Economics Explained The Ranks of Global Billionaires: Not All Billionaires Are Made Equal
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Jun 2, 2024 
Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, two tech billionaires, are compared in terms of their wealth and philanthropic approaches. The podcast discusses factors beyond net worth for billionaire rankings, challenges of converting paper wealth into cash for private company billionaires, and the varying levels of wealth among billionaires.
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Two Billionaires, Different Approaches
- Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, both billionaires, reside in Medina, a town near Seattle.
- Despite similarities, their fortunes differ greatly, with Gates focusing on philanthropy and Bezos on business.
Billionaire Rankings
- Billionaires are ranked not just by net worth, but also liquidity, political power, and wealth security.
- One can achieve a paper net worth of $1 billion by creating a shelf company with overpriced shares.
Private Company Billionaires
- Many billionaires' wealth is tied up in private companies, limiting liquidity, like the Trump Organization.
- It’s difficult for them to quickly raise cash despite high paper valuations.