Several of the ever-expanding elite club of dollar billionaires published by Forbes magazine yesterday have links with Bermuda.

With a net worth of $11.8 billion, 70-year-old former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is 51st wealthiest on the list. His family owns the Blue Horizons property in Tucker’s Town. Property or financial interest, or actual residency on the Island, gives Bermuda claim to a few more of the super-rich.

Edward Johnson III, 76, has a Somerset home and a fortune of $7.5 billion that puts him 97th on the list. Mr. Johnson founded Fidelity Investments and financed the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

Next to appear is Norwegian shipping magnate John Freriksen, 62, with a $7 billion fortune at 104th. He is chairman of Bermuda-based shipping company Frontline.

Five Star Island owner Curt Englehorn, 80, is 114th and has an estimated fortune of $6.4 billion.

New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, 65, another Tucker’s Town homeowner and Island golfing enthusiast, appears at 142 on the list with a fortune of $5.5 billion.

Twice US presidential election hopeful Ross Perot, 76, another Tucker’s Town property owner, is 188th with a fortune of $4.4 billion.

Bermuda resident Ernest Stempel, 90, who worked for the American International Group as far back as 1938 and later became its president, is 557th with a fortune estimated at $1.8 billion.

Coming in at 891st is Australian media mogul Bruce Gordon, 78, who owns a home in Somerset and has a fortune estimated at $1 billion.

Read more on page 27.