Armenian by birth, Lebanese by nationality and British by residence since the 1970s, Manoukian, 49, started his business career in Beirut in the 1960s. He keeps a low profile but we identified an asset base for him of at least 117.5m [British pounds] last year. Given the general appreciation in quality assets over 1996, his London and Beverly Hills properties will have risen in value by at least 5m. Other property, including a stud and a farm, will also be worth more. He is a friend of the British and Brunei royal families and has a Monaco-based yacht, the Siran. His main interests are controlled through Liechtenstein and include a company called Hylant Establishment; there is also a small London-based company, Vincci. The rise in world stock markets in 1996 easily takes him to 160m. (1996: worth 150m, rank 103rd). © 1997 Times Newspapers Limited.