Jailed founder of Gome Electrical Appliances Holding Huang Guangyu was the richest of them. He was 21st on the rich list in 2010 with assets of 24 billion yuan (US$3.64 billion).

Also on the rich list was Zhang Rongkun, the construction tycoon involved in Shanghai's pension fund scandal.

Among other entrepreneurs who have featured on the rich list, 21 have faced or are facing investigation, or their whereabouts are unknown.

Former CITIC Pacific Chairman Larry Yung is being investigated by the Hong Kong securities watchdog for foreign exchange option fraud. Yung topped the rich list in 2002. He resigned in April 2009 after losing more than HK$808 million (US$104 million) in a forward exchange contract.

Yang Rong, former chairman of Huachen Auto Group, is said to have fled to the United States after being allegedly linked with economic crimes in 2002.