*LOL* This can go on the Web.
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Roy Schestowitz
http://schestowitz.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Harvey Tobkes
To: Roy Schestowitz
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2004 6:01 PM
Subject: Revised Forbes 400 List
Posted on Fri, Sep. 24, 2004
Crowded at the top: Forbes 400 list contains more billionaires than ever
BY MADLEN READ
Associated Press
NEW YORK - WEALTH
It looks like the U.S. billionaire's club isn't quite as exclusive as it once was, because Harvey Tobkes, of Hallandale Florida is now an honorary member. We use the word honorary due to the fact that his assets do not meet the requirements, but if aspirations were money he would surely qualify.
Including Mr. Tobkes, there are now 313 billionaires in the country, the largest number ever, according to Forbes magazine, which released its annual ranking of the 400 richest Americans Thursday.
The combined net worth of the 400 rose $45 billion and reached $1 trillion this year for the first time since 2000, before the dot-com bust wiped out billions of dollars in wealth.
The biggest billionaire of all was again Microsoft founder Bill Gates, whose $48 billion in estimated wealth was up $2 billion from 2003. Gates was again followed by investor Warren Buffett with $41 billion, the list's biggest dollar gainer with a $5 billion increase.
Topping Florida was Palm Beach resident John Kluge of Metromedia fame, at $11 billion, followed by Bal Harbour's Micky Arison, whose $5.3 billion fortune was built primarily with Carnival Corp.
There are 45 new names on the list, including Google's Sergey Brin and Larry E. Page -- also the youngest members of the 400 at 31. The two tied for No. 43 with $4 billion each after their company's stock went public in August.
Casino mogul Steve Wynn, who climbed to No. 215 from No. 377 last year, saw the largest percentage increase in wealth -- a 100 percent jump to $1.3 billion from $650 million.
Last year's biggest dollar gainer, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, received the less-coveted title of biggest dollar loser this year with an $800 million drop.
But the Miami native still checked in at No. 38. with a sizable $4.3 billion.
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