“Capital” Magazine Launches Top Of The Richest 300 Romanians

Becali ranked second last year, with an estimated fortune of $2.8 billion to $3 billion.

Last year, Patriciu ranked first, with estimated assets then worth $3.1-$3.3 billion, while Tiriac followed him by $2.2-$2.4 billion.

This year, the family of media mogul and politician Dan Voiculescu climbed from the tenth position to the fourth with EUR1.5-1.6 billion, from last year’s $0.9-1 billion.

Businessman Ioan Niculae climbed two positions since 2007, when his fortune was estimated at $1.4-1.6 billion, to the sixth position this year, by EUR1.27-1.29 billion.

Down three positions since last year, businessman Sorin Ovidiu Vantu ranks seventh, with EUR1.2-1.25 billion, from last year’s $2.1-2.3 billion.

According to Top 300 Capital, the family of the major shareholder of “Romania Libera” daily ranks eighth this year, with a fortune estimated at EUR1-1.1 billion, followed by the Nicula brothers with EUR960-980 million, one position lower since last year, when their assets were seen at $1.9-2.1 billion.

Business brothers Cristescu, whose fortune is estimated at EUR800-820 million, occupy the tenth position.

Businessman Iosif Constantin Dragan, who ranked seventh last year by $1.3-1.6 billion, was not included in the hierarchy. Dragan died on August 21, at the age of 91.

“We excluded inheritors from the top, as their situation is currently uncertain,” chief editor of Capital magazine, Iulian Bortos, told MEDIAFAX.

In this year’s top, eight Romanians have fortunes estimated above EUR1 billion, seven Romanians have fortunes ranging from EUR500 million to EUR1 billion, and 82 Romanians have assets estimated above EUR100 million.

The sum of the fortunes of all 300 Romanians included in the top exceed EUR39 billion, which is a third of the country’s gross domestic product.

According to the top "Adevarul 500 miliardari" launched by Adevarul Holding on Monday, the first three positions are occupied by Patriciu, whose fortune is estimated at EUR1.9-2 billion, Tiriac with EUR950 million – EUR1 billion, and businessman Zoltan Teszari, with assets seen at EUR900 million.