There are many powerful and rich clans that dominate the world of organised crime.

Some of the most notorious include the Italian mafia and the South American , many of which have become famous through TV serials.

However, the richest mafia organisation is neither European nor from the Americas.

Japan's Yamaguchi Gumi clan is said to be top of the pops when it comes to net worth.

The organisation reportedly has its tentacles in a varied assortment of businesses, raking in billions of dollars.

Its business interests reportedly include extortion, gambling, prostitution, arms and , real estate and construction kickback schemes.

They are also believed to be involved in stock market manipulation and Internet pornography.

By some estimates the Yamaguchi Gumi is worth a whopping £65billion and, in 2023, had 3,500 active members.

By way of comparison, this is £5bn more than GDP for 2022, which stood at £50.6bn.

The clan is named after its founder Harukichi Yamaguchi and its origins can be traced back to a loose labor union for dockworkers in Kobe before World War II.

Although its headquarters are in Kobe, the mafia group operates all across Japan and has overseas operations.

Its current kumich (Boss), Shinobu Tsukasa, has declared his ambition to expand the clan's territorial reach.

The group is making inroads into , traditionally not Yamaguchi turf. They also have multiple groups working overseas.

The second richest mafia organisation is Sicily's , with a net worth reputed to be around £40bn.

It dates back to the mid-19th century and today is estimated to have 5,500 members.

The third richest is Colombia's Medellin cartel, which was founded and led by the notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar in 1976.

The cartel is thought to be worth some £24bn. At the height of its fame, the group is reported to have earned £162m per day in profits.