Mining magnate Gina Rinehart has retained the number one place in the BRW Rich List, despite a minor dent to her wealth, while strong growth in gambling interests has pushed James Packer up the list.
Ms Rinehart also topped the list last year.
However, despite taking thenumber one rank, Ms Rinehart's wealth has experienced declined from $29.17 billion last year to $22.02 billion this year.
'TOUGH' YEAR FOR MINERS
Ms Rinehart is not the only mining magnate to experience a drop in wealth.
All of the five biggest falls on the 2013 BRW Rich 200 are from the mining sector.
Fortescue Metals Group’s Andrew Forrest, who is down $2.23 billion to $3.66 billion and political aspirant Clive Palmer, down to $2.2 billion from $3.85 last year.
“It’s been a tough year for the miners, with falling commodity prices and concerns about the Chinese economy weighing heavily,” Rich 200 editor Andrew Heathcote said.
“But strong equity markets have allowed some of the best-known members of the list to boost their fortunes and regain some ground on the miners.”
A former number one, Frank Lowy, has moved from third last year to second on the 2013 BRW Rich 200 after gaining about $400 million.
His $6.87 billion valuation is underpinned by some modest growth at his shopping centre business Westfield Group.
PACKER GAMBLE PAYS OFF
One of the big movers on this year’s list is James Packer.
His wealth has risen to $6 billion from $5.21 billion on the back of strong growth in his gambling interests taking him to the third spot.
Anthony Pratt has also had a strong year, ranking fourth on the list.
The family-owned flagship business Visy continues to achieve strong results here and the Pratt’s US-based box making business Pratt Industries is growing quickly.
Last year’s number two, Ivan Glasenberg – CEO of Glencore Xstrata – has fallen to fifth place.
His wealth is down to $5.61 billion from $7.40 billion last year.
STRONG CHINESE DEBUTANT
The highest ranked debutant this year is Chinese-based property developer Hui Wing Mau whose $4.82 billion fortune pushes him into 7th position on the 2013 BRW Rich 200.
Mr Mau is chairman of the Hong Kong-listed Shimao Group and has built a property empire on the back of China’s property boom.
Hui Wing Mau is reflective of a growing trend on the Rich 200.
“The 30th Rich 200 provides an opportunity to look back at how the list has changed and one of the clear trends is that Australian wealth has become more global,” Heathcote says.
“There are 16 members of the list based overseas and, as always, the Rich 200 features many great migrant stories, with members who were born in Nepal, China, Malaysia and throughout Europe.”
The most notable departure from this year’s list is former coal billionaire, Nathan Tinkler.
This year, he falls below the $235 million cut-off for the Rich 200.
There are 14 women on this year’s Rich 200.
Yenda Lee, from the Bing Lee retail empire, joins the BRW Rich 200 after previously appearing on BRW’s Rich 50 Families list.
TOP 5
1. Gina Rinehart ($22.02 billion)
2. Frank Lowy ($7.40 billion)
3. James Packer ($6.00 billion)
4. Anthony Pratt & family ($5.95 billion)
5. Ivan Glasenberg ($5.61 billion)
Source SBS Australia