On Thursday, March 8, Forbes magazine published a list of the world’s billionaires. There are now a record 946 billionaires in the world, up more than 150 from last year.

While the 20th annual list was dominated as usual by U.S. businessmen, Russian oligarchs and Asian entrepreneurs were increasingly making their presence felt.

In Europe, the most excitement came from Russia and Spain. There are 19 Russian newcomers on the list.

“The Russians are, on average, 46 years old. That’s 16 years younger than the average 62-year-old billionaires,” Forbes associate editor Luisa Kroll, who oversaw the report, told AFP.

Steve Forbes, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, urged some caution, saying some of the fortunes in the former Soviet Union did not appear sustainable in the long term.

“If there is a fall-off of commodity prices … does it have the breadth and depth to take up the slack?” he asked of the Russian economy.

Former oil tycoon and Chelsea football club owner Roman Abramovich remained the top dog in Russia with $18.7 billion, with his 52 billionaire countrymen owing their fortunes mainly to oil, steel, mining and metals.

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