Robin Li, founder and chairman of China’s largest online search engine Baidu, cemented his place as the richest IT man in China this year with a personal wealth of 46 billion yuan, according to the latest listing released by Hurun Research Institute calculating the fortunes of China’s IT elite.

44-year-old Li has been joined by Ma Huateng and Ding Lei, founders of Internet companies Tencent and Netease respectively, dominating the rankings for the past three years.

Larger IT companies have managed to fare relatively well against an overall sluggish economy both at home and abroad.

The 10 richest IT businessmen saw their combined wealth expand by 35 percent, a figure that stands in stark contrast to the 1.82 percent fall in wealth of the ten wealthiest on China’s Rich List 2012- another Hurun list that ranks the fortunes made from all sectors.

The list, which shows IT magnates worth 2.4 billion yuan and above, put the total wealth of the 52 entrees at a massive 368 billion yuan, a growth of 3.5 percent year on year. In addition, their average wealth scored a 1.4 percent year-on-year rise, amounting to a new record high in the history of the decade-old rankings.

In summary, 16 people saw their wealth grow, with Ma Yun, Chinese e-commerce guru, more than doubling his fortune; 21 witnessed losses; and 13 were newcomers.

The IT high-rollers on this year’s list are on average 48 years of age, four years younger than those on the more general China Rich List.

Following are the top 10 richest IT elites in China this year according to the Hurun list:

 Pan Zhengmin and family (潘政民家族)

2012 Wealth: 10 billion yuan, up 43% YoY

2011 Ranking: NA

Company: AAC Techologies  (瑞聲科技)

Headquarters: Shenzhen, Guangdong

Age: 45