Lee became the second richest man in South Korea after his father Lee Kun-hee, chairman of Samsung Electronics and de facto head of the group, the country's largest conglomerate. The senior Lee was ranked 92nd in the Bloomberg billionaires list with assets worth $13.5 billion.
The junior Lee's ranking soared as Samsung SDS Co. made a splash in its debut on the South Korean bourse in mid-November. He holds an 11.25 percent stake in Samsung SDS, an information and communication technology service provider affiliated with the conglomerate.
In September, the junior Lee ranked around 360th with assets worth $4.3-4.4 billion, becoming South Korea's fifth richest man.
Bloomberg put Suh Kyung-bae, chairman of Amore Pacific Group, a cosmetic and beauty product maker, in 229th place for his assets worth $6.1 billion, and Chung Mong-koo, chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, in 245th place for $5.8 billion.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates retained his top spot, with assets worth $87.8 billion. Mexico's Carlos Slim, chairman and chief executive of telecommunications companies Telmex and American Movil, and Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., remained at Nos. 2 and 3 with assets worth $79.8 billion and $72.7 billion, respectively.