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Bob Peck
Lunchtime Quiz: Comparing History’s Wealthiest People
by Bob Peck - June 3, 2008 - 10:30 AM

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Forbes Magazine recently reported that Warren Buffett, with assets totaling $62 billion, is the richest person in the world. Bill Gates, with a paltry $58 billion, has been bumped to second place. These numbers sound impressive, but how do these massive fortunes stack up historically?

Inquiring minds, including Forbes and The Times of London, have been intent to find out. By taking the worth of various famed figures of history at the peak of their success, determining the relative share of the Gross National Product each controlled, and adjusting for inflation, a list of the wealthiest individuals ever has been produced. The methodology, while debatable, produces some surprising results.

Take the quiz: Who’s Worth More?

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Comments (7)

  1. I have to take issue with the George Washington question as the majority of his wealth (pre-presidency) was obtained when he married Martha who was the rich one. Was this factored in or was her money just lumped in with his or even relevant?

    Or am I just a moron? It’s highly possible.

    posted by nikki on 6-3-2008 at 10:57 am

  2. 7/11…i guessed on most of them so i think that it pretty godd for guesses?

    posted by nicole on 6-3-2008 at 11:56 am

  3. Is there a link to the website or article that this quiz is taken from? I’d really like to see the full list.

    posted by derek on 6-3-2008 at 1:47 pm

  4. Why aren’t there estimates of Cleopatra and the L’Oreal lady’s fortunes?

    posted by gibson8or on 6-3-2008 at 2:47 pm

  5. gibson8or: Hard to put a value on the Ptolemnic dynasty…

    nikki: Martha’s family had a great deal of worth when George married into it, but in the 18th century women weren’t allowed (or at least weren’t recognized) to “own” wealth or land, at least in the colonies that would become America.

    7/11 for me, and the ones I missed were pretty closely matched.

    posted by PJ in SF on 6-3-2008 at 4:52 pm

  6. Wow, 9/11 by pretty much just quessing. i didn’t think I would do that well.

    posted by numbers on 6-3-2008 at 6:52 pm

  7. @PJ

    You’re right (though I’m sure there’s some vague estimates out there), but what about the other lady?

    posted by gibson8or on 6-3-2008 at 7:28 pm

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