The 75 richest people since the dawn of civilization makes interesting read: Here is a selection of names including rank, wealth in recent USD billions and source of wealth. And off course my wisecracks! 1st John D. Rockefeller, (oil), 318 billions. 2nd Andrew Carnegie, (steel), 298 billion. 3rd Nicholas II of Russia (monarchy), 253 billion. Is not Putin richer? 5th NIZAM OF HYDERABAD, (Ruler), 210. I was his neighbour before I moved to US (kidding!). 7th Henry Ford, (motor car), 188 billion. No surprise his successor has not asked for federal bailout money. 8th Marcus Licinius Crassus, (Roman Senator and contemporary of Julius Caesar), 169 billion. What happened to JC, Brutus and Mark Anthony ... were they busy either writing speeches or chasing Cleopatra instead of raiding the mint? 9th Basil II, (Byzantine Emperor), 169 billion again. 12th Amenophis III (Egyptian Pharaoh), 155billion; think some is still there in the pyramids? 15th Elizabeth I (House of Tudor), 142 billion. 16th John D. Rockefeller, Jr, (oil), 141 billion .... how did he blow 180 billions that his # 1 kin started out with ? 17th Sam Walton (Walmart) 128 billion ... imagine how much more if he did not offer everyday low prices! 20th CLEOPATRA (ancient Egypt/Ptolemaic inheritance), 95 billions; dream mix of beauty & wealth! 27th Sultan of Brunei, (Ruler), 80 billion; yeah, I've seen pics of his fancy jet! 31st. Carlos Slim, (Mexican telecom tycoon), 72 bil. 37th BILL GATES, (Microsoft), 58 billion. 40th MUKESH AMBANI, (Reliance/India), 55 billion .... wow ! to be on the same list as Cleopatra. 41st Warren Buffet, (Berkshire Hathaway), 52 billion; good job Warren for joining Bill in the world's biggest charitable endowment. 42nd LAKSHMI MITTAL, (steel/India), 51 billion. Looks like that mega shaadi (wedding) for your daughter did not make a dent! 48th ANIL AMBANI, (Reliance Communications/India), 45 billion. 55th Paul Allen, (Microsoft co founder), 40 billion. His recipe for success: Room with a dude like Gates and don't waste time at Harvard. 68th K.P. SINGH (DLF/Indian builder), 32 billion 75th Prince Al-Waleed bin Tal, (Saudi ruling family), 29 billion.
Source of information: "Outliers", by Malcolm Gladwell
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