Australia's media moguls have topped BRW's inaugural executive rich list but a resources boom has lined the pockets of mining executives, propelling them up the ladder of wealth.
BRW magazines's executive rich list is drawn from Australia's top 500 public companies and ranking the 200 wealthiest managers by the value of their shareholdings.
News Corp Ltd executive chairman Rupert Murdoch sits at the top of the tree, thanks to a $11.5 billion shareholding, while Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd boss James Packer takes silver with a shareholding valued at $4.9 billion.
Rounding out the top three is the founder of shopping centre giant Westfield Group - Frank Lowy - who's stake is valued at $3.6 billion.
The resources boom has also played its part in producing ultra wealthy executives, with 39 or close to 20 per cent of the top 200 involved in the resources sector.
Sitting at number four is the boss of iron ore hopeful Fortescue Metals Group Ltd - Andrew Forrest - who's personal shareholding is worth $1.9 billion.
"The incredible impact of the resources sector on the Australian economy is highlighted by the executive rich," BRW said.
"On average, the resources companies produced share price growth of 136.7 per cent in the last twelve months.
"Junior copper miner CuDeco recorded share price growth of 1,000 per cent."
Cudeco Ltd chairman Wayne McCrae slipped in at 120 with $39.8 million.
Nickel tycoon Kerry Harmanis came in at number 22 with a shareholding valued at $320.6 million and uranium baron John Borshoff at 39, with wealth of $162.1 million.
Mr Harmanis is the executive chairman of nickel miner Jubilee Mines NL and Mr Borshoff is managing director of uranium miner Paladin Resources Ltd.
Other mining executives to make the cut were Kagara Zinc Ltd chairman Kim Robinson (60), Oxiana Ltd managing director Owen Hegarty (67), Summit Resources Ltd boss Alan Eggers (101) and BHP Billiton chief executive Chip Goodyear (153).
There are eight paper billionaires and 149 companies represented on the rich list, and 21 of those firms doubled their share price during the past 12 months.
Among other prominent names to score a place on the list were Babcock & Brown executive director James Fantaci (30), ABC Learning Centres Ltd chief executive Eddy Groves (51) and Macquarie Bank Ltd managing director and chief executive Allan Moss (141).
And for those aspiring to find a place on the executive rich list, BRW suggests you don't need to climb a crowded corporate ladder in a big corporation.
"Small and mid-size companies dominate the list - there are 95 companies with market capitalisations under $1 billion and 70 companies are valued at less than $500 million," BRW said.
"Chances are, aspiring executives who pick the right company won't have to wait too long to strike it very rich - 37 of the companies on the executive rich were not listed three years ago and 12 more were not listed five years ago."