51. Richard Li
Net worth: $1.07 billion | Up 6% | Location: Hong Kong | 06 rank: 40
The chairman of major Hong Kong telecom operator PCCW Ltd. has shown interest in globally expanding his assets lately. But Li’s bid to purchase Canadian giant BCE Inc. (TSX: BCE) by teaming up with New York–based Cerberus Capital Management LP and others was unsuccessful, losing to the group of bidders led by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.
52. Robert Miller
Net worth: $1.07 billion | Up 20% | Location: Montreal | 06 rank: 53
The founder and CEO of Future Electronics Inc. may be reclusive, but he sure knows how to throw a party. For Christmas 2006, Miller reportedly treated 6,000 people, which included employees of his company and their friends, to a bash at Montreal’s Bell Centre, that included wine, fine dining and a concert by Peter Cetera, former lead singer of rock band Chicago.
53. Alfredo (Fred) DeGasperis
Net worth: $1.04 billion | 20% | Location: Toronto | 06 rank: 55
In July, the president of Metrus Development Inc., a development and property management firm, rescued the George Elliott House, a circa 1861 heritage home, from demolition by donating it and two plots of land to Habitat for Humanity Brampton. The three-way partnership, which also includes the City of Brampton, not only saved the home but also helped two families become first-time homeowners.
54. Frank Stronach
Net worth: $1.02 billion | Up 22% | Location: Oberwaltersdorf, Austria | 06 rank: 58
Magna International Inc.’s (TSX: MG.A) founder and chairman stirred up controversy among labour activists in October when he signed a groundbreaking agreement with the Canadian Auto Workers union. The agreement, which eliminates workers’ right to strike, could cover about 18,000 of Magna’s 83,000 employees, pending a vote by secret ballot.
55. Leslie Dan
Net worth: $979 million | 6% | Location: Toronto | 06 rank: 51
Aubrey Dan, the son of pharmaceutical company Novopharm founder Leslie, challenged David Mirvish’s stronghold on Toronto live theatre with the launch of Dancap Productions. The first item on a playbill of six, The Drowsy Chaperone, debuted in September.
56. Samuel Family
Net worth: $970 million | N/A | Location: Oakville, Ontario | 06 rank: 47
Samuel Manu-Tech Inc. (TSX: SMT), the publicly traded industrial products company chaired by Mark Samuel, announced it was “disappointed with the results for the first nine months” of this year. But the company is making moves to improve things with the construction of a new manufacturing facility in Heath, Ohio, the US$25-million sale of Energy Steel Products Inc., and the purchase of Dofasco Elizabethtown Inc. for US$28.5 million and Northland Stainless Inc. for US$8.75 million.
57. Kruger Family
Net worth: $932 million | Up 8% | Location: Montreal | 06 rank: 44
After announcing plans to build a $200-million de-inking plant to increase production of recycled paper products at its Trois-Rivières, Que., mill early this year, Kruger Inc. proceeded with a number of production shutdowns at various plants across the country. Blaming the high value of the Canadian dollar, the stoppages affected more than 1,500 mill employees. Former president and CEO Gene Kruger was inducted into the Canadian Manufacturing Hall of Fame in October.
58. Molson Family
Net worth: $893 million | Up 54% | Location: Montreal | 06 rank: 79
When U.K.-based SABMiller and Molson Coors (TSX: TAP.B) combined their U.S. operations in October, the companies announced they will save about $500 million by 2010. But they had to reassure Canadians that the revered Molson name would also be saved in the deal. It was forever enshrined in the history books, however, when company chairman Eric Molson was named to the Order of Canada in October.
59. Charles Sirois
Net worth: $892 million | Up 10% | Location: Montreal | 06 rank: 62
Through his venture capital firm, Telesystem Ltd., Sirois created Stingray Digital Media Group — which now owns the largest catalogue of karaoke songs in the world — and Plexo Inc., an occupational medicine company. He is also chairman and CEO of Enablis, a non-profit organization that supports entrepreneurs in the developing world.
60. Lawrence Tanenbaum
Net worth: $883 million| Up 7% | Location: Toronto | 06 rank: 60
The chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. has made more strides in his efforts to bring an NFL team to Canada. Alongside Ted Rogers and other supporters, Tanenbaum met with Buffalo Bills representatives, who expressed interest in playing a regular season game in Toronto next year.
