【福布斯排行榜】中国新首富——梁稳根

China’s economic growth may be poised to ease, but the country that has been one of the biggest sources of new tycoons in recent years continues to generate more of the same.

The number of billionaires among China’s richest 400 people increased to a record 146 from 128 a year earlier, according to the annual survey released today by Forbes Asia.

The total wealth of the richest 400 people on the mainland is US$459 billion, an increase of 8% from $423.2 billion before, but only 4% in local currency terms. That is less than the 10% increase in China’s GDP last year and way below the 31% rise in total wealth a year earlier when measured in local currency. Slowing growth in China’s wealth is a warning sign for global luxury good suppliers that have viewed its market as the El Dorado of the East.

Liang Wengen, 54, chairman of construction equipment manufacturer, Sany Heavy Industry, is the richest person in China with a net worth of $9.3 billion, moving up from third place last year when he was worth $5.9 billion. A big jump in its shares has enabled a record seven executives from the company to make our list of China’s 400. Besides Liang, the three to make the billionaire ranks were Tang Xiuguo with wealth of $1.43 billion, Mao Zhongwu at $1.29 billion and Xiang Wenbo, $1.29 billion. Sany’s rise as a global capital equipment maker underscores the challenges faced by older players such as Caterpillar and Deere.