How do you picture a farmer? A man who stays on the farm throughout the day, looking after the crops and trying to get the best yields, right? However, in today's age of modern agriculture, there has been an advent of new technologies that are being used to develop the process of farming and turn it into a successful business. Gone are those days when farmers used to devote most of their time to their farms, fighting all the challenges that came their way. In modern times, not only have they been able to accomplish a lot in this field, they have slowly climbed up the ladder to become one of the wealthiest individuals in the world. These guys might not spend the lion's share of their day on the farm. Instead, they are in their offices, looking after their business. Know them.

Liu Yongxing

Liu Yongzing, with an estimated net worth of $6.6 billion, is among the wealthiest people in China and the world. In the 80s, Liu decided to join hands with his brothers and open a farm with chickens and quails. The farm initially started on a small scale; however, after he parted ways with his brothers, Liu laid the foundation stone of the East Hope Group in the 90s. All his siblings have started agribusiness companies of their own and have found success.

Agriculture, heavy industry, and real estate are the sectors in which the East Hope Group primarily operates. Talking about the agricultural industry, the organization emphasizes animal feed production. It is said to produce animal feed in over 100 products. Liu Yongxing and his brother, Liu Yonghao, hold ranks in the Forbes list of the wealthiest people in the world.

Lynda and Stewart Resnick

Lynda and Stewart Resnick, with an entire family fortune of approximately $4.2 billion, occupy second place on this list. They grow almonds and pistachios on their California farm, which covers a total area of 64,000 acres. The Resnicks have made investments of over $100 million in sustainable technologies. The main aim has been to grow drought-resistant pistachios. As you all know, California has been prone to drought in the last few years.

After they tied the knot, Lynda and Stewart initiated their farming operations in the latter half of the 70s decade. Stewart invested in large swaths of farmland in the Central Valley. Their organization, Wonderland Company, brings forth products bought by more than 50% of the people in the United States.

Liu Yonghao

Liu Yongxing's brother, Liu Yonghao, boasts an estimated net wealth of $4.1 billion, as calculated by Forbes in 2016, is one of the wealthiest people in China. He initially built his empire on a chicken and quail farm that belonged to him and his brothers. However, that was not what he first intended to do. Lily started his career as a teacher in a technical school. It was not until 1982 that he made up his mind about starting a business of his own along with his brothers.

All the brothers sold off their watches and bikes to arrange for the money required to finance their business plans. The amount they could manage was 120 dollars. They used the money as capital for their business. They invested the money and bought quails and chickens. The brothers reared them and sold them to farmers in the rural regions of the Sichuan province. Later, they started a network for selling animal feed, and slowly and steadily, the business began to expand. Their company, named Hope Group, went on to become one of the largest networks that supplied animal feed. In 1996, the four brothers divided their agricultural empire, and Liu Yonghao named New Hope Group his business.

Harry Stine

With something in the ballpark of $3.6 billion in his banks, Harry Stine is supposedly the wealthiest individual in Iowa. he is the main one who launched Stine Seed. It's a genetics organization, and Stine has achieved massive success.

He kicked off his business of seed breeding in the 60s decade. Stine Seed is said to be the world's largest private seed company. The organization has been credited for creating soybean seeds that are considered to be the most genetically robust.

Blairo Maggi, Tony Perich, Colin, Dale Armer, and Howard Buffet are the other billionaire and millionaire farmers that deserve to be mentioned.