Sometimes I dream big, maybe not to be a billionaire, but to have more than I have now. If I did have more money, I’d do something nice - like dig wells in Africa to provide safe, clean drinking water. Some of the billionaires around the world are doing nice too… here’s a look[1]:
With this year’s list, Forbes noted there were the highest number of billionaires (1,210) and a combined wealth of $4.5 trillion.
Although not in the Top 10, Forbes’ list also revealed that Facebook produced 6 billionaires this year that included Co-founders Dustin Moskovitz and Eduardo Saverin (the one in the movie that got bilked) and Facebook’s first president, Sean Parker.
Some of the billionaires are spreading their wealth more than others. The world's richest man and Mexican tycoon, Carlos Slim Helu has launched a $500million health institute in Mexico aimed at helping Mexico's very poor folks. The next two richest, Gates and Buffett, have started “The Giving Pledge”, inviting the wealthiest individuals in America to commit to giving the majority of their wealth to philanthropy. Larry Ellison, the 5th wealthiest has joined as has Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook. And LVMH Chief Bernard Arnault, France’s Richest Man and #4 on the wealthiest list, just gave £3.75 Million for the Relief Fund in Japan. Number 7 on the list, Amcancio Ortega who created ZARA, funded an organization on developing innovative solutions to specific problems in society with an initial contribution of around €60 million. And Christie Walton, #10, supports her family's own charitable foundation, the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation, which prioritizes education. Her family's foundation donated as much as $1.6 billion.
What this tells me is that- tax savings aside- philanthropy is alive and well. For me, I’ll still dream of building those wells.
[1] 2011 World’s Richest People list, Forbes Magazine
In case you’re wondering about the magnitude of a billion dollars, it’s a THOUSAND million. That’s like comparing the total number of Facebook users on the planet and almost doubling it[2]. For example, Mr. Helu has the equivalent of $123 cash for every human being on the Planet that uses Facebook.
With this year’s list, Forbes noted there were the highest number of billionaires (1,210) and a combined wealth of $4.5 trillion.
Although not in the Top 10, Forbes’ list also revealed that Facebook produced 6 billionaires this year that included Co-founders Dustin Moskovitz and Eduardo Saverin (the one in the movie that got bilked) and Facebook’s first president, Sean Parker.
What this tells me is that- tax savings aside- philanthropy is alive and well. For me, I’ll still dream of building those wells.
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[2] As of January 2011, Facebook has more than 600 million active users.
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