8. Kerr Neilson

•  Net Worth: $2.7 B                                                                      
•  Source of Wealth: finance
•  Citizen: Australia
•  Age: 64

Kerr Neilson is often compared to Warren Buffett because of his contrarian, value-based approach to investing. A native of Johannesburg, he bought his first stock at 13. He moved to Sydney in 1983 and started international equities specialist Platinum Asset Management in 1993 with George Soros as a founding stakeholder. He owns 57% after partially cashing out in a well-timed 2007 public offering.