The Rich 100 2011

Profit 100, Canada's Fastest Growing Companies

Overview

HIGHLIGHTS

Welcome to the 13th Annual Rich 100, a celebration of the best and brightest in Canadian business. For 2011, the list is both a barometer of how our wealthy and affluent are not immune to world economic chaos, and a testimony to the reality that Canada is still much better off than many parts of the industrialized world.

Once again, the Thomson clan remains our richest family, but the year hasn't been kind—the family fortune has dropped 8% or about $2 billion. Don’t feel too bad for them however; their net worth is over $20 billion. Times have also been tough for Edward Sampson of recently troubled Niko Resources. He exited the Rich 100 entirely after his personal wealth declined by 38%.

We chronicle the faces and names of the top 20 richest people and families in photo galleries as well as the top wealth gainers and losers.

Huge family fortunes demand huge financial decisions. Jeff Beer opens the door a crack on the companies and people who help the rich stay rich in "Your Own Private CFO."

Is the number of billionaires a country produces an indicator of the well-being of the nation? You be the judge after you see our interactive map which pinpoints the world’s billionaires by location.

Two stories detail how the wealthy continue to face challenges in their own business ventures. The Westons’ Loblaws empire is enhancing its already successful President’s Choice label by adding an upscale brand for the foodie demographic. In a completely different area, Andreas Apostolopoulos (No. 79) is trying to breathe life into the famed Silverdome by bringing soccer to a football town.

While we can applaud and commiserate with the ups and downs of the world’s super-affluent, we're not embarrassed to admit to being fascinated by how they live. Jacqueline Nelson’s "Really Conspicuous Consumption" explores our obsession.

Research for the 2011 Rich 100 was by Phil Froats, Jacqueline Nelson and Angelina Chapin.

Click here to see our complete methodology.

We invite you to share our list on Twitter, Facebook, Digg, Del.icio.us, Stumble Upon, Newsvine and other social media sites.

To see the 2010 Rich List, click here.

See the full list

The List: The 13th annual Rich 100 list from Canadian Business reveals how Canada's wealthy fared during a year of unprecedented turbulence. And...

Top 20 richest Canadians: Canada's 20% club are worth a combined total of almost $100 billion.

Rich 100 top movers and shakers: Members of the Rich 100 club who saw the biggest changes in net worth.

Topics Lifestyle Interactive map: The billionaires of the world October 06, 2011 Despite global economic malaise, billionaires are thriving. Here is where you'll find them.

Topics News & Markets / Strategy From the editors: Rich nation By James Cowan | October 06, 2011 Some entrepreneurs have slipped and others have surged in our Rich 100 rankings. Either way, it's time to celebrate the best in Canadian business.

Top 20 richest CanadiansTop 20 richest Canadians

Top 20 richest Canadians October 06, 2011 Canada's 20% club are worth a combined total of almost $100 billion.

Celine Dion<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Celine Dion<br/>
Net worth: </strong><span style="color: #990000;">$481M</span><br/>
After releasing almost 30 albums of in-studio and live music, the Quebec-born songstress now holds the title of Canada’s bestselling musical artist, with hundreds of millions of albums sold internationally. In March, the singer began a new show in Las Vegas that will run for the next three years at the Caesar’s Palace Colosseum. Each time she steps onto that stage, Dion pockets more than $500,000. Last year, the star also made a documentary called <em>Celine: Through the Eyes of the World</em> that followed her first tour in nine years through 25 countries. The film was shown in theatres across North America for eight days. </p>

Topics Lifestyle Canada's richest celebrities October 06, 2011 Celine Dion is a somewhat distant No. 2 after world beater James Cameron, but she and the rest of the Canadian celebrity crowd that make up our top six want for nothing.

CB_Andreas ApostolopoulosThe new owner of the Silverdome, Andreas Apostolopoulos (Photo: Greg Ruffing)

Topics Strategy "This guy bought the Silverdome?" By Joe Castaldo | October 05, 2011 Nobody had heard of Andreas Apostolopoulos until he bought the Pontiac Silverdome. Can the Toronto resident save the stadium and its city with his dream of a professional soccer team?

CB_Tom McCulloughTom McCullough, CEO, Northwood Family Office (Photo: Markian Lozowchuk)

Topics Strategy Your own private CFO By Jeff Beer | October 05, 2011 Family offices serve as quarterbacks for the wealthy’s financial game plans and battles. If their walls could talk...