Microsoft founder Bill Gates, 61, retained the crown on the Hurun Global Rich List 2017 with 560 billion yuan (US$81 billion), according to the latest Hurun report released on March 7.

Eight of the top 10 spots were taken by U.S. billionaires.

The list includes 2,257 billionaires from 68 countries, up 69 compared with last year.

Technology has been the main source of wealth for billionaires for four consecutive years, followed by manufacturing and investment. Real estate dropped to 4th spot.

Logistics and retail grew rapidly. "The new economy is driving an explosion in parcel deliveries, creating more new wealth than any other sector," said Rupert Hoogewerf, Hurun Report chairman and chief researcher.

Female billionaires account for 15 percent of the list. A total of 121 self-made female billionaires came from China, accounting for 80 percent of the total 152 in the world.

Wang Jianlin, chairman of Dalian Wanda Group, retained the crown on Greater China region with a personal fortune of 205 billion yuan (US$29.6 billion).

The 46-year-old Wang Wei, CEO of SF Express, achieved a five-fold increase in wealth to rise to 25th spot, with a fortune worth 186 billion yuan (US$26.9 billion).

This is the sixth year that Hurun Report has released a ranking of the world’s dollar billionaires.

The following is the list of the top 10 richest people in China in 2017:

   Henry Cheng & family

Global ranking: 62

Wealth: 105 billion yuan (US$15.2 billion)

Company: New World Development

Industry: property

Age: 69