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Meet The Extreme Super Rich: A List Of The 80 People Who Own As Much As The World’s Poorest 3.6 Billion

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Submitted by Mike Krieger via Liberty Blitzkrieg blog,

Before I get into the meat of this post, I want to make it clear that the definition of oligarch, a term I use a lot, does not center solely around money.

Late last year, in the post Inside the Mind of an Oligarch – Sheldon Adelson Proclaims “I Don’t Like Journalism,” I attempted to frame the word oligarch as I use it. I wrote the following:

In a nutshell, while many oligarchs are extremely wealthy (or have access to extreme wealth), not all people with extreme wealth are oligarchs. The term oligarch is reserved for those with extreme wealth who also want to control the political process, policy levers and most other aspects of the lives of the citizenry in a top-down tyrannical and undemocratic manner. They think they know best about pretty much everything, and believe unelected technocrats who share their worldview should be empowered so that they can unilaterally make all of society’s important decisions. The unwashed masses (plebs) in their minds are unnecessary distractions who must to be told what to do. Useless eaters who need to be brainwashed into worshipping the oligarch mindset, or turned into apathetic automatons incapable or unwilling to engage in critical thought. Either outcome is equally acceptable and equally encouraged.

With that out of the way, Five-Thirty-Eight provided the following:

Eighty people hold the same amount of wealth as the world’s 3.6 billion poorest people, according to an analysis just released from Oxfam. The report from the global anti-poverty organization finds that since 2009, the wealth of those 80 richest has doubled in nominal terms — while the wealth of the poorest 50 percent of the world’s population has fallen.

There you have it. The reason the wealth of the richest has doubled since 2009, is because “it’s not a recession, it’s a robbery.” Central bank and government policy has done this, it is no accident.

For more evidence…

Four years earlier, 388 billionaires together held as much wealth as the poorest 50 percent of the world.

 

Thirty-five of the 80 richest people in the world are U.S. citizens, with combined wealth of $941 billion in 2014. Together in second place are Germany and Russia, with seven mega-rich individuals apiece. The entire list is dominated by one gender, though — 70 of the 80 richest people are men. And 68 of the people on the list are 50 or older.

 

Oxfam notes that global wealth inequality is increasing while the rich get richer. If trends continue, the organization projects that the richest 1 percent of people will have more wealth than the remaining 99 percent by 2016.

Now here’s the list:

 

I didn’t provide this list to say whether these people are good or bad. I provide it, because whenever 80 people own as much as the poorest 50% of the globe, we sure better know who they are. We should also be cognizant of the disproportionate influence any of them can have on public affairs should they want to.

 

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Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:03 | 5717350 Peter Pan
Peter Pan's picture

I don't quite understand your comment. Maybe I am missing the point you are trying to make.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:10 | 5717378 ILikeBoats
ILikeBoats's picture

A large chunk of retail is men's, women's, and children's clothing.  With local production of textiles and local clothing manufacture, you can buy direct from the makers or at least very close to it.  Huge clothing retailers don't work that way - they make their profits on the outsized difference between what they pay for the shirt and what they sell it for.  Without such globally-enforced economies of scale (WTO regulations for example), clothing would be made locally and sold locally.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:11 | 5717397 Peter Pan
Peter Pan's picture

Thanks for that. Good point.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:30 | 5717485 css1971
css1971's picture

And for Tech. Develop once and copy 400 million times at $0.10 per copy in costs.

How much are you paying in licenses for Windows? Oracle? At least in tech you get an alternative.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 16:59 | 5717344 Peter Pan
Peter Pan's picture

I think the writer shoukd have said, "the reason why the wealth of the richest has doubled since 2009 is because it's not a RECOVERY, it's a robbery."

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:10 | 5717357 czarangelus
czarangelus's picture

This is a bit of a threadjack, but Zero Hedge seems to like my occasional anecdotes, so here goes.

I just had a friend's friend on Facebook block me, because I - a white male - dared interrupt her rant about privilege! And yes, she is a women's studies major at a State university, how did you know? And what's funny is I wasn't even trying to attack her. I was questioning whether it's really a "privilege" for me when unarmed black men get choked to death for no reason, or when women are subject to stalking or harassment. My case was no, of course it's not a privilege. This is toxic language meant to divide people into special interest groups always at one anothers' throats. Gays against straights; nth wave feminists against traditionalists; men against women; the religious against the non-religious, and so on.

I asked if it would be better to talk about shared values. I had in mind things like equality under the law, and a level playing field for coopetition. I didn't get to ask anything after that though, because apparently that's enough to block me.

The best part of all is we're all paying to teach her this tripe.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:24 | 5717440 medium giraffe
medium giraffe's picture

The problem with talking to people on facebook is you end up talking to the sort of people who use facebook.  Besides, the old adage stands: arguing on the internet is like competing in the special olympics - even if you win, you're still retarded.

Thu, 01/29/2015 - 03:57 | 5719055 Charming Anarchist
Charming Anarchist's picture

retarded = getting blocked by a friend's friend on Facebook 

A friend's friend??   LOL 

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:41 | 5717552 JamaicaJim
JamaicaJim's picture

"..............when unarmed black men get choked to death for no reason......"

JEEEEEEEEEEEEEESUS...you fucking swallowed the Kool Aide on that one. If that means the Garner felon, he was;

FAT...........ORCA FAT

A HISTORY OF HEATH PROBLEMS........

A FELON, MANY TIMES OVER, SO FUCKING SPARE US THIS INNOCENT NICE GUY HORSE SHIT....

ITCHING FOR A CONFRONTATION.......

FAT....AND RESISTING ARREST.....

HIS COLOR HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT, SO STOP THE RACIST BULLSHIT

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:44 | 5717564 czarangelus
czarangelus's picture

It doesn't matter a damn "what he was." It matters "what he did," which is sell untaxed cigarettes. He sounds like an entrepreneurial hero to me.

Thu, 01/29/2015 - 12:12 | 5720184 Abaco
Abaco's picture

I believe that you are lying, or unintentionally and recklessly making a false statement, when you assert that Garner was "a felon, many times over." I may be incorrect, but I don't believe he was ever convicted of a felony. Correct me if I am wrong or stop licking boots.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:40 | 5717553 Ignatius
Ignatius's picture

"Political correctness" and identity politics absolutely perform the function of divide and rule/conquer.

By design?  I think so, but much harder to prove.

There's always two main political parties, the .01% of the 1%, and everybody else.  Very slick tactics and strategies are employed to get people to forget this basic dichotomy.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:59 | 5717623 Monty Burns
Monty Burns's picture

The architects of the whole PC edifice (Frankfurt School, Boaz, Gramsci etc.) knew exactly what they were doing. But most of the useful idiots like this 'liberal' arts lady on FB are just responding to their programming.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 18:00 | 5717629 Ignatius
Ignatius's picture

Same page.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:42 | 5717557 darteaus
darteaus's picture

Once you start thinking independently, and expecially expressing those thoughts out loud, you will be banned in all sorts of government subsidized places.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 21:36 | 5718419 TheFourthStooge-ing
TheFourthStooge-ing's picture

.

I just had a friend's friend on Facebook block me, because I - a white male - dared interrupt her rant about privilege! And yes, she is a women's studies major at a State university, how did you know?

The sublime irony here is that after graduation she'll end up having to swallow a lot more than her pride in order to pay the rent.

Unless she's a trust fund baby.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:06 | 5717361 Yttrium Gold Ni...
Yttrium Gold Nitrogen's picture

If you sort that list by country of origin, you get this:

USA 35
Russia 7
Germany 7
Hong Kong 4
France 4
India 3
Saudi Arabia 2
Mexico 2
Japan 2
Italy 2
China 2
Brazil 2
Spain 1
Sweden 1
Nigeria 1
Cyprus 1
Colombia 1
Canada 1
Australia 1

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:49 | 5717587 random999
random999's picture

Few years ago people were talking about Ingvar Kamprad (ikea founder) in the top5.

Now he´s gone, just like the rothschilds, xi jinping, putin and the rest of the western banksters..

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:06 | 5717365 cart00ner
Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:12 | 5717395 JRobby
JRobby's picture

This list is a start

Francis!

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:16 | 5717422 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

   There's always room at the top. The top has many definitions<

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:18 | 5717424 Mi Naem
Mi Naem's picture

First, where's all the farmers in their Lamborghinis?  

Seriously, these are the folks who let their information into the public.  Those who control real wealth and power are unknown or virtually so. 

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:17 | 5717426 Caleb Abell
Caleb Abell's picture

So if a mere 80 people were to die, and their wealth equally distributed, the lower 3.6 billion would each double in net worth.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:29 | 5717481 Apocalicious
Apocalicious's picture

Tell that to the lower 3.6 billion, who are unlikely to be reading ZH.

 

No, seriously, brother. Go tell them...

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:39 | 5717541 darteaus
darteaus's picture

"Put me in charge, and I'll make sure the redistrubution is fair," said the hopeful tyrant.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:25 | 5717462 random999
random999's picture

WHERE ARE THE BANKSTERS?? And the chinese politicians?

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:50 | 5717599 Niall Of The Ni...
Niall Of The Nine Hostages's picture

Buffett's there, along with Soros.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:29 | 5717473 Apocalicious
Apocalicious's picture

Taxation, devaluation, and inflation - the levers of the oligarchs quite literally since the dawn of civilization.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:33 | 5717502 gmak
gmak's picture

I wonder if we take the average American or 'developed' European wage, how many of the word's population that this would be greater than?

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 18:00 | 5717628 plane jain
plane jain's picture

very very many.

Check out the gumballs that represent all the people living on $2 a day (or less presumably).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPjzfGChGlE&feature=player_embedded

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:35 | 5717521 LetsGetPhysical
LetsGetPhysical's picture

British Monarchy? The Queen? Or is this just wealth priced in fiat?

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:37 | 5717527 darteaus
darteaus's picture

Any list that does not include Putin uses a flawed methodology.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:54 | 5717607 Monty Burns
Monty Burns's picture

You have no idea whatsoever what Putin is worth. Neither have I for that matter.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 19:01 | 5717844 darteaus
darteaus's picture

"No idea whatsoever"

Not true:

Forbes ($70B + World's most powerful man):

http://www.forbes.com/profile/vladimir-putin/

 

Heavy.com:

http://heavy.com/news/2014/07/vladimir-putin-wealth-forbes-net-worth/

 

There's this from Bloomberg ($40B - $70B):

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2013-09-17/vladimir-putin-the-rich...

 

This from theRichest ($70B):

http://www.therichest.com/celebnetworth/politician/president/vladimir-pu...

 

This from Wikipedia (A single of his 20+ residences = $1B; not counting: 4 yachts, 20+ watches, or 58 aircraft):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin#Personal_wealth_and_residences

 

 

Thu, 01/29/2015 - 10:04 | 5719429 Mi Naem
Mi Naem's picture

Don't you dare show factual evidence about Putin's unimaginable wealth or you'll get more downarrows, heretic! 

This is RT lite with a neo-libertarian cryptosocialist fauxanarchist nihilist editorial policy.  It's all about bashing western bastions, which is not a bad thing so far as it goes, but it is materially incomplete. 

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 04:34 | 5734011 Counterpunch
Counterpunch's picture

aren't you a hackey idiot troll though?

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:45 | 5717575 CitizenPete
CitizenPete's picture

Only a Rothschild could throw an event and request these 80 to show up.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 17:51 | 5717604 JamaicaJim
JamaicaJim's picture

Nice Rogue's Gallery of Bumbaclods

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 18:03 | 5717642 Motorhead
Motorhead's picture

I didn't see Dick Bove' there, either.  Or Jim Cramer.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 18:05 | 5717647 directaction
directaction's picture

Jewish people are 0.3% of the world's population.

So they should be 0.3% of the world's wealthiest. 

But they're about a third of the names on this list. Hmmm. 

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 18:16 | 5717678 RadioactiveRant
RadioactiveRant's picture

Its a tragedy they never learn from history.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 18:35 | 5717741 teslaberry
teslaberry's picture

KILL THE JEWS!!!

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 19:16 | 5717913 tumblemore
tumblemore's picture

or simply ban money lending for consumption

Thu, 01/29/2015 - 12:14 | 5720198 Abaco
Abaco's picture

Yeah and 50% of the NBA should be white. Flawed brain you go there.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 04:35 | 5734015 Counterpunch
Counterpunch's picture

you think playing basketball is logically equivalent to acquiring wealth?

 

one has to do with physical talent and agility - are you assuming the world's smartest people become wealthy, and Jews are so wealthy because they're so damned smart... and black people should be happy being good at rap and ball games?

 

Anyone ever tell you that you're an idiot racist Jewish Supremacist hack?

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 18:16 | 5717680 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

   When people become excessively wealthy, they create names and nomeclatures, to hide their true identities.

  The biggest problem with wealthy people, is that they aren't very articulate speakers.

  They were taught to obey, and procreate/

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 18:23 | 5717693 messystateofaffairs
messystateofaffairs's picture

The richest people in the world are nowhere near that list, they never are.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 18:38 | 5717746 Dadburnitpa
Dadburnitpa's picture

Just wondering if Jacqueline Mars is the woman who was previously known as the "braless wonder"?

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 18:49 | 5717780 tumblemore
tumblemore's picture
The term oligarch is reserved for those with extreme wealth who also want to control the political process
Good distinction.
The reason the wealth of the richest has doubled since 2009, is because “it’s not a recession, it’s a robbery.”
Quite.
I provide it, because whenever 80 people own as much as the poorest 50% of the globe, we sure better know who they are.
I doubt that list is 100% accurate. I think the wealth of the people at the core of the banking mafia is so opaque they don't get listed - which also implies the percentages are probably worse than stated.
Wed, 01/28/2015 - 20:05 | 5718128 KingTut
KingTut's picture

These are just the poeple whose wealth is matter of public record, because they choose not to hide it.

There are trillionaires out there whose acquisition of wealth may have been worse than merely preditory.

Or show simply don't want to appear on these lists.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 18:56 | 5717813 falak pema
falak pema's picture

this situation is now similar to that of the Roman empire in its decadence. 

No way that we can survive as democracy. 

And the Greeks have understood that in the west.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 19:17 | 5717925 Thisisbullishright
Thisisbullishright's picture

Where's Bill Gates?  How many of these are direct descendants of the Rothschild clan?

 

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 19:56 | 5718095 petroglyph
petroglyph's picture

More evidence of the need to bring back the Captcha question

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 20:08 | 5718140 NickVegas
NickVegas's picture

Who is on the other side of the world wide debt equation? Who owns the notes? That is a good starting point if you want to know the truth. The list is a joke. If you control the printing press, everything else is subordinate. The Rothys figured that out 100's of years ago.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 20:08 | 5718147 Anarchy 99
Anarchy 99's picture

the vatican, WHERE IS THE VATICAN?

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 22:37 | 5718401 Salsipuedes
Salsipuedes's picture

"It's not a recession it's a robbery."

Whoever said that is a goddamn genius!

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 21:38 | 5718421 capltd
capltd's picture

Not to worry, the corporatocrats the media likes to refer to as "liberals" are going to put an end to this.... that is unless those corporatocrats the media likes to refer to as "conservatives" stop them. 

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 22:11 | 5718524 thebigunit
thebigunit's picture

As the Great Rush Limbaugh has pointed out, this list does not include any governments or tin pot dictators.

Where is Queen Elizabeth II?

Where is King Royal Dutch Shell of the Netherlands?

Where is Kim Jung Un?  North Korea, an army, navy, air force, and a few million slaves ought to be enough to get a person on the "top 80 list".

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 22:21 | 5718550 Jack D. Ripper
Jack D. Ripper's picture

It is very sad that there is so much poverty in the world. But this article seems to imply that it is the fault of the super rich.

If you took the entire $941 billion of the people on the list and gave it to the 3.6 billion poorest, it would only amount to $262 each. They would still be very poor.

I am not an admirer of Bill Gates but is it Bill Gates' fault if lots of couples living in jungle huts or shantytowns decide to have 10 children? I can't see how.

Thu, 01/29/2015 - 00:54 | 5718904 MDP
MDP's picture

The fallacy of the zero-sum-game on full display.

Thu, 01/29/2015 - 02:38 | 5719009 thebigunit
thebigunit's picture

"If you took the entire $941 billion of the people on the list and gave it to the 3.6 billion poorest, it would only amount to $262 each. They would still be very poor."

It's even worse.

If all the people on the "wealthy 80" list were exterminated and all their wealth were vaporized with a Martian selective wealth vaporizer ray gun, EVERYONE ON PLANET EARTH would be significantly poorer.

Sorry, Marxists, but the wealth "owned" by wealthy people benefits even people who don't own the wealth.

If you killed the owner of Coca Cola and vaporized the secret recipe for Coca Cola, no one on earth would have Coca Cola.


Thu, 01/29/2015 - 12:16 | 5720212 Abaco
Abaco's picture

I think you just contradicted yourself.

Thu, 01/29/2015 - 14:22 | 5721002 thebigunit
thebigunit's picture

You're going to have to explain that.  You're a bit sketchy on the detail.

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 22:32 | 5718584 Prober
Prober's picture

Hmmmm,

IF the so-called wealthy oligarchs are in control of government, then why:

1. is the income tax rate 42+% ???? - If they were in control, then they would make it ZERO

2. why is 60% of government spending on entitlement programs for the proletariat ???? - If they were in control, then they would make it ZERO

3. why is the USA importing the poverty of latin america, making them voting citizens, and enrolling them in the entitlement bonanza ???? - If they were in control, then they would make it ZERO

In other words, the socialist coercive collectivist proletariat scum who actually does control government wants us victims to believe that it is actually other people who are robbing us EVERY PAYCHECK.

Thu, 01/29/2015 - 04:17 | 5719061 AE911Truth
AE911Truth's picture

If these were made ZERO, they would lose control. Crumbs for the systemically robbed, to the Network of Global Corporate Control remains in control.

 

Thu, 01/29/2015 - 05:38 | 5719111 Prober
Prober's picture

MORE rationalist socialist PROPAGANDA !

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 22:33 | 5718594 dexter_morgan
dexter_morgan's picture

None of the Rothschild tribe on this list?............anyone else find that strange? Not a single Brit makes the list? Get the fuck out of here.

I think this list may be BS.

Thu, 01/29/2015 - 00:09 | 5718829 billsbest
billsbest's picture

All accomplished from a beginning by working hard after school raking leaves.

Thu, 01/29/2015 - 04:19 | 5719060 AE911Truth
AE911Truth's picture

The savings of millions of elderly people globally, (on which they absolutely depend for survival) were totally wiped out during the financial crisis of 2008 and subsequent turmoil. Since they absolutely depended on these savings, this robbery is murder on a massive scale.

 

An accounting of the Comprehensive Financial Statement of the Planet (including TVM-LSM-666) shows there are many Quadrillions of Dollar equivalent wealth that can be returned to those who earned, saved, and were robbed by this corrupt system, (the Network of Global Corporate Control).

 

When fraud is demonstrable (and has been demonstrated, given the record fines paid by the global financial institutions) restitution is justified, and hereby demanded. The trillions in damages (millions of savers who lost millions of Dollars each) are not recovered by billions in fines paid to corrupt governments. Not even close. Especially when the fines are one tenth of one percent of the profits, this is not justice.

 

When the damaged parties are not made whole (not even close) this is not justice. Justice requires dissolving the criminal Network of Global Corporate Control and distributing their assets to the persons whose life savings were (not lost, not destroyed, but) stolen.

Mon, 02/02/2015 - 04:40 | 5734017 Counterpunch
Counterpunch's picture

various reputable news sources have repeatedly indicated that Jews are near or over half of American millionaires.

 

But what's most important is that both political parties also get half or more of their individual donations from Jews.

 

That is, a group which is very ethnocentric, and largely loyal to a foreign power [secondarily if not outright], and 3% of the population, is over 50% of money going to the 2 parties you get to choose from.

 

Which explains, perhaps why trasury, the fed, irs, fdic, cftc, commerce, sec, cbo, omb, council of economic advisors, and on and on, have so often had Jewish heads.

 

THIS is all far more important for the lives and deaths of hundreds of thousands than some inaccurate list of individual billionaires.

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