Until a few days before the new issue of the magazine was finalized, Malcolm Forbes, the second-generation head of Forbes magazine, was still discussing this year's ranking of the 400 richest people in the United States with the editorial team.

Compared with previous years, one obvious difference on this year's local list is the withdrawal of Sam Walton.

Due to the continued deterioration of his physical condition, Sam Walton has officially transferred the shares in his name to the family trust and the names of several children at the beginning of this year.

If Sam Walton had not transferred his shares, the retail tycoon's assets of more than 8 billion US dollars would definitely continue to be the first in the US wealth list. Now, although the "Forbes" global list will be released next month

The list will also count the Walton family as a whole, but the position of the richest man in the local list has become an issue that many people pay close attention to.

During this period of time, Malcolm Forbes has received countless calls inquiring about this matter. Many wealthy people appear to be indifferent on the surface, but in their hearts they are very concerned about their wealth ranking. As the most authoritative wealth list in the world

However, "Forbes" magazine is also very cautious in determining the data of its own lists.

After careful investigation and multi-party evidence collection and extensive discussions among the editorial team, the new list has finally been finalized. Malcolm Forbes also understands that this year’s list is bound to cause a lot of controversy.

September 9th, Saturday.

With the release of the new issue of "Forbes" magazine, early in the morning, the phone at Malcolm Forbes' home in the wealthy area of ​​Fashills in the western suburbs of New York kept ringing. The first words many people said were, '

Mal, are you kidding us?'

The Forbes list is certainly not a joke.

However, the name of a certain young man who topped the list this time made too many people feel a little dazzled.

Beverly Hills.

In the villa of Trousdale Manor, just after five o'clock on the west coast, Simon began to receive calls from all parties, congratulating him on winning the top spot on this year's rich list, even Sofia from France and Janet from Australia.

Everyone called.

I arranged to work overtime on the weekend, intending to complete the post-production of "Batman" in one go. However, the chaotic morning destined to make it difficult to work calmly this weekend.

After breakfast, as soon as Simon left home in his car, some media reporters who were already squatting outside followed him up. They followed Simon's car until it entered Warner Studios. As soon as they arrived at the post-production center of Warner Studios, Terry Se

Mel appeared in front of Simon, also congratulated him, and also asked Simon if he was free to have dinner with him at noon.

There was nothing serious to do, and Simon was too lazy to have lunch with a grown man, so he naturally refused.

After some small talk, Terry Semel left, and Simon's driver handed him a copy of Forbes magazine before he entered the "Batman" studio at the Post Center.

Simon ordered the staff who looked at him with more strange eyes to prepare for today's work. He sat down on the office chair in the studio and opened the magazine in his hand. He was not interested in Tai Chang's ranking, but

Looking at the magazine, I specially listed the top ten that took up a whole page.

First place: Simon Westeros, $6 billion, 21 years old.

Second place: John Krueger, $5.2 billion, 76 years old.

Third place: Warren Buffett, US$4.2 billion, 59 years old.

Fourth place: Summer Redstone, $2.88 billion, 66 years old.

Fifth place: Ted Arison, $2.8 billion, 65 years old.

Sixth place: Donald Newhouse, $2.7 billion, 61 years old.

No. 7: Samuel Newhouse, $2.7 billion, 60 years old.

Eighth place: Anne-Cox Chambers, $2.55 billion, 69 years old.

Ninth place: Barbara-Cox Anthony, $25.50, 66 years old.

No. 10: Ross Perot, $2.4 billion, 59 years old.

A 21-year-old boy suddenly appeared in front of a group of top wealthy people whose average age was over 60 years old. He looked really blinking.

It would be hypocritical to say that I am not happy that such an initiative was achieved in just three years.

However, Simon did not continue to read more information, but quickly devoted himself to the day's work.

6 billion US dollars is indeed not much different from Simon's current net worth, but it is still far from Simon's expected goal. At least, it is estimated that it will still be difficult for him to enter the top ten this year on the list of the world's richest people. Simon's goal is also

It’s not just about entering the top ten on the global list, it’s not just about getting the first place.

He has never forgotten the somewhat frivolous words he and Janet had on the outskirts of Phoenix on his 19th birthday.

Since reviving his life and just doing his best doesn't meet Simon's expectations, he hopes to reach a height that everyone can look up to.

Simon started his day's work calmly, but the media in North America and around the world were abuzz with the news that he topped the 400 richest people in the United States.

The first place always gets the most attention.

Just like the Forbes rich list in many years later, the whole world knows that Bill Gates has long occupied the first place, but if asked who is second or third, most people cannot blurt out accurately.

As Simon climbed to the top, the first reaction from the major media was almost one-sided skepticism.

Simon Westeros is very rich. This is a concept that has been established in most people's minds. However, the 21-year-old has become the richest man in the United States in just three years without inheritance, with a personal net worth of US$6 billion.

,How can this be?

However, compared to last year, the data provided by Forbes this year are more detailed. Even some assets that Simon thought he had hidden well were revealed by Forbes.

Among the personal assets under Simon's name, the most obvious ones are still those technology stocks.

After the large-scale reduction of holdings in the first half of the year, although among the remaining 19 technology stocks, there are stocks such as AMD that have brought losses to Simon, but the share prices of Microsoft and Intel, two companies that Westeros has heavily held, have declined over the past six months.

All are continuing to rise.

Compared with the statistics after the reduction of holdings at the beginning of the year, the overall value of the technology stocks held by Westeros Company increased by 13% in half a year, with a total value of US$1.77 billion.

The second asset is Cersei Capital.

In recent months, the Japanese have released more news intentionally or unintentionally, and the operating conditions of Cersei Capital have gradually become known to more people.

According to Cersei Capital's net worth of more than 3 billion US dollars, "Forbes" judged that Simon at least holds no less than one-third of it, which is another 1 billion US dollars.

The third asset is a large number of properties in Simon's name.

This is what surprised Simon.

"Forbes" magazine discovered information about the buildings and corresponding land that Simon bought east of Madison Avenue in Manhattan. At the same time, the real estate investments in Europe were also counted, plus Simon's properties in cities such as Los Angeles and New York.

With a large number of luxury homes, "Forbes" estimates that the total value of Simon's properties has reached an astonishing US$400 million.

The fourth asset is a series of unlisted companies in which the Westeros Corporation holds shares.

Cisco, AOL and even Igret, which was founded only a few months ago, are all included, and Gucci, a luxury goods company, is also included.

Cisco has begun to stand out recently, and Gucci's recovery in the past six months is obvious to all.

Forbes values ​​these unlisted companies at US$300 million.

The total value of the above four assets is close to US$3.5 billion.

Next, the fifth asset is naturally the most important one: Daenerys Entertainment Company.

"Forbes" magazine specifically lists the assets currently owned by Daenerys Entertainment:

The three film labels Daenerys, New World and High Gate, which have a large number of blockbuster films;

Daenerys Television, which owns several lucrative reality shows;

30% stake in Blockbuster, which owns more than 750 video rental and sales chain stores;

Marvel Entertainment;

Pixar Animation Studios;

Daenerys Special Effects Company;

Blizzard Studios;

The Daenerys Studios in Malibu and the Daenerys Entertainment Headquarters building in New York are under construction;

a toy factory in Rhode Island;

Then, there is a comparison with the list of assets of Columbia Pictures, which Sony has just completed its acquisition.

Sony paid a total of US$5 billion and acquired only Columbia Pictures' two major labels, Columbia and Samsung, including a film and television library with more than 4,000 film and television copyrights, a Loews theater chain with 820 screens, and five local television stations.

The two major labels of Columbia and Samsung are obviously far inferior to the three labels of Daenerys, New World and Highgate under the dynamic Daenerys Entertainment.

The copyright of more than 4,000 film and television works may be Columbia Pictures' biggest advantage, but the income that these more than 4,000 film and television works bring to Columbia Pictures through annual video tapes, TV broadcasts and other home entertainment operations may not be as much as Danielle's.

Revenue from one or two blockbuster movies under Silk Entertainment.

This asset is more about potential secondary development copyright value and a long-term foundation.

Although the Loews theater chain is wholly owned by Colombia, its 820 screens are nothing compared to the total number of more than 23,000 screens in North America. In comparison, Blockbuster has rapidly increased its market share in the past six months.

expanded to nearly 10%.

As for local TV stations, in an industry merger and acquisition in March this year, Ron Perelman, who was ambitious to enter the media field, bought 12 local TV stations for only US$100 million, including the liabilities of these TV stations.

, the total transaction value does not exceed US$200 million.

The national television networks of North American mainstream television networks are actually mainly built on these television stations. Each of the three old television networks ABC, NBC and CBS has more than 200 franchised television stations.

It is not difficult to imagine that the value of the TV stations in Colombia's hands will never be too high.

In addition, Daenerys Entertainment has started building Daenerys Studios, but Columbia Pictures doesn't even have its own studio. If Sony wants to revive the operation of this old film company, it must continue to spend money to purchase movie studios.

In comparison, Sonic paid a price of US$5 billion for such a film company. The value of Daenerys Entertainment, which is still in a state of rapid expansion and full of vitality, is naturally not too low, and may even exceed that of Columbia Pictures.
To be continued...