On Bilan's list of the richest Swiss, the watch industry stands out!

In its latest edition (December 2000), the Swiss monthly magazine Bilan dresses the list of the largest Swiss fortunes. As regards the watch industry, the rating is as follows:

1. The Landolt family, of the Sandoz Foundation, with holdings in the watch sector (Parmigiani) - amongst many others - owns 11 to 12 billion Swiss francs.
2. The Rupert family, of the Richemont Group - earlier this year, the group acquired Les Manufactures Horlogères (LMH) for 3,08 billion Swiss francs - owns 5 to 6 billion Swiss francs.
3. Nicolas G. Hayek's fortune is estimated at 3 to 4 billion SFr. The Swatch Group's value on the stock market has practically doubled this year.
4. The Diehl family (arms as well as watch industries) is said to possess 1,5 to 2 billion SFr.
5. Philippe Stern's (of Patek Philippe, exclusively dedicated to watches) wealth reaches 1,5 to 2 billion SFr.
6. Another famous family on the watch scene, the Chopard family of Geneva, owns 1 to 1,5 billion SFr.
6. JÖrg BÜcherer's fortune (watches, jewellery) amounts to 1 to 1,5 billion SFr.
7. The Mouawad (watches, jewellery) family's fortune is estimated at 900 million to 1 billion SFr.
8. Another famous watch manufacture, Audemars Piguet, presided by Jasmine Audemars, belongs to the Audemars and Piguet families who own 600 to 700 million SFr.
9. Breitling's owner, the Schneider family, is said to possess 400 to 500 milliom SFr.
10. Luigi Macaluso acquired Girard-Perregaux in 1992 and owns 200 to 300 million SFr.
11. Philippe Charriol's brand florishes and makes its owner a rich man: 100 to 200 million SFr. are said to be his.
12. Christian Viros of LVMH led Tag Heuer on the stock market in 1996. His fortune is said to amount to 100 to 200 million SFr.