In the realm of wealth and opulence, Forbes, Bloomberg, and similar entities are the heralds of the billionaires' domain, meticulously crafting lists that captivate our imaginations. Well, you see, not all billionaires are on these lists, and this then put to the question, are all billionaires truly accounted for and how many billionaires are lurk in the shadows, far away from the public eyes?
According to Wikipedia, there are 756 billionaires in the United States but then why use wikipedia when we have rated companies like Forbes, who says that there are 735 billionaires with a combined net worth of $4.5 trillion. When Forbes put out this names, they use the word "Listed" because there are a lot of billionaires that aren't listed.
For Forbes to do its job, it has over 50 employees around the world in 16 countries and let us state that whatever value Forbes is giving out are financial information available to the public because they use public financial records, interviews with the listed people, employees, rivals, attorneys, and accountants. But they ensure to meet with the people to validate whatever information they find but according to Forbes, most people do not cooperate with them since most of these people look for clever ways to shelter their money from the public as a result of the Taxes imposed on their wealth.
There are a lot of billionaires that should show up on Forbes or Bloomberg's list but won't show up because they are head of states and we would assume that they are spending the state's money. People like Vladimir Putin, the Royal Family of England, The Sultan of Brunei and so on but since the list is made up of indivisual billionaires and not widespread family or public fortune, a lot of people are excluded since it is difficult to differentiate personal funds from public funds.
When it comes to Billionaires, there are those who want to show of their wealth since they are flashy, there are people who could not escape the public even when they don't want to be public because of the size of their companies (People like Amancio Ortega), and the others silent to the public and are only known by their accountants, their family, and in some cases the IRS. Billionaires that want to be under the radar do this for purposes like staying out of the troubles that comes with being public figure.
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Lots of people win lotteries have people around them who are either asking for money, suing them for things they would not have if they knew they didn't have the money (frivolous lawsuits), and people pitching them the billion dollar business idea just to get money from them. This are part of the reasons why the average lottery winner go bankrupt. You see, when people know you are very wealthy, you become a target for robbers, kidnappers, and blackmails.
Just so you know, people pay to get their names or businesses mentioned by Forbes in their magazines. With this paid subscription, Forbes make money, and the person who pays get a written article about them. So a lot of billionaires do not like to be on the same magazine with other billionaires like Sam Bankman-fried and Elizabeth Holmes, as it might affect their credibility.
In the labyrinthine world of billionaires, where fortunes rise and fall, and shadows conceal as much as they reveal, the quest for authenticity and transparency remains ongoing. Beyond the glitz and glamour lies a realm of complexities and contradictions, where wealth is both coveted and concealed, beckoning further exploration into the enigmatic landscape of the world's billionaires.
The elusive nature of billionaire wealth transcends the confines of glossy magazines and financial rankings, underscoring the intricate interplay between opulence, privacy, and public perception. As Forbes and its counterparts endeavor to chronicle the ever-evolving landscape of global wealth, the true extent of billionaire affluence remains shrouded in mystery, awaiting discovery amidst the complexities of human ambition and enterprise.
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