Globes – 16 Israelis made this year’s “Forbes” The World’s Billionaires list, up from 10 last year.

Sammy Ofer and his family, with its controlling interest in Israel Corporation(TASE: ILCO) and global shipping interests, has a fortune estimated by “Forbes” at $10.3 billion in 2011, up from $6.5 billion in 2010. At 79th place Ofer is the richest Israeli. The family’s fortune has benefited from the surge in commodities prices. The Ofers are considering floating another of their companies, Pacific Drilling Inc., a provider of services to the oil drilling industry, at a value of over $1 billion.