This group of billionaires is redefining “Cash is King” in cash allocation to their portfolio. Who loves cash the most? See Russians, again. They love their cash and comprise half of the list. Bill Gates is a surprise on this year’s list holding as much cash as the next four on the list combined. Despite a horrible interest rate environment for cash with real interest rates being virtually negative around the world this group believes their is value in keeping their powder dry.
1. Bill Gates
Cash On Hand: $46.8 Billion
Cash As A Percentage of Portfolio: 53.6%
The world’s wealthiest billionaire is the king of cash among the top 100 billionaires in the world. His cash alone would make him the world’s seventh richest man.
2. Ernesto Bertarelli
Cash On Hand: $13.5 Billion
Cash As A Percentage of Portfolio: 90%
A Switzerland citizen who attributes the majority of his wealth to a drug manufacturer he and his sister inherited, and then sold to Merck.
3. Hans Rausing
Cash On Hand: $12 Billion
Cash As A Percentage of Portfolio: 96%
The cash king in terms of portfolio percentage inherited his 50% stake of the world’s largest maker of juice and milk cartons over three decades ago. Sold his stake in 2013 and now raises deer in Britain.
4. Mikhail Prokhorov
Cash On Hand: $10.1 Billion
Cash As A Percentage of Portfolio: 80.8%
Prokhorov holds a sizeable stake in the world’s largest aluminum producer and an eighty percent stake in the America’s Brooklyn Nets basketball franchise.
5. Michael Dell
Cash On Hand: $9.5 Billion
Cash As A Percentage of Portfolio: 55.9%
The man whose company started in his college dorm room has seen his company recently go from one of America’s largest public company back to being privately held.
6. Roman Abramovich
Cash On Hand: $8.7 Billion
Cash As A Percentage of Portfolio: 63%
Russia’s third wealthiest man owns a stake in the world’s largest nickel producer.
7. Mikhail Fridman
Cash On Hand: $8.6 Billion
Cash As A Percentage of Portfolio: 63.2%
Fridman has control of Russia’s largest closely held bank and second biggest food retailer.
8. Alisher Usmanov
Cash On Hand: $7.3 Billion
Cash As A Percentage of Portfolio: 48.3%
Arguably Russia’s technology finance guru. Has ownership stakes in Twitter, AirBnB, and Spotify. He invested in Facebook before ever meeting Mark Zuckerberg.
9. Viktor Vekselberg
Cash On Hand: $7.2 Billion
Cash As A Percentage of Portfolio: 50%
He controls Russia’s largest power supply company.
10. Phil Knight
Cash On Hand: $6.2 Billion
Cash As A Percentage of Portfolio: 27%
Mr. Just Do It, also known as the owner of Nike and sometimes labeled eccentric billionaire. Still pays Michael Jordan $60 million annually in royalties for Nike’s ownership of the Jordan brand that brings in revenues north of $500 million for the company.
Source: Bloomberg Billionaire Index
HBCU Money 