Wang Jianlin takes 'rich' crown from Li Ka-shing

Property tycoon Wang Jianlin from the Chinese mainland overtook Hong Kong's Li Ka-shing as the richest man in China, with a personal fortune of about $42.6 billion, a new ranking said on Wednesday.

According to the latest data from Hurun Research Institute, billionaires from the Chinese mainland accounted for about 79.5 percent of the Hurun Global Chinese Rich List 2015, followed by 6.3 percent from Hong Kong and 4.9 percent form Taiwan.

Spread across more than 18 countries and regions, Hurun's research said there were 1,577 individuals with personal wealth in excess of 2 billion yuan ($312.6 million), and of this 302 were from outside the Chinese mainland.