Posts Tagged ‘billionaires’

Being a Billionaire’s Daughter

Thursday, June 2nd, 2011


(© Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a kid with a horse and a dream and a billion dollar inheritance, now’s your chance to find out. Georgina Bloomberg, the 28-year-old daughter of the mayor of New York City, has just published a young adult book that is technically a work of fiction, but clearly based on her life in the inner circle of Manhattan heiresses.

While it’s not fair to read too far into Georgina’s life based on her book, there are some interesting themes – mostly around the unwanted fame that comes with wealth and good old arguments with dad. What do you do when your father’s fortune allows you to excel at an expensive sport – horse riding – but his business sensibility dismisses it as a career because it doesn’t pay?

It’s kind of nice to see that the tension between parents who want the best for their children and the children who want to follow their bliss is pretty much universal. No matter what your net worth.

Still trying to find your bliss? Watch our interviews with Pretty Young Professional or Ron from CareerCore to get started!

$74 Billion Still Buys an Awful Lot…

Thursday, March 24th, 2011


(photo credit: clagnut)

Carlos Slim (is that really his real name? Googling… his real name is Carlos Slim Helú, which is still kind of funny) is officially the richest man in the world, with a net worth of $74 billion.

That’s more than 6% of Mexico’s entire GDP!

But being the world’s richest man in a country as poor as Mexico isn’t easy on your rep. Unlike Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, America’s wealthiest citizens, Slim hasn’t really focused on philanthropy.

Which led Cyntia Barrera Diaz from Reuters to ask, “What could you pay for with that kind of scratch?”

Here are some gems from the list she came up with:

  • - Enough tortillas for all 112 million Mexican citizens for 11 years
  • - NASA’s total budget for the next four years
  • - Mexico’s entire public education budget for ten years
  • - 1,617 25-carat pink diamonds

What does Carlos think about giving away his money?

“Wealth is like an orchard. You have to share the fruit, not the trees.”

What would YOU do with $74 billion?

Billionaires as far as the eye can see

Thursday, January 6th, 2011

billionaires-of-the-world.jpg
click to see the full-size version

Woah! There sure are a lot of billionaires in America. And at least one of them has been doing a great job of living within his means… Bill Gates tops the list of American billionaires for the 13th year in a row.

Maybe it’s time to start that software company you’ve always dreamed of…

ilovecharts:

via Kurt White

Facebook Founders Pledge To Give Away Most Of Their Assets

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

Why wait until you’re dead to make your mark on the world?

  • Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz are the latest billionaires to sign on to “The Giving Pledge.” They’re part of a growing number of wealthy individuals choosing to get involved in philanthropy while they’re still young.
  • The Giving Pledge was thought up by Warren Buffet and Bill Gates, who are on a joint mission to get other billionaires to donate the majority of their wealth to charity before they die.
  • Internet and technology billionaires like Gates and Zuckerberg have a special motivation to give – they’ve already built their wealth by trying to change the world.

Facts & Figures

  • More than 50 billionaires have signed onto the pledge so far
  • In 2008, donations in the U.S. totaled $315 billion; in 2009, that number fell to $303.75 billion
  • Zuckerberg recently pledged $100 million in donations to Newark public schools

Best Quote

“Wealth is an advantage, but it also is frankly a responsibility.” – Nicolas Berggruen, Investor, recently signed on to The Giving Pledge

Indian Billionaires Reluctant To Give

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

In a country wrought with poverty, giving to the poor becomes a challenge in its own right.

  • Bill Gates and Warren buffet, two of the wealthiest individuals in the world, recently pledged to give half of their net worth to charity.
  • The pledge has been replicated by 38 other American billionaires, but in India – home to two of the richest people in the world – wealthy individuals have not made the same commitment.
  • Those billionaires contacted regarding the challenge evaded commenting on the subject.
  • Experts say that Indian billionaires donate less because the opportunities for giving are fewer and often tainted by corruption.

Facts & Figures

  • Indians collectively donate 0.6% of their country’s GDP to charity. While Canada donates 1.3% and the U.S. 2.2%.
  • Just 10% of charitable giving in India comes from individuals or companies, compared to 75% in the United States.

Best Quote

“Indians just don’t trust the organizations that want money or that they could give to. Often they find themselves in the position that even if they want to give, there is no mechanism available to them by which they could give.” – Emily Harrison, Founder, Innovaid