The accumulated wealth of the five richest South Koreans exceeds the gross domestic product of North Korea, recent data showed.

According to a Bloomberg Billionaires report, five South Korean business tycoons were among the world’s 400 richest people as of Friday, with their combined wealth coming in at $36.4 billion (40.1 trillion won). That is 18.3 percent higher than North Korea’s 2014 nominal GDP of 33.9 trillion won ($28.8 billion).

The five tycoons were Samsung Group chairman Lee Kun-hee (81st); AmorePacific chairman Suh Kyung-bae (139th); the Samsung chairman’s son, Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jae-yong (179th); Hyundai Motor Group chairman Chung Mong-koo (309th); and SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won (367th.)

Samsung chairman Lee has 13.8 trillion won in assets, mostly in equities of Samsung companies, including a 4.1 percent stake in Samsung Electronics. Lee, who has been hospitalized since a heart attack in May last year, also owns 21 percent of Samsung Life Insurance, which is worth $3.8 billion. His wealth is believed to have shrunk by 9.6 percent this year due to the decline in the stock prices of Samsung affiliates.

The second richest man, Suh, has seen his wealth grow by 55.7 percent since Jan. 1, thanks to the phenomenal pan-Asia success of his cosmetics empire. His wealth is estimated at 9.9 trillion won, including 10.72 percent of stakes in AmorePacific.

Lee Jae-yong, the eldest son and heir apparent of the Samsung chief, has a 16.5 percent of stakes in Samsung C&T, 11 percent of Samsung SDS and smaller equity positions in some other companies, constituting $7 billion in assets. He, too, suffered a decline, by 11.7 percent, in his wealth this year due to the weak performances of Samsung stocks.

Chung Mong-koo saw his fortune shrink 17 percent, or $980 million, to $4.8 billion this year, due to declines in Hyundai Motor, Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai Glovis and Hyundai Steel stocks.

The best year of the five appears to have been had by Chey, who was released from jail after almost three years with a special pardon in August, allowing him to resume his leadership of SK Group. With his wealth having increased by 4.2 percent this year, he made it on to the 2015 list.

Meanwhile, Bill Gates, the cofounder of Microsoft, held on to his position as the richest man on Earth. His wealth is estimated at $83.4 billion.

Chasing him is Amancio Ortega Gaona, the founding chairman of Inditex fashion group. The father of fashion brand Zara has seen his wealth decline by $669.3 million, but he still managed to retain $76.2 billion to become the second-wealthiest man on Earth.

Legendary investor Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway placed third. The man who filed his first tax return at the age of 13 to deduct $35 for his bicycle has become a mogul, owning parts of some of the most important companies in the world, including Geico, Coca-Cola, American Express and Wells Fargo. Buffett and Gates are two of a handful of billionaires who have pledged to donate most of their fortune to charity.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos made headlines for adopting “Octocopter” drones in delivering goods. His wealth has swollen to $59.3 billion to place fourth, while Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim’s assets shrunk to $55.9 billion, though he still managed to nab the fifth spot.

By Bae Ji-sook and news reports (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)