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Forbes: A New Billionaire Every 17 Hours
- German billionaire Ugur Sahin, together with his wife Özlem Türeci, co-founded BioNTech in 2008.
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DW, April 8, 2021.
The coronavirus pandemic didn't hurt the market of the superrich. Indeed, a new record was reached in April 2021, with 493 new billionaires worldwide. At least 40 of them made it because of COVID-19-related products. Though the pandemic hit the world economy hard in many places, this did not apply to the richest of the rich: Jeff Bezos is again the richest man on Earth, after a back-and-forth race last year with Elon Musk, who is in second place.
With nearly 500 new billionaires in 2021, there is now a total of 2,755 people worldwide with a net worth of at least $1 billion (840 million), according to Forbes.
Most of the newly minted billionaires 205 to be exact come from China, the country with the most new billionaires and second-most billionaires overall. Five of China's new billionaires came to their riches through vaping products: Chen Zhiping and Xiong Shaoming, the co-founders of Smoore International, both joined the billionaire list over the past 12 months, as did the co-founders of RLX Technology, David Jiang, Wen Yilong and Kate Wang, the CEO of the company. At 37, Wang is one of the youngest self-made billionaire women.
According to Forbes, all of China's vaping billionaires have a higher individual net worth than Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, who became a billionaire last year, with a net worth of $1.3 billion. Joining him from the US is Kim Kardashian West, as well as 96 other new American billionaires. While China surpassed the US in terms of new billionaires in 2021, the United States is still home to the most billionaires overall.
- Germany: No. 4 in the world: In Germany, a total of 136 people are worth more than $1 billion; 29 joined the ranks during the past year. This makes Germany No. 4 worldwide when it comes to the number of billionaires. Most notably, Germany has one of the new billionaires who made the 10-digit cut with products related to COVID-19. As of April 2021, Ugur Sahin is worth $4 billion. Sahin is the co-founder and CEO of BioNTech the company that developed the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine to fight the coronavirus. As a scientist, Sahin was vital in creating the vaccine. The world's youngest billionaire, Kevin David Lehman, also lives in Germany. At only 18, Lehman is worth $3.3 billion...
More, https://www.dw.com/en/forbes-a-new-billionaire-every-17-hours/a-57135443
- Jeff Bezos' net worth is $177 Billion.
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Forbes: A New Billionaire Every 17 Hours (Original Post)
appalachiablue
Apr 2021
OP
As you know, much of this is in stock options. I consider that "wealth" largely an imaginary number.
mahatmakanejeeves
Apr 2021
#1
If someone chooses to give them money for their product or service, I have no objection.
brooklynite
Apr 2021
#6
mahatmakanejeeves
(56,882 posts)1. As you know, much of this is in stock options. I consider that "wealth" largely an imaginary number.
We get a downturn, and a lot of those "billionaires" will evaporate overnight.
appalachiablue
(41,047 posts)2. I'll still take the options- for better or worse.
Frustratedlady
(16,254 posts)3. Bezos needs a new tailor.
appalachiablue
(41,047 posts)5. Seriously, I was thinking the same. Not
the first dud outfit.
rickyhall
(4,889 posts)4. And how often does someone fall out of the middle class I wonder.
brooklynite
(93,834 posts)6. If someone chooses to give them money for their product or service, I have no objection.
"Billionaire" is a nice round number to be critical of. What do you think is an acceptable amount of wealth: $100 Million? $50? $10?