Billionaires' list shrinks by a third

The number of Chinese mainland billionaires on the world's rich list fell from 71 last year to 52 this year in the latest sign of the havoc wrought by the global financial crisis.

The net worth of the 793 billionaires worldwide - compared to 1,125 last year - plunged to $2.4 trillion from $4.4 trillion, the ranking by financial magazine Forbes showed.

Liu Yongxing, with $3 billion, was the richest on the mainland and ranked 205th on the list, up more than 400 spots from a year ago. The 60-year-old president of agricultural feed company East Hope Group regained the top perch after ranking first in 2001.