Press Association
Thursday 24th May 2012
An unknown Indian-born pensioner worth 4.4 billion euro has topped Ireland's rich list.
Pallonji Mistry - who became an Irish citizen in 2003 through his Irish born wife - has interests in real estate, cars, heavy industry, tea and part owns the Taj Mahal Hotel.
The Sunday Independent reported the 79-year-old billionaire, who still lives in Mumbai, owns 18.4% of India's largest private conglomerate Tata.
Texas-based billionaire John P Grayken was second on the list with a fortune worth 3.9bn euro (£3.5) due to the success of shrewd investments including Lone Star Funds.
While Dubliner Hilary Weston, a former model who owns the Brown Thomas chain with her husband Galen, a Canadian retail tycoon, were placed third with an estimated 3.67bn euro.
The Sunday Independent rich list showed that despite the recession and Ireland's boom to bust, its top 300 richest people are worth close to 50bn euro.
Nick Webb, deputy business editor, said: "Property aside, there is an unprecedented number of Irish billionaires and multi-millionaires who made their wealth in other countries.
"Significant fortunes have been amassed by smart entrepreneurs in technology, retail, high finance, aviation and renewable energy."
