Ireland's top 15,000 worth $52 billion

Ireland's 15,000 highest net worth individuals are worth around $52 billion according to a survey by Cap Gemini and investment bank Merrill Lynch. This works out at almost $3.5 million each on average.

The world's richest people saw their wealth rise 7.7 per cent to $23.8 trillion in 2003, taking it back to levels before the collapse of the dotcom stock market boom four years ago, the survey found.