Earning about a billion dollars a year from the iron ore and coal projects she owns in Australia, Rinehart's fortune of $17 billion makes her the richest person in the country and the No. 5 wealthiest woman in the world. In November, Rinehart, the consummate activist billionaire, self-published a book calling for Australian workers to accept wages comparable to $2-a-day African workers, causing global consternation. Along with creating headlines for her continuing court battle with three of her four children, who she cut out of the family trust, she's pushing for the northern region of the country (where the bulk of her holdings reside) to become a special economic zone with lower taxes and less regulation. 2013 SPOTLIGHT: Wannabe Rupert? Rinehart has been purchasing large shares in Aussie media companies Channel 10 and Fairfax Media, the only non-Murdoch broadsheet company in the country. [...] more
Iron ore has made Australia’s Georgina Rinehart one of the world’s richest people with a fortune estimated at $17 billion but to grow even richer by developing a big new iron ore mine she might need the help [...] more>>
Tim Treadgold,Contributor
Profit at Hangzhou Wahaha Group, the beverage maker led by China’s richest man Zong Qinghou, increased by 2.3% in the first six months of 2013 from a year earlier to 4.9 billion yuan, or $823 million, according to new figures released by the company. Revenue increased by 9.4% to 36 [...] [...] more>>
Russell Flannery,Forbes Staff
Ackman off J.C. Penney board; Icahn reveals Apple holding on Twitter; feds try to ground airline deal. [...] more>>
Steve Schaefer,Forbes Staff
Much has been made about Elon Musk’s announcement of the Hyperloop. This is why he can afford to dream so big. [...] more>>
Hannah Elliott,Forbes Staff
Mexican President Peña Nieto’s long-awaited energy reform to allow private participation in Mexico’s oil sector failed to meet investors’ expectations. [...] more>>
Dolia Estevez,Contributor
Last year we released our first-ever Electronic Cash Kings list to rank the genre's top earners. Tomorrow at 10am Eastern Standard Time, we're releasing the 2013 edition. [...] more>>
Zack O'Malley Greenburg,Forbes Staff
Brands are targeting celebrities with strong social media followings. Ronaldo and Mayweather offer companies two top choices from the world of sports. [...] more>>
Kurt Badenhausen,Forbes Staff