RICH

Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

—Zephaniah 1:18

5118 American Millionaires

There were 240,000 American millionaires and multi-millionaires in 1976. In 1972, they numbered 180,000. There was only 1 millionaire in the United States 180 years ago.

This 1976 statistic means that one-tenth of 1 percent of total U.S. population are millionaires. This group owns an estimated $417 billion. This is about 12 percent of all personal net worth in the U.S.

The Treasury Department also figures that about 5 million people—or over 2% of the U.S. population—now have net assets of $100,000 and up.

Suprisingly, over half of all U.S. millionaires are female! A goodly number are relatively young women, the widows or daughters of wealthy men.

5119 The Richest Nations

A new World Bank list of countries with the highest per capital national income:

Kuwait     $11,510

United Arab Emirates     $10,480

Qatar     $ 8,320

Switzerland     $ 8,050

Sweden     $ 7,880

U.S.A.     $ 7,060

5120 His Soul For “New York Times”

Robert Herbert Thompson owns 180 newspapers, 290 other companies, and an estimated $300 million.

“How much would you give for the New York Times?”

Like a flash he answered, “I think I’d mortgage my soul.”

Listen to the sad echo from the rocky caverns of this lonely soul: “I’m not close to anybody except for business. … I just don’t have a lot of personal friends.”

5121 “Just Love Me, Burton”

Johannesburg, South Africa (UPI)—Elizabeth Taylor has refused to accept the $1 million pink diamond ring Richard Burton bought her and said they decided to build a hospital in Botswana with the money instead.

“I love Richard for the extravagant thought but he doesn’t have to spoil me any more … just love me,” Miss Taylor said.

The pink diamond ring was made up of a rare pink 25-carat stone, surrounded by 6½-carat bluewhite diamonds mounted on platinum. Jeweller Robert Schwart said Wednesday when Burton bought it, “It cost $1 million but is insured for much more.”

5122 The Beverly Hills Rich

Beverly Hills, California, is a city of superlatives. Here live some of the richest and most famous people in the world.

The town of 33,000 people is rich. Average income is $20,000. Choice business property sells for $100,000 a front foot. A home remodeling job may cost up to $250,000.

It’s expensive. Barber Jay Sebring, who clips Frank Sinatra’s and Marlon Brando’s hair, charges $25 a job, $40 a house call.

5123 Fourth-Generation Rothschilds

Writing from Paris, Gilbert Sedbon of Reuter’s, describes the famous Rothschild family. He states:

From the top of a 10-story ultra-modern building at 21 Rue Laffitte, three generations of Rothschilds look down on a fourth generation which is already paving the way for the fifth to run the family’s immense fortune and worldwide interests.

“God willing, the sons of our sons will become bankers and businessmen,” says Baron Guy de Rothschild, head of the most famous international banking family.

Every day at 10:20 a.m. sharp, the fourth generation of the family, headed by Baron Guy, confers in the mahogany-paneled boardroom in the heart of the Paris banking area. Watching from the walls are the portraits of their powerful ancestors.

—Prairie Overcomer

5124 Highest Income in One Year

Writer Bert Bacharach tells us that the highest income in any year by an individual was Al Capone’s “take” in 1927—reputed to have been one hundred and five million dollars.

5125 His Weight In Platinum

Aga Khan, on the silver jubilee of his leadership of the Ismaili Moslem sect, received from his followers, his weight in silver. On the golden jubilee, in gold; and on the anniversary five years ago, in diamonds. That day in Bombay he weighed 243½ pounds—he received 2½ million dollars. That ceremony was repeated later in East Africa with the same result.

This year on his 75th birthday, he is to receive his weight in platinum. At last reports he weighed in at 240 pounds. At the present price of platinum, he will receive about three million dollars. He is honored by Ismaili Moslems as a direct descendant of Mohammed and a kind of deity on earth.

According to the press, he spends most of his time on the French Riviera, and following the fortunes of his stable of racehorses. The total amount of his wealth usually is summed up in the word “fabulous.”

—Gospel Herald

5126 $1 M-Salary Contract Refused

There is only one man in the world who ever tore up a $1,000,000-a-year salary contract.

When the United States Steel Corporation took over the Carnegie Company, it acquired as one of its obligations a contract to pay Charles M. Schwab that unheard-of sum as a minimum annually.

J. P. Morgan didn’t know what to do about it. The highest salary on record was $100,000. He was in a quandary.

Finally he summoned Schwab, showed him the contract, and hesitatingly asked what could be done about it.

“This,” said Schwab, and tore it up.

That contract had netted Schwab $1,300,000 the previous year.

“I didn’t care what salary they paid me. I was not animated by money motives. I believed in what I was trying to do and I wanted to see it brought about. I canceled that contract without a moment’s hesitation,” Mr. Shwab explained to me.

“Why do I work. What do I work for?” he continued. “I have more money than I can begin to spend. I have no children, nobody to leave it to. My wife is rich enough in her own right. She does not need it. I do not need it. I work just for pleasure I find in work, the satisfaction there is in developing things, in creating. Also, the associations business begets. The man who does not work for the love of work, but only for money, is not likely to make money nor to find much fun in life.

—Forbes Magazine

See also: Famous People ; Money ; Poor ; Luke 6:24, I Tim. 6:17, Rev. 18:15.