BEIJING — China has passed the United States in the number of billionaires, driven by the rise of fortunes in technology and manufacturing, according to a survey released Thursday.
Despite a cooling economy, the number of Chinese billionaires rose by 242 this year to 596, according to The Hurun Report, which follows China’s wealthy. It said that China surpassed the 537 billionaires that the company found in the United States.
The report reflected the success of online retailing, entertainment and other service businesses, while industries such as steel and natural resources have declined.
No. 1 on this year’s list is Wang Jianlin, chairman of Wanda Group, which operates hotels, shopping malls and cinemas, at $34.4 billion, up 52 percent from last year. That still puts him behind the 11 richest Americans, according to Forbes’ 2015 ranking.
