Forbes: Ex-PM Ivanishvili worth $5.2bn USD in 2014

Former Georgian Prime Minister and billionaire businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili is ranked in 270 position in Forbes magazine's annual list of the world's billionaires, with an estimated worth of $5.2 billion USD.

Ivanishvili's wealth in last year's list was estimated at a similar level - $5.3 billion USD and ranked in 229 position.

Forbes' "World's Richest People" list was unveiled today, ranking the wealthiest billionaires on the planet.

According to Forbes, there are 1,645 billionaires around the world.

On the Forbes website, Ivanishvili’s profile stated he was "Georgia's richest person by far”.

"The 56-year-old businessman lives in an 108,000 futuristic glass-and-steel compound looking down on the rooftops in the Georgian capital city Tbilisi.”

"He made his money in Russia and moved back home in 2003. Over the years, he sold off his businesses and reinvested proceeds in gold, Russian and American equities, and art.”

Ivanishvili has a personal collection worth $1 billion USD, which includes Dora Maar with Cat by Pablo Picasso, which he bought at Sotheby's in 2006 for USD $95 million.

The US magazine reported Ivanishvili also spent/invested $3 billion USD of his personal money on several social and charitable projects in Georgia.

However, two other Georgians are among the world richest men. In 828th place there is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Eurasia, Alexander Japaridze owning assets of USD 2.1 billion and David Iakobashvili with USD 1.2 billion.  

Topping the list was Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates, who reclaimed the top spot after a four-year hiatus, toppling Mexico's telecom magnate Carlos Slim Helu.

Gates’ net worth increased by $9 billion USD in the last year – to a total worth of $76 billion USD, while Helu placed second at $72 billion USD.

Gates has topped the list in 15 of the last 20 years.

About 10 % of the list were female, with 172 women compared with 138 in 2013.