The recently published 2012 Forbes billionaires list features just one Romanian – businessman Dinu Patriciu. He is ranked 854th and said to be worth USD 1.5 billion by Forbes.

This year has set records for the number of billionaires and their combined wealth: 1,226 billionaires divvying up USD 4.6 trillion.  The top three places are the same as on the Bloomberg daily top 20, Mexican telecommunications tycoon Carlos Slim, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and in third place Warren Buffet, also of the US. In fourth place, no sign of Ikea's Ingvar Kamprad, the Forbes list has him down in 377th place and worth USD 3 billion. A big difference from the Bloomberg list. Instead, Forbes puts Bernard Arnault from France in fourth place, making him the highest placed European. Behind him is Zara's Amancio Ortega of Spain. The full Forbes billionaires list here. 

Romania's only billionaire, according to Forbes, Dinu Patriciu, made his fortune with oil company Petrom. However, he sold his stake in the business and his recent activity in the retail sector has suffered some setbacks, with the closure of all the Mic.ro stores he owns. He also owns Adevarul group, which publishes the Forbes magazine in Romania.  Dinu Patriciu's profile on Forbes here. 

Liam Lever, liam@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Agerpres)