Indonesia's 150 wealthiest showed tremendous growth in 2009, with the combined net worths rising 22 per cent to $61.5 billion, the latest Globe Asia 150 Richest Indonesians report reveals.

The recorded sum represents 12 per cent of the country's gross domestic product, Globe Asia said. Indonesia had enjoyed a 5 per cent per annum economic growth over the past couple of years, allowing the affluent contingent to multiply their wealth. The average net worth of the individuals on the list was posted at $400 million.

The data chimes with findings of the recent Forbes Asia list of the richest people in Malaysia, showing a similarly sharp rise in their net wealth.

"This was achieved primarily because over the past 12 months, a perfect confluence of factors have come together to produce conditions for wealth creation that may be unprecedented," said Globe Asia. The Indonesian stock market, for one, is one of the best performers in the Asian region, with the Indonesia Stock Exchange Composite Index rising from 1,751 in May 2009 to 2,800 this year.

Leading the list is tobacco tycoon Budi Hartono, who managed to boost his wealth by $700 million to a net worth of $4.8 billion. Following at a close second is Eka Tjipta Wijaya, founder of the Sinar Mas Group, with a net worth of $4 billion. At third place is Anthony Salim, owner of the $20 billion Salim Group, with a net worth of $3.6 billion.

"Capitals markets are now critical to wealth creation and more businesspeople are realizing this. Today, having a solid business is no longer enough, as you have to know how to unlock the value of your asset," a senior banker was quoted as having said in a statement by Globe Asia.

The listing for 2010 has been predicted to reach $5 billion.