THE RICHEST MAN IN BABYLON (2)

World's Billionaires 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
provided by

More at Forbes.com:


The World's Billionaires

Cost of Living Large

Women Billionaires

AP Photo

3) Warren Buffett

Net Worth: $47 billion

Source: Investments

Residence: U.S.

• America's favorite investor up $10 billion in past 12 months on surging Berkshire Hathaway shares; says U.S. has survived economic "Pearl Harbor," but warns recovery will be slow.

• Shrewdly invested $5 billion in Goldman Sachs and $3 billion in General Electric amid 2008 market collapse.

• Recently acquired railroad giant Burlington Northern Santa Fe for $26 billion.

• "We've put a lot of money to work during the chaos of the last two years. When it's raining gold, reach for a bucket, not a thimble."

• Berkshire Hathaway book value was up 19.8% to $21.8 billion in 2009.

• Son of Nebraska stockbroker met value investor Benjamin Graham while studying economics at Columbia.

• Took over textile firm Berkshire Hathaway in 1965, used company as a vehicle to invest in insurance (Geico), food (Dairy Queen), utilities (MidAmerican Energy) and recently green tech (electric-car maker BYD).


AP Photo

4) Mukesh Ambani

Net Worth: $29 billion

Source: Petrochemicals, oil and gas

Residence: India

• Global ambitions: His Reliance Industries, already India's most valuable company, recently bid $2 billion for 65% stake in troubled Canadian oil sands outfit Value Creations.

• Firm's $14.5 billion offer to buy bankrupt petrochemicals maker LyondellBasell was rejected.

• Since September company has sold Treasury shares worth $2 billion to be used for acquisitions.

• Late father, Dhirubhai, founded Reliance and built it into a massive conglomerate. After he died, Mukesh and his brother, Anil, ran the family business together for a brief time. But siblings feuded over control; mother eventually brokered split of assets, with Mukesh getting oil, gas and petrochemicals businesses.

• Still at odds with Anil over gas supply agreement; awaiting Supreme Court's final ruling.

• Owns cricket team Mumbai Indians.


AP Photo

5) Lakshmi Mittal

Net Worth: $28.7 billion

Source: Steel

Residence: India

• London's richest resident oversees ArcelorMittal, world's largest steel maker. Net profits fell 75% in 2009.

• Mittal took 12% pay cut amid slump but improved outlook pushed stock up one-third in past year.

• Looking to expand in his native India; wants to build steel mills in Jharkhad and Orissa but has not received government approval.

• Started in family steel business in India in 1970s; branched out on his own in 1994.

• Initially bought up steel mills on the cheap in Eastern Europe.

• Earned $1.1 billion for selling his interest in a Kazakh refinery in December.

• Sits on the boards of Goldman Sachs, EADS.

• Upped stake in struggling British soccer team QPR in February.

• Funding 400-foot sculpture to be built in London's Olympic Park in time for 2012 Olympics.

• Owns 12-bedroom mansion in London's posh Kensington neighborhood.

• Daughter-in-law Megha recently bought insolvent German fashion house Escada.


AP Photo

6) Lawrence Ellison

Net Worth: $28 billion

Source: Oracle

Residence: U.S.

• Oracle founder's fortune continues to soar; shares up 70% in past 12 months.

• Database giant has bought 57 companies in the past five years.

• Completed $7.4 billion buyout of Sun Microsystems in January; acquired BEA Systems for $8.5 billion in 2008.

• Studied physics at U. of Chicago; didn't graduate.

• Started Oracle 1977; took public a day before Microsoft in 1986.

• Owns 52% stake in business-software company NetSuite; shares worth $480 million.

• Racing junkie owns 453-foot yacht Rising Sun with pal David Geffen. Won America's Cup in February, besting longtime rival billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli.


AP Photo

7) Bernard Arnault

Net Worth: $27.5 billion

Source: Luxury goods

Residence: France

• Bling is back, helping fashion icon grab title of richest European as shares of his luxury goods outfit LVMH--maker of Louis Vuitton, Moet & Chandon--surge 57%.

• LVMH is developing upscale Shanghai commercial property, L'Avenue Shanghai, with Macau billionaire Stanley Ho.

• Renaissance man owns French tour operator Go Voyages, yacht builder Royal Van Lent; has a stake in French retailer Carrefour.

• Built Le Cheval Blanc in ski resort town of Courchevel, France, where he likes to spend New Year's Eve.

• Father, Jean, who died in January, made small fortune in construction; sale of that business later helped fund Arnault's move into real estate and eventually into luxury goods.

• Still a family affair: son Antoine, 32, and daughter Delphine, 34, sit on LVMH's board.

• Wife is a concert pianist; Arnault himself reported to be an excellent piano player.

Dreamsdreamer

THE RICHEST MAN IN BABYLON (1)

World's Billionaires 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
provided by

Introduction by Matthew Miller and Luisa Kroll

Carlos Slim Helu takes No. 1 spot on Forbes World's Billionaires list as a record 164 10-figure titans return to the ranking amid the global economic recovery.

For the third time in three years, the world has a new richest man.

Riding surging prices of his various telecom holdings, including giant mobile outfit America Movil (AMX), Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim Helu has beaten out Americans Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to become the wealthiest person on earth and nab the top spot on the 2010 Forbes list of the World's Billionaires.

More at Forbes.com:


The World's Billionaires

Cost of Living Large

Women Billionaires

Slim's fortune has swelled to an estimated $53.5 billion, up $18.5 billion in 12 months. Shares of America Movil, of which Slim owns a $23 billion stake, were up 35% in a year.

That massive hoard of scratch puts him ahead of Microsoft (MSFT) cofounder Bill Gates, who had held the title of world's richest 14 of the past 15 years.

Gates, now worth $53 billion, is ranked second in the world. He is up $13 billion from a year ago as shares of Microsoft rose 50% in 12 months. Gates' holdings in his personal investment vehicle Cascade (CAE) also soared with the rest of the markets.

Buffett's fortune jumped $10 billion to $47 billion on rising shares of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK). He ranks third.

The Oracle of Omaha shrewdly invested $5 billion in Goldman Sachs (GS) and $3 billion in General Electric (GE) amid the 2008 market collapse. He also recently acquired railroad giant Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNI) for $26 billion.

In his annual shareholder letter Buffett wrote, "We've put a lot of money to work during the chaos of the last two years. When it's raining gold, reach for a bucket, not a thimble."

Many plutocrats did just that. Indeed, last year's wealth wasteland has become a billionaire bonanza. Most of the richest people on the planet have seen their fortunes soar in the past year.

This year the World's Billionaires have an average net worth of $3.5 billion, up $500 million in 12 months. The world has 1,011 10-figure titans, up from 793 a year ago but still shy of the record 1,125 in 2008. Of those billionaires on last year's list, only 12% saw their fortunes decline.

U.S. billionaires still dominate the ranks — but their grip is slipping. Americans account for 40% of the world's billionaires, down from 45% a year ago.

The U.S. commands 38% of the collective $3.6 trillion net worth of the world's richest, down from 44% a year ago.

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Of the 97 new members of the list, only 16% are from the U.S. By contrast, Asia made big gains. The region added 104 moguls and now has just 14 fewer than Europe, thanks to several large public offerings and swelling stock markets.

The new billionaires include American Isaac Perlmutter, who flipped Marvel Entertainment (MVL) to Disney (DIS) for $4 billion last December. The Spider-Man mogul netted nearly $900 million in cash and 20 million shares of Disney in the transaction.

Also new to the ranking: 27 billionaires from China, including Li Shufu, whose automaker, Geely, announced plans to buy Swedish brand Volvo from Ford in December. The deal is expected to close in March 2010.

Finland and Pakistan both welcomed their first billionaires.

For the first time China (including Hong Kong) has the most billionaires outside the U.S. with 89.

Russia has 62 billionaires, 28 of them returnees who had fallen off last year's list amid a meltdown in commodities. Total returnees to the list this year: 164.

Eleven countries have at least double the number of billionaires they had a year ago, including China, India, Turkey and South Korea.

Thirty members of last year's list fell out of the billionaire's club. Moguls who couldn't make the cut: Iceland's Thor Bjorgolfsson, Russia's Boris Berezovsky and Saudi Arabia's Maan Al-Sanea.

Another 13 members of last year's list died. Among the deceased: real estate developer Melvin Simon and glass tycoon William Davidson.

The Top 20 Billionaires in the World


AP Photo

1) Carlos Slim Helu

Net Worth: $53.5 billion

Source: Telecom

Residence: Mexico

• Telecom tycoon who pounced on privatization of Mexico's national telephone company in the 1990s becomes world's richest person for first time after coming in third place last year. Net worth up $18.5 billion in a year.

• Recently received regulatory approval to merge his fixed-line assets into American Movil, Latin America's biggest mobile phone company.

• His construction conglomerate, Impulsora del Desarrollo y el Empleo, builds roads and energy infrastructure.

• Son of a Lebanese immigrant also owns stakes in financial group Inbursa, Bronco Drilling, Independent News & Media, Saks and New York Times Co.

• Newspaper outfit's stock popped in early March on talk he might buy a controlling stake; he denies the rumor.

• Donating $65 million to fund a research project in genomic medicine with American billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad.


AP Photo

2) Bill Gates

Net Worth: $53 billion

Source: Microsoft

Residence: U.S.

• Software visionary is now the world's second-richest man. Net worth still up $13 billion in a year as Microsoft shares rose 50% in 12 months, value of investment vehicle Cascade swelled.

• More than 60% of fortune held outside Microsoft; investments include Four Seasons hotels, Televisa, Auto Nation.

• Stepped down from day-to-day duties at Microsoft in 2008 to focus on philanthropy.

• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation dedicated to fighting hunger, improving education in America's high schools, developing vaccines against malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS
(to be contd)

Dreamsdreamer

Reflections: Wanted, a Sage!

I am bouncing the thoughts of my reflective friend Rajesh, off you.Are you a sage? IF you are,please help Rajesh!
(there are 50 questions for which he requires answers):

At a movie theater which arm rest is yours?


Do dentists go to other dentists or do they just do it themselves?


Is it rude for a deaf person to talk (sign) with their mouth full of food?


Why is the Lone Ranger called 'Lone' if he always has his Indian friend Tonto with him?


When does it stop being partly cloudy and start being partly sunny?


Are eyebrows considered facial hair?


If a baby's leg pops out at 11:59PM but his head doesn't come out until 12:01, which day was he born on?


Do they have the word "dictionary" in the dictionary?


Can you daydream at night?


When Atheists go to court, do they have to swear on the bible?


Why vanilla ice cream white when vanilla extract is brown?


Can animals commit suicide?


What do you do when you see an endangered animal that is eating an endangered plant?


If a doctor suddenly had a heart attack while doing surgery, would the other doctors work on the doctor or the patient?


How can something be "new" and "improved"? if it's new, what was it improving on?


If laughter is the best medicine, who's the idiot who said they 'died laughing'?


If money doesn't grow on trees then why do banks have branches?


Why does the Easter bunny carry eggs? Rabbits don't lay eggs.


Do Siamese twins pay for one ticket or two tickets when they go to movies and concerts?


Why does caregiver and caretaker mean the same thing?


Can a short person "talk down" to a taller person?


If a guy that was about to die in the electric chair had a heart attack should they save him?


If Mars had earthquakes would they be called marsquakes?


Why do people never say "it's only a game" when they're winning?


If an ambulance is on its way to save someone, and it runs someone over, does it stop to help them?


Why is it called a funny bone, when if you hit it, it's not funny at all?


Do you yawn in your sleep?


What do Greeks say when they don't understand something?


What happens if a queen gives birth to a pair of Siamese twins? Who gets to be king?


Why does triangularly cut bread taste better than square bread?


When a pregnant lady has twins, is there 1 or 2 umbilical cords?


Why doesn't Winnie the Pooh ever get stung by the bees he messes with?


What do people in China call their good plates?


Why don't woodpeckers get headaches when they slam their head on a tree all day?


If someone owns a piece of land, do they own it all the way to the center of the earth?


If an escalotor breaks down, does it become stairs?


Do stuttering people stutter when they're thinking to themselves?


Why do we press the start button to turn off the computer?


In libraries, do they put the bible in the fiction or non-fiction section?


If people with one arm go to get their nails done, do they pay half price?


What type of animal is Snuffaluffagus?


If you had a three story house and were in the second floor, isn't it possible that you can be upstairs and downstairs at the same time?


If nobody buys a ticket to a movie do they still show it?


Do butterflies remember life as a caterpillar?


Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?


Does the postman deliver his own mail?


Can you "stare off into space" when you're in space?


Where do people in Hell tell other people to go?


When you're caught "between a rock and a hard place", is the rock not hard?


How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?


What is another word for "thesaurus"?


shalom

Taiwo Ogunkoya
Dreamsdreamer

NB: U may post your responses to www.facebook.com/Taiyelolu

Because WE Have Brains???!

It was a Sports Stadium.
Eight Children were standing on the track to participate in a running
event.


* Ready! * Steady! * Bang !!!


With the sound of Toy pistol,


All eight girls started running.


Hardly had they covered ten to fifteen steps,


when one of the smaller girls slipped and fell down,


Due to bruises and pain she started crying.


When the other seven girls heard the little girl cry they stopped
running, stood for a while and turned back.


Seeing the girl on the track they all ran to help.


One among them bent down, picked her up and kissed her gently


And enquired as to how she was..


They then lifted the fallen girl pacifying her.


Two of them held her firmly while all seven joined hands together and
walked together towards the winning post........ .


There was pin drop silence at the spectator's stand.


Officials were shocked.


Slow claps multiplied to thousands as the spectators stood up in
appreciation.


Many eyes were filled with tears


And perhaps even God's!


YES.!! This happened in Hyderabad [ INDIA ], recently!


The sport was conducted by

National Institute of Mental Health.



All these special girls had come to participate in this event


They were
spastic children.


Yes, they were Mentally Challenged .


What did they teach the WORLD.?


Teamwork.?


Humanity.?


Equality among all.??


Successful people help others who are
slow in learning


So that they are not left far behind.


This is really a great message... Spread it.!



We never do this because we have brains !!!!

THINK ABOUT THIS!


Best Regards,


Taiwo Ogunkoya
DreamsDreamer

A TRIBUTE TO RALPH ALABI

WHILE HE WAS THE MANAGING DIRECTOR/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF GUINESS NIGERIA,(1994-1996) I HAD THE PRIVILEDGE TO BE THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO CHIEF ALABI.I NOW BRING TO YOU THIS TRIBUTE WRITTEN BY A RESPECTED AND SENIOR COLLEAGUE......WITH COMMENTARIES OF MINE FOLLOWING:
Friday, November 27, 2009
Tribute to Ralph Alabi
By Taiwo Obe
THE diary, pen - fountain and felt-tipped - and hard cover notebook were made for Ralph Adeola Alabi.
Those three items were effective tools in the hands of that wonderful human being who spent 45 years of his life in the House of Guinness, starting in March 1964 as a technician and retiring in June 2009 as the chairman, in a quasi-executive capacity - he went to the office once every week or so. He was the first (and only) Nigerian to be chairman of Guinness Nigeria plc after being Vice-Chairman/Managing Director and Chief Executive.
If you had a meeting with Alabi, a trained mechanical engineer, be sure that he would have his hard cover notebook open before him to take notes. With his pen - I am not quite sure he used any ink other than black. OK: he once used one with red ink to tick off some tasks he had given me to carry out for him. If you had to meet him again, then he would flip open his desk diary (or journal) and find a date convenient to both of you. Until very recently, finding a suitable date was a Herculean task because, hey!, this man's diary was always filled up with all sorts of appointments, which he gladly kept, once he had them booked. If you had a 10 O' clock appointment with him, you had better be there on time, because a few minutes late, you could be told that he was attending to some other person, and may not see you. Just as well, he would not come late to your event. Were methodical not in the English Language, because of Alabi, it would have been put there.
Niyi, his second son and third child, puts what he calls the dad's "organisational mentality" more graphically: "He is a man that planned his whole life ahead, with the hope that nothing happened to him by accident. He once told me that, as a man, 'you have to picture your life and set yourself targets.' His words: Divide your life path into four sections. The first path is your youth, that is, from birth till you turn 15 years old; from 15 years old till 30 years old; from 30 years old till 45 years old and from 45 years old till 60 years old. At the end of each period, carry out an assessment of your path to see if you have achieved your set goals."
Still, Alabi believed that there was a Divine programming for every (wo)man. In his review of Divine Deal, the book which Alabi released in 2004 to celebrate his 40 years in Guinness, Dr. Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo, a director of TaijoWonukabe Limited, of which Alabi was chairman, stated: "As a good Christian, Ralph Alabi believes that nothing in life happens by chance. Everything has been pre-determined by God, including the place of birth, the family which serves as a vessel to this world, colleagues, bosses and role models. The impact of these people, the places any man will go, the events that will shape his life, the pains and challenges of life has all been ordained by God."
Just about when he retired from Guinness on June 30, 2009, Alabi began to wind down from a lot of his secular activities. Evidence: his diary became less-clogged. He became more involved with matters spiritual, as a pastor of the Merciful God Ministry, a ministry dedicated to deliverance, word of God and prayer. Instead of his hard cover notebook, he had a blue bound book, where he wrote sermons, sermons and more sermons. By the last count, he was on the third volume.
But his diary was still there. Perhaps, now, someone else would have written this there; on the 11th of November, more like a postscript (PS), because he had an appointment on that day: "Ralph Adeola Alabi, born March 14, 1941. Signs off his Divine Deal today. Peacefully. A man who walks with God will always get to his destination. Safe path, RAA."
• Obe is the executive vice-chairman of TaijoWonukabe Limited

THANK YOU FOR READING THROUGH...... ADDITIONAL COMMENTARIES WILL FOLLOW IN THE NEXT POST.



Taiwo Ogunkoya
DreamsDreamer

WISDOM TIP:NEVER DRAW CONCLUSIONS - BEFORE YOU KNOW THE FACTS!

One old man was sitting with his 25 years old son in the train.

Train is about to leave the station.

All passengers are settling down their seat.

As train started young man was filled with lot of joy and curiosity.

He was sitting on the window side.

He went out one hand and feeling the passing air. He shouted, "Papa
see all trees are going behind".

Old man smile and admired son feelings.

Beside the young man one couple was sitting and listing all the
conversion between father and son.

They were little awkward with the attitude of 25 years old man
behaving like a small child.


Suddenly young man again shouted, "Papa see the pond and animals.
Clouds are moving with train".

Couple was watching the young man embarrassingly.

Now its start raining and some of water drops touches the young man's hand.

He filled with joy and he closed the eyes.

He shouted again," Papa it's raining, water is touching me, see papa".

Couple couldn't help themselves and ask the old man.

"Why don't you visit the Doctor and get treatment for your son."

Old man said,

" Yes, We are coming from the hospital as today only my son got his
eye sight for first time in his life".


Moral: "Don't draw conclusions until you know all the facts".


Have a great day!

Dreamsdreamer
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2010: A YEAR OF NEW BEGINING;GET REAL!

Our God, even GOD ALMIGHTY specializes in turning small shots to big shots.He is fond of bringing something out of nothing (Gen 1v1-3). He easily multiplies zeros to bring out masterpieces fit to showcase to the world as His Work.



In 2010 we find another rounding-off year with the zeros appearing...that is why i tell you this year is a year of NEW BEGININGS;i am fairly certain that Jesus will multiply your zeros this year to produce something successfull.All your failures of the year 2009 will He turn to sucess in this year - IJN (AMEN)!

Take Steps of Faith this year,put your CREATIVE ABILITIES to use and you will be richly blessed for your efforts.

IF making money on the internet from the comfort of your home is your goal;Permit me to suggest where you may start: I know a REAL Coy doing business in over 200 countries with Home Based Enterprenuers,the name is STRONG FUTURE INTERNATIONAL (SFI).

I strongly recommend that you join them.

Joining SFI is as easy as 123; and it is F-R-E-E! Just click on the link below:

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Good Luck!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

IN THIS YEAR 2010:GET REAL!!!

Taiwo Ogunkoya
DreamDreamer

http://www.sfi4.com/10363496/FREE