World's richest lose $117 billion in one-day market meltdown

Bloomberg – Twenty-one members of the Bloomberg Billionaires Index lost $1 billion or more as investors reacted to stepped-up tensions between the U.S. and China. Amazon.com Inc. founder Jeff Bezos declined the most, shedding $3.4 billion as shares of the online retailer tumbled. But he’s still the richest person on the planet with $110 billion.

Among others with steep losses were Bernard Arnault, who lost $3.2 billion; Mark Zuckerberg, down $2.8 billion; Mukesh Ambani, who dropped $2.4 billion; and Bill Gates, whose net worth fell by $2 billion.

The loss is an abrupt reversal for the world’s richest, who up until today had experienced steady gains.

Other forces have also eroded fortunes in recent weeks. Hong Kong’s elite are feeling the pain from nine weeks of protests that have jammed the financial hub’s streets, weighed on growth and battered local stock prices. The net worth of the 10 richest tycoons who derive their fortunes from Hong Kong-listed companies has tumbled $19 billion since July 23.

Even after Monday’s losses, the 500 individuals on the index control almost $5.4 trillion, an 11% increase from Jan. 1.