Friday, Mar 13, 2009
Reduced to a life of luxury.
BBC: Rich list hit by economic crisis
The financial crisis is taking its toll on the world's richest people, wiping 332 names off Forbes magazine's "rich list" of world billionaires. Just 793 people can now lay claim to a place on the list, but on average they have lost 23% of their wealth. The stock market collapse helped Microsoft founder Bill Gates regain the top spot, despite his wealth declining $18bn (£13.06bn) to $40bn. He ousted investor Warren Buffet, whose fortune declined by $25bn to $37bn.
Posted by charlie brooker @ 04:13 AM (399 views) Add Comment
4 Comments
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1. japanese uncle said...
Bill Gates is the biggest parasite that ever plagued this planet, just taking advantage of patenting bureaucracy, with Windows which is (being not even his own creation) the software of diabolical quality. The damage this evil prasite has caused with his useless Windows to the world economy, let alone the billions he sucked illegally, could well amount to one trillion on a cumulative basis.
2. timmy t said...
I actually think Bill Gates has done a pretty good job with windows. OK, it occassionally needs a reboot and you wouldn't take that from your microwave or washing machine, but I couldn't imagine life without it. I do have a problem with anyone having a personal wealth of $40Bn though. I don't know what the answer is and I'm not advocating a 100% tax above a certain figure, but when you consider the poverty that exists in some parts of the world, it just cannot be right that some people literally have more money than they could ever spend - why?
3. japanese uncle said...
timmy t
Billions of users should have benefited much much more if Mac rather than Microsoft had prevailed.
'This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down' should have drafted like this.
'Due to the unbelievable incompetence of Microsoft engineers, this program would most regrettably have to be shut down. We are terribly sorry for the undoubtedly great inconvenience it should cause to you. Many thanks for your generous patience.'
4. timmy t said...
JU - makes you wonder what error message would be flashing over the doors of the Bank of England right now... Due to the unbelievable incompetence of our industry, this country will have to shut down...