What is it about wealth that fascinates us? Some think of the televisions, jewelry, and Ferraris that great wealth can buy. Perhaps others think of a purchasing a billionaire’s mansion. Still others may find the appeal of money in the women that it can help attract. But here at Bankling (where finance geeks reign supreme), when I think of vast wealth, I have dreams of investing, compound interest, and the Rule of 72. Whatever your ideas come to mind when pondering great wealth, these lists are sure to entertain (and perhaps inspire).
Wealthiest Chap: Wikipedia: List of the 100 wealthiest people. You want filthy? Take a look at these guys. The No. 1: Warren Buffet. Net worth: $62 billion. My verdict: Bill Gates, currently at #3 was actually worth over $100 billion for a short while in 1999 before the dot-com bubble burst. Oh well!- Wealthiest Company: FT Global 500: Wealthiest Companies as of 31 December 2008 [PDF]. Despite plummeting oil prices, five of the top 15 are oil companies. The No. 1: ExxonMobil. Market cap: $406 billion (as of 12/31/2008). My verdict: Texas tea tastes so sweet when you’re the one selling it.
- Wealthiest College: Wikipedia: List of colleges and universities in the United States by endowment. An endowment is a donation to an institution with a stipulation that it be invested for the long-term, instead of spent all at once. The No. 1: Harvard University. Endowment: $36.556 billion (2008). My verdict: Harvard, one of only six colleges that tops the $10 billion, mark crushes everyone else on this list. There’s even been some discussion to use the enormous endowment to get rid of tuition fees.
- Wealthiest Country: CIA World Factbook: Richest Countries by Per Capita GDP. No, the United States is not at the top of the list. The No. 1: Lichtenstein. Per Capita GDP: $117,000 (2007 estimate). My verdict: Good to know that if I started my own country, population me, that my nation would top this list.
- Wealthiest Canine: PetsDo: 10 Richest Pets in the World. Unfortunately, this is not a joke. The No. 1: Gunther IV, dog. Net worth: $372 million. My verdict: This trend of bequeathing an estate to your pet is quite a disturbing trend. Well, what else are the wealthy dead to do with their money now that poverty and hunger are things of the past? Oh, wait a minute.
Well, if one thing’s for certain, reading these lists all day isn’t making you any wealthier. Seriously, have you read that Rule of 72 article yet?
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{ 1 comment }
Someone who leaves millions to a dog is quite literally deranged.
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