Forbes’ annual ranking of the world’s billionaires for 2013 lists Carnival Corporation chief Micky Arison at number 211 with a net worth up by $1 billion to $5.7 billion.
Arison’s net worth, which is heavily tied to his large stake in Carnival stock, has nearly doubled from four years ago when cruise shares were plunging along with the economy and Forbes pegged Arison’s wealth at just $2.9 billion.
However, Forbes estimated in 2006 Arison’s net worth at more than $6 billion, putting him at 94th on the list. He ranked at 129th in 2007, 221nd in 2009 and at 169th in 2011.
The influential US magazine’s 27th annual billionaires list shows that another Carnival heir Shari Arison is now worth $4.2 billion, up from $3.4 billion just three years ago. She now ranks at 308 on the list.
Founded by the Arison family in 1972 with a single ship, Carnival Corporation has grown into the world’s largest cruise group operating almost 100 ships spread among 10 brands including Carnival, Cunard, P&O Cruises, Princess, Holland America and Seabourn.
Leon Black, the self-made financier who controls Apollo Management — the private equity firm that in turn holds a large interest in Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line — almost missed out on the billionaires list four years ago as his net worth plunged to just $1.1 billion during the financial downturn.
But this year Black’s net worth is estimated at $4.3 billion, putting him at 299 on the list.
Many members of the Pritzker family of Chicago who collectively own a sizable chunk of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line also show their fortunes improving.
Forbes says Karen Pritzker is now worth $3.2 billion, up from $3.1 billion a year ago, putting her at 423 on the list. Ten other Pritzkers feature on the list with a reported $1.1 billion to $3 billion apiece, USA Today reports.
The 2013 Forbes billionaires list now boasts 1,426 names, with an aggregate net worth of $5.4 trillion, up from $4.6 trillion.
The US leads the list with 442 billionaires, followed by Asia-Pacific (386), Europe (366), the Americas (129) and the Middle East and Africa (103).
Mexican telecoms magnate Carlos Slim is ranked as the richest person in the world with a fortune of $73 billion followed by Mircosoft founder Bill Gates.