Hey Forbes, how about a 400 neediest list ?
The Associated Press reports that 82 of America’s billionaires didn’t make the Forbes 400 list of the wealthiest Americans. You have got to make it past $1.3 billion to be included this year.
Oh, the poor babies.
What are all the excluded billionaires going to do?
All they can do is sit around in their gazillion-dollar mansion on various coasts and private islands and sulk. Perhaps a few creative souls will take out billboards to announce that they are, in fact, almost rich enough to make the list. It’s a prestigious list, you know, a goal of sorts, the ultimate acknowledgement that you’ve made it.
Of course, Microsoft’s Bill Gates is at the top, followed by Warren Buffett and then Sheldon Adelson, who owns a lot of casinos. So we have computers, insurance and gambling leading the list – that certainly says a few things about our culture.
There are no billionaires in my family, and I’m not an East European princess who ran away from an arranged marriage. I’m pretty certain I will not, one of these days, surprisingly inherit a castle outside of Prague.
I don’t think I know any billionaires. The wealthy people I know are mostly humble and quick to tell you they worked hard for their money. Some personal sacrifices came along the way, along with the pressure of having hundreds of families depending on your company’s ability to succeed. Am I simply jealous I’ll never make the list?
No, I’m not. Like most working folks, I could use a little extra cash here and there. I’m a single mom, I drive a 15-year-old car and I shop at the Grocery Outlet once in a while, but what really irks me about this list has nothing to do with me.
What bothers me is it’s the wrong 400 people we focus on.
Look around: The economy is not booming unless you are a hedge fund manager and know how to ride a temperamental stock market. The Fed just lowered the interest rate; the Canadian dollar is the same as a U.S. dollar for the first time in 30 years; foreclosures are at a long-time high and ordinary people are having a more difficult time making it, unless they win the lottery.
I know, I know, people like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are renowned for their charitable work and generosity. I also know that how your financial situation looks has a lot to do with personal responsibility, living within your means and not charging your life on a credit card or five.
Focusing on the ultra-rich while the rest of the country – people with ordinary jobs and educations, the majority of Americans – is struggling, is like peeing your pants to stay warm. It feels nice for just a moment – then it gets really cold.
Instead of feeding the famous American dream, which is 50 years old and becoming more and more unobtainable, I wish Forbes would make a list of the 400 least-fortunate people – then put some of those hot young financial wizards to work getting people off that list. I’m sure we could all learn something from that.