(Yicai Global) March 20 -- Xu Jiayin, the chairman of China Evergrande Group, has retained his position as the world's wealthiest real estate magnate despite his shrinking fortune, according to the Hurun Global Real Estate Rich List 2020.

Xu's wealth slid 11 percent to CNY231 billion (USD32.6 billion) from a year ago, the Hurun Research Institute wrote in its annual report released today. China dominated the top three and claimed eight of the top 10 ranks. Interestingly, Donald Trump fell four slots to the 86th place with a wealth of USD3 billion.

This year's list had 17 more billionaires to reach a total of 256. Some 54 percent of them came from China, 13 percent from the US, and 7 percent from the UK. The ranking confirms that Hong Kong is the global capital for property billionaires. The sub-index of the Hurun Global Rich List 2020 also proves that real estate is the second-best bet if wanting to get rich after technology and media. 

Li Ka-shing, Hong Kong's richest man for 15 years in a row, came in second with CNY200 billion, shrinking 3 percent from a year ago. He retired in 2018 after chairing CK Asset Holdings.

The third position was a tie. Country Garden Holdings's co-chair Yang Huiyan and her family's wealth grew 17 percent to CNY189 billion (USD27 billion). Hong Kong-based Henderson Development's Lee Shau Kee reached a similar figure. Yang, 38, is one of the few women aged below 45 years in the group of more than 250 people.

Eleven of the 19 women in the big list are Chinese. The club includes Longfor Group's chair Wu Yajun and Kwong Siu-hing, widow of the late founder of Sun Hung Kai Properties.

With 70 entrants, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area made up nearly 30 percent of the world's total of property billionaires. 

Editor: Emmi Laine