The world's 10 youngest billionaires

Every year, America's Forbes magazine publishes a revealing list of the world's richest people. This year Mexican telecom mogul Carlos Slim has knocked Microsoft owner Bill Gates off the top spot, with a $53.5 billion (£35.3 billion) fortune. The highest placed UK resident is Lakshmi Mittal, the Indian born steel magnate, who, worth $28.7 billion, is in the number five spot.

But who are the candidates for the top spot in the future. Here are Forbes' top 10 youngest billionaires.

1. Mark Zuckerberg (see picture above)

Net worth: £2.6 billion ($4 billion)

How: Internet

Age: 25

Citizenship: US

Marital status: Single

The Facebook-founder launched the social networking site from his Harvard bedroom in 2004.

2. John Arnold

Net worth: £2.6 billion ($4 billion)

How: Energy trading

Age: 36

Citizenship: US

Marital status: Married

Hired by Enron and founded hedge fund Centaurus Energy in 2002 after Enron collapsed.

3. Yang Huiyan

Net worth: £2.2 billion ($3.4 billion)

How: Property

Age: 28

Citizenship: China

Marital status: Married

Her fortune is tied up in her holding in Guangdong developer Country Garden, run by her father Yeung Kwok Keung.

4. Albert von Thurn und Taxis

Net worth: £1.4 billion ($2.2 billion)

How: Inheritance

Age: 26

Citizenship: Germany

Marital status: Single

Inherited fortune on his 18th birthday and lives in family castle, Schloss Emmeram.

5. Fahd Hariri

Net worth: £900 million ($1.4 billion)

How: Construction, investments

Age: 29

Citizenship: Lebanon

Marital status: Single

Youngest son of assassinated Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri inherited stake in his father's construction, telecom and property empire.

6. Aymin Hariri

Net worth: £900 million ($1.4 billion)

How: Construction, investments

Age: 31

Citizenship: Saudi Arabia

Marital status: Married

Brother of above, while other brother Saad is Prime Minister of Lebanon.

7. Yoshikazu Tanaka

Net worth: £900 million ($1.4 billion)

How: Internet

Age: 33

Citizenship: Japan

Marital status: Na

Like Zuckerberg, Tanaka also made his fortune from a social networking site, Gree.

8. Kostyantin Zhevago

Net worth: £790 million ($1.2 billion)

How: Banking, mining

Age: 36

Citizenship: Ukraine

Marital status: Married

Has majority stake in iron ore producer Ferrexpo and Finance & Credit Bank.

9. Lee Ziaohui

Net worth: £658 million ($1 billion)

How: Manufacturing

Age: 28

Citizenship: China

Marital status: Na

Chairman of one of China's biggest private steel manufacturers Shanxi Haixin Iron & Steel Group, since father was shot in 2003.

10. Shahid Balwa

Net worth: £658 million ($1 billion)

How: Property

Age: 36

Citizenship: India

Marital status: Married

Partner in DB Realty whose projects include Turf Estate, a luxury high-rise, and the 108-storey Park Hyatt Hotel in Mumbai.

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source timesbusiness.typepad.com