Times Rich List Today - less billionaires

PasturesNew

The news this morning was going through some of the UK's billionaires and saying how much money they'd "lost"

Even Richard Branson is barely a billionaire now - he's lost about 56% of his wealth.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/5220243/Sunday-Times-Rich-List-2009--Analysis.html

The Sunday Times Rich List 2009 reveals that Britain's wealthiest individuals have lost £155 billion in the last year ... a 37 per cent fall and the biggest drop in the Rich List's 21-year history.
...
In 2007, the list of the 1,000 richest people in Britain included 64 house builders. This year, it features only 42.
...

Loads more titbits in the link.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

My heart bleeds for them.
Not.

ad9898_3

Most people dislike them, yet most would like to be one.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

ad9898 wrote: »

Most people dislike them, yet most would like to be one.

Whilst it's nice to have enough money to be comfortable,I personally would'nt like to have so much money that you can afford everything you want and not have anything to work towards.
Life would in my opinion be very boring and worthless.

lostinrates

MRSTITTLEMOUSE wrote: »

Whilst it's nice to have enough money to be comfortable,I personally would'nt like to have so much money that you can afford everything you want and not have anything to work towards.
Life would in my opinion be very boring and worthless.

This sort of argument genuinely confuses me. If I were able to afford everything I want I would have something to work towards: funding the things I would want to see improved on a charitble basis, donations to things I feel strongly about in health and education, starting fuinds to further these causes.. Funding research into health problems, into agricultural practise. There is almost no limit to what I can think of what I would want to do with massive amounts of money. I would not feel bored or that life was worthless if I were able to really contribute in such ways. I'd feel a bit stupid if I were spening millions on solid gold toothbrushes, but I would not spend it that way, personally. Wanting a lot isn't always wanting things for yourself.

ad9898_3

lostinrates wrote: »

This sort of argument genuinely confuses me. If I were able to afford everything I want I would have something to work towards: funding the things I would want to see improved on a charitble basis, donations to things I feel strongly about in health and education, starting fuinds to further these causes.. Funding research into health problems, into agricultural practise. There is almost no limit to what I can think of what I would want to do with massive amounts of money. I would not feel bored or that life was worthless if I were able to really contribute in such ways. I'd feel a bit stupid if I were spening millions on solid gold toothbrushes, but I would not spend it that way, personally. Wanting a lot isn't always wanting things for yourself.

Great post LIR.

lostinrates

ad9898 wrote: »

Great post LIR.

Thank you. In fact, its always worth me rememebring, when the NHS couldn't help me it was a very rich man who paid to get me the treatment I needed, and then helped me fund it for the following couple of years: I don't think his charity was worthless! But then I wouldn't and its also fair to point oiut a result, I'm not unbiased.

Graham_Devon

lostinrates wrote: »

This sort of argument genuinely confuses me. If I were able to afford everything I want I would have something to work towards: funding the things I would want to see improved on a charitble basis, donations to things I feel strongly about in health and education, starting fuinds to further these causes.. Funding research into health problems, into agricultural practise. There is almost no limit to what I can think of what I would want to do with massive amounts of money. I would not feel bored or that life was worthless if I were able to really contribute in such ways. I'd feel a bit stupid if I were spening millions on solid gold toothbrushes, but I would not spend it that way, personally. Wanting a lot isn't always wanting things for yourself.

Confuses me too.

When was the last time you saw a bored mega rich person. Look at the dragons on dragons den, look at Branson, Stellios.

Their life is geared towards doing better. The money in the end really isn't their main prority, it's success and suceeding in everything, which is why so many of these mega rich people have their fingers in so many pies, because they want to do the best and suceed in all these areas.

You have Branson with all his different brands who simply ditches them if they dont work.

You have Stellios with all his different brands. The Dragons for example have a massive varying portfolio.

The only people who become bored with their fortunes, in my experience, are those who have inherited it or come in to it in other ways. Theres no drive with them, no need to suceed.

Rochdale_Pioneers

So 1,000 people have between them lost £155bn in a year?

Life must be so hard for them.

Graham_Devon

Rochdale_Pioneers wrote: »

So 1,000 people have between them lost £155bn in a year?

Life must be so hard for them.

You gotta quit this jealousy

ad44downey

I can't see Anthea Turner or Grant Bovey on the list. It must have been a tough year for them