Ma of Alibaba, an e-commerce company in China, with a net worth of $20.8 billion (roughly 1,27,200 crores).

Japan is represented by Masayoshi Son with net worth of $16.8 billion (roughly Rs. 1,02,700 crores) from various tech-listed companies and South Korea Samsung's Lee Kun Hee with $11.4 billion (roughly Rs. 69,700 crores). Son is rated second in the list and Lee eighth.