Makes you wonder, why they need any help with 10,153 millionaires in Israel

The number of millionaires rose 20.6% in 2010, according to Merrill Lynch and Capgemini’s “2011 World Wealth Report.”

Israel had 10,153 millionaires in 2010, 20.6% more than the 8,419 millionaires in 2009, according to Merrill Lynch and Capgemini’s “2011 World Wealth Report”. The millionaires’ aggregate disposable income rose to $52 billion in 2010 from $43 billion in 2009. The report defines a millionaire as person with at least $1 million in net liquidity, not including investments, and after deducting liabilities.

Merrill Lynch attributes the increase in the number of millionaires last year to the 20.6% increase in financial holdings in the capital market and a 16% increase in prices for non-financial assets, such as real estate. Despite the strong growth in the number of millionaires last year, the increase was half the 42% increase in 2009.

The “2011 World Wealth Report” says that there were 10.9 million millionaires in the world in 2010, 8.3% more than in 2009.

Merrill Lynch Israel private banking manager Sigal Shapira attributed the slower increase in the number of millionaires last year to the slower growth in global stock markets to 16% in 2010 from almost 50% in 2009.

The report says that millionaires increased their stock portfolios in 2010 and reduced their holdings in cash, deposits, and bonds. Stocks accounted 33% of millionaires’ portfolios at the end of 2010, up from 26% a year earlier.

As for the wealthiest Israelis, Israel has 12 billionaires with fortunes of over $1.5 billion, on the basis of Forbes’ 2011 list of the world’s billionaires as updated by “Globes”

1. The family of the late Sammy Ofer: $10.3 billion. World ranking – 79.
Sammy Ofer died earlier this month, which did not change the fact that the Ofer family is Israel’s wealthiest, mainly thanks to Israel Corporation (TASE:ILCO) subsidiary Israel Chemicals Ltd. (TASE: ICL), which has a current market cap of $19 billion. The late Sammy Ofer and his sons, Eyal and Idan, also have extensive shipping interests, including Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.and deepwater drilling contractor Pacific Drilling SA (OMX: PDSA), which has a market cap of $1.7 billion, so that Israel Chemicals is not the only source of the family’s fortune.

2. Beny Steinmetz: $6 billion. World ranking – 162.
Beny Steinmetz owns gold, nickel, cobalt and other mines in Africa.

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3. Shari Arison: $5.1 billion. World ranking – 200.
Little change last year in the companies of Shari Arison, Israel’s wealthiest woman. Bank Hapoalim (TASE: POLI), which she controls, continues to battleBank Leumi (TASE: LUMI) for the title of Israel’s largest bank. Hapoalim’s market cap is $6.7 billion.

4. Arnon Milchen: $4 billion. World ranking – 268.
Milchen, a movie producer, has not yet returned to reside in Israel, preferring Los Angeles, even as he continues as a shareholder in Israel’s Channel 10.

5. Wertheimer family: $4 billion. World ranking – 268.
Stef Wertheimer and his son, Eitan, continue to enjoy the capital accumulated from the sale of 80% of Iscar Ltd. to Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BRK.A) for $4 billion in 2006.

6. Alexander Machkevich: $2.9 billion. World ranking – 297.
Machkevich made most of his fortune in mining by Kazakhstan-basedEurasian Natural Resources Corporation (LSE; KASE: ENRC), which is currently in the midst of a storm,More at Source