Billionaires Blog

BILLIONAIRE SUCCESS STORY: Karl and Theo Albrecht - ALDI

2008-02-14T07:09:00.000-08:00

Billionaires Blog: By Pycoon

Karl Albrecht

Born: 1920 - Essen, Germany
Age: 88
Country Of Citizenship: Germany
Residence: Mülheim an der Ruhr , Germany, Europe & Russia
Net worth: US$20 billion
Fortune: Self made
Source: ALDI
Industry: Retailing
Marital Status: Married, 2 children

Theo Albrecht

Born: March 28, 1922
Age: 86
Country Of Citizenship: Germany
Residence: Foehr , Germany, Europe & Russia
Net worth: $17.5 billion
Fortune: Self made
Source: ALDI, Trader Joe's
Industry: Retailing
Marital Status: Married, 2 children

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These days selling a product successfully to a customer involves a lot of gimmick in the appearance of product promotions. Advertisements of various hues are the order of the day. And one comes across the ever-present ‘buy one, free one” lures at every area and corner of the city. But there is a chain of supermarkets in Germany, the rest of Europe and the United States that does not follow any of these attention-grabbing publicity styles, and solely relies on quality products at reasonable prices. The name of the chain is ALDI (Albrecht Discount) and the owners of this chain Karl (net worth $20 billion) and Theo (net worth $17.5 billion) Albrecht brothers rank 15th and 20th in the list of world’s richest billionaires.

Their success is mainly due to their total dedication to their work and they are not involving in any outside events. So much so, the snapshots of these brothers are not seen in newspapers of any kind in years. When there is a pressing need, the newspapers publish the pictures of them taken in their twenties!

There is another reason for the brothers’ scheduled lifestyle. The younger brother Theo was kidnapped in 1971 by unknown elements and later released after 17 days. A $3 million dollar ransom was paid for his release. Since then, the brothers had no relationship with outside world, but their supermarkets did on a daily basis.

It is incredible to run more than 7000 super markets around the world with $49 billion in sales without a word of publicity and the owner brothers operating from behind the scenes. Maybe, therein lays their secret of success. But the known reason is that they sell their products at competitively cheaper rates. They seldom sell branded items and all their items are meant for the middle and working class. Other big name supermarkets find it difficult to sell the products as cheap as it is sold in ALDI which is known as the acknowledged king of supermarket discounting.

It is reported that ALDI is able to sell their items at incredibly cheap rates because they save a lot of money as they do not advertise. Investigative reporters raise questions as to how they sell their products at cheaper rates, but the “mom” is the word from ALDI.

Some say the secret of their success lay in the pep talk their mother gave them from early in their life. Their mother said, “We should not suffer like others. When the rest of the society takes to an easy of life merry-making whiling away their time, you two must work harder to come up in life.” Even today, the mother’s words are gospel truth to them. They run their supermarkets so carefully that the occasional economic slowdowns in any part of the world do not make a knock in their steady progress.

Their success story leaves us with wonder and inspiration when we know they had small, humble beginnings and did not have anything to inherit from their parents. Their father was a low paid miner and later he worked in a bread factory. In 1948, their mother maintained a small grocery shop in Ruhr Valley and the brother managed the shop after school. This small food shop was later developed into an internationally renowned chain of ALDI supermarkets.
In Germany alone, the brothers have more than 4000 ALDI supermarkets, and other 3000 operates in the rest of Europe and United States. According to recent survey, it was found out that a new ALDI supermarket is opened every week around the world.

Since the ALDI products were sold at cheaper rates, people initially thought they might be of substandard quality. But the misunderstanding was cleared from the minds of the customers with the passage of time. Today, the customers make a beeline to ALDI supermarkets, no matter what others say. Those who visit Germany can witness this phenomenon even today. It is indeed a matter of surprise how the two brothers get along well with each other. They both know their strengths and weaknesses and one does not poke his nose unnecessarily at the others life. Their strength lies in understanding each other’s mind well. For instance, the younger brother Theo is a quieter type who drafts all the business strategies, while the older Karl, a practical person, puts them into practice. The only difference between them is their age; Karl is two years older than Theo.

When it comes to business, there are different styles of approach between them though. For instance, Karl does not favor the idea of selling cigarettes in his supermarkets, but the younger one is fully for it. And they have learnt to respect each other’s personal ideas. It is easy to find out which supermarket is run by which of the two brothers depending upon the availability of cigarettes. Likewise, Karl likes to play golf, while Theo has a hobby of collecting vintage typewriters. Though there are minor likes and dislikes between them, they never let these block with the successful running of their ALDI supermarkets. As such, today ALDI supermarkets are equivalent to America’s famous Wal-Mart in every aspect. If a small time grocery shop is turned into an international chain within a period of 50 years, it is thanks to the brothers’ good value of concurrence and a sense of belonging. In times of sibling rivalry becoming perennial in the contemporary world, these brothers’ lives are sterling examples to follow.

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About Billionaires Blog

2008-02-13T10:05:00.001-08:00

Billonaires Blog: By Pycoon

Learn how to be a billionaire from Billionaires. Billionaires Blog is a blog with Billionaires success story, most updated news about Billionaires, Billionaires tips, Billionaires gossip and exclusive pictures of world's richest Billionaires.

Contact: Please email to apaikunn@gmail.com

Billionaire Oprah Winfrey use her powerful influence in Barack Obama's campaign

2008-02-10T00:23:00.000-08:00

Billionaires Blog: By Pycoon

A Billionaire's Advice on Success

2008-02-09T23:35:00.000-08:00

Billionaires Blog: By Brightcove

Netscape Founder Jim Clark talks about self awareness and success. Success Television takes a look at his childhood and personal difficulties. He's profiled by Donald Van De Mark.

DVD of Jim Clark & Stephen Covey

Billionaire's yacht cruising Hawaii

2008-02-09T22:45:00.000-08:00

Billionaires Blog: By Robbie Dingeman

Photo via Splashvision
This Octopus measures 414 feet, sails around the world with a 60-person crew and boasts two helipads and a submarine.

The megayacht was turning heads in Honolulu Harbor this week after arriving Monday.
The ship, owned by Microsoft co-founder and billionaire entrepreneur Paul Allen, draws more than a second glance tied up among the fishing boats, tugs and working-class vessels.

Read

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BILLIONARE SUCCESS STORY: Paul Allen - Microsoft

Blagojevich fundraiser got loan from billionaire tied to Rezko

2008-02-09T22:31:00.000-08:00

Billionaires Blog: By Mike Robinson

Photo via dailyillini
Gov. Rod Blagojevich's chief fundraiser had arranged to get a loan from the same Iraqi billionaire whose $3.5 million payment got another member of the governor's inner circle thrown in jail.

Read

Hannah Montana To Be A Billionaire By Age Of 18

2008-02-09T22:10:00.000-08:00

Billionaires Blog: By Hollyscoop

Photo via CBS News

Move over Olsen Twins. You want to know just how powerful Miley Cyrus is?

The numbers are in her favor. Based on the numbers released from this past weekend, financial analysts project Miley to be a billionaire by the time she's a legal adult.

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An Apartment Buying Spree for a Billionaire Investor

2008-02-09T21:54:00.000-08:00

Billionaires Blog: By DealBook

Photo via Ezer Mizion
For the average New Yorker, moving in from the outer boroughs to more centrally-located digs in Manhattan is an “arrival” of sorts. For billionaire investor Ira Rennert, it’s a drop in the bucket.

Mr. Rennert, a native of Brooklyn who made his fortune in metals junk bonds and subsequently bought and sold the company that invented the Humvee, just purchased two Park Avenue apartments — one for each of his daughters, The New York Observer’s Max Abelson reported.

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Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein faces another sex sued

2008-02-08T21:14:00.000-08:00

Billionaires Blog: By Pycoon

Photo: Patrick McMullan, Smoking Gun
55-year-old Jeffrey Epstein, an investor billionaire has been sued again, having just been sued January 24.A woman filed suit Wednesday accusing a New York billionaire of sexually assaulting her when she was underage.

The latest suit involves a 19-year-old woman who was 16 at the time, and says Epstein paid her $200 to disrobe and massage him. He removed his towel at some point and moved onto his back and began to touch her sexually and masturbated.

Both cases involve claims that Epstein lured underage girls to give him massages back at his mansion, which ended up becoming sexual. Each case seeks over $50m.

Another teenage girl made similar claims against Epstein in a lawsuit filed last month. She is also at the center of a criminal case against Epstein in West Palm Beach, where he is charged with one felony count of solicitation of prostitution. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted. A hearing in that case is set for March.

He also faces a similar sex abuse lawsuit in New York.

Epstein was named one of New York's most eligible bachelors in 2003 by the New York Post. He has lavish homes in Manhattan, New Mexico, Florida and the Virgin Islands.

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40% of world’s 10 wealthiest CEOs, are Indians

2008-02-06T12:10:00.000-08:00

Billionaires Blog: By Pycoon

Laksmi Mittal: Photo by Albert Watson
According to Forbes magazine, steel tycoon Laksmi Mittal along with Mukesh and Anil Ambani are among the 10 wealthiest CEOs in the world.

four Out of the world’s 10 wealthiest CEOs positions are Indians, Laksmi Mittal is ranked at the second place followed by Mukesh Ambani (6th place), Anil Ambani (7th) and Wipro chief Azim Premji (9th).

The CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Warrent Buffet is the wealtiest CEo with a fortune of $52 billion. Arcelor Mittal chief Lakshmi Mittal has a net worth of $32 billion, followed by Mukesh Ambani with $20.1billion and Anil Ambani have fortunes worth and $18.2 billion. Chief of IT bellweather Wipro Azim Premji has a net worth of $17.1 billion.

However, these net worth figures are not current and have been taken from 2007 billionaires list for Indian businessmen and from a September 2007 list for those from the US.Forbes said that the list of wealthiest CEOs was prepared after perusing the ranks of the Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans from September and its annual billionaires’ list from last March.

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BILLIONARE SUCCESS STORY: Paul Allen - Microsoft

2008-01-22T09:04:00.000-08:00

Born: January 21, 1953 - Seattle, Washington
Age: 55
Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: Mercer Island, Washington , United States, North America
Occupation: Chairman Vulcan Inc.,Charter Communications and Microsoft
Net worth: $18.0 billion USD (2007)
Fortune: Self made
Source: Microsoft, investments
Industry: Software
Marital Status: single
Education: Washington State University, Drop Out
Website: PaulAllen.com
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Paul Gardner Allen was born in January 21st, 1953 in Seattle, Washington. He is an American entrepreneur who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates. Allen regularly appears on lists of the richest people in the world; as of 2007 Forbes ranks him the fifth richest American, worth an estimated $18.0 billion.

He is the founder and chairman of Vulcan Inc. (his private asset management company) and chairman of Charter Communications. Allen also has a multibillion dollar investment portfolio which includes large stakes in DreamWorks Animation SKG, Digeo, real estate holdings and more than 40 other technology, media and content companies.

Allen was recently invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Allen also owns twelve professional sports teams including the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League, the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association, and the future Seattle soccer franchise in Major League Soccer that will begin playing in the 2009 season. In 2007, Allen was listed among Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in The World.
He currently resides in Mercer Island, Washington.

Paul Gardner Allen was born in Seattle, Washington, to parents Kenneth S. Allen, an associate director of the University of Washington libraries, and Faye G. Allen, in January 21, 1953. Allen attended Lakeside School, a private school in Seattle, and befriended Gates, who was two years his junior but shared a common enthusiasm for computers. Allen was a model student in his years at Lakeside School. They used Lakeside's teletype terminal to develop their programming skills on several time-sharing computer systems. After graduation Allen attended Washington State University and was an active member in Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity. He dropped out after two years in order to work as a programmer for Honeywell in Boston, which placed him near his old friend again. There Allen later convinced Gates to drop out of Harvard University in order to create Microsoft.

With Bill Gates, he co-founded Microsoft (initially "Micro-Soft") in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1975, and began selling a BASIC programming language interpreter. In 1980, Allen spearheaded a deal for Microsoft to buy an operating system called 86-DOS (QDOS) for $50,000. Due to IBM deadlines, Gates and Allen felt that they didn't have enough time to develop an operating system from scratch; they therefore purchased the fully functional QDOS and reworked the code to fit IBM's needs. Microsoft won a contract to supply the finished program for use as the operating system of IBM's new PC. This became a foundation of Microsoft's growth.

In 1983 Allen was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. Before resigning from Microsoft to pursue medical treatment, it is alleged that Allen overheard a discussion between Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer regarding Allen's health and talking about how to get Allen's shares back if he were to die. Allen himself has neither confirmed nor denied this allegation and there is no recorded evidence of the discussion. Allen's cancer was successfully treated by several months of radiation therapy and a bone marrow transplant. However, Allen did not return to Microsoft and began distancing himself from the company.

In November 2000, Allen resigned from his position on the Microsoft board but was asked to consult as a senior strategy advisor to the company's executives. He further distanced himself from Microsoft by selling 68 million shares. He still owns a reported 138 million shares.

Much of Paul Allen's success has been dedicated to health and human services and toward the advancement of science and technology. The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation was established in 1986 to administer much of the giving. Through the Foundation, Allen awards approximately $30 million in grants annually. Roughly 60 percent of the Foundation's money goes to non-profit organizations in Seattle and the state of Washington and 12 percent to Portland, Oregon. The remaining 28 percent is distributed to other cities within the Pacific Northwest. Allen also contributes through other charitable projects known as "venture philanthropy". The most famous of those projects are Experience Music Project, the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, Allen Institute for Brain Science, and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence through the Allen Telescope Array. The Allen Institute for Brain Science is located at 551 N 34th Street, Seattle, WA, 98102 (Fremont neighborhood of Seattle).

Although he attended Washington State University, Allen instead chooses to donate to the University of Washington. In the late 1980s, Allen donated US$18 million to build a new library named after his father, Kenneth S. Allen. In 2003 US$5 million was donated to establish the Faye G. Allen Center for Visual Arts, named after his mother. Allen also was the top private contributor (US$14 million) and namesake of the Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science & Engineering (completed in 2004). Throughout the years, Allen has contributed millions of US dollars to the University of Washington Medical School. In 1997 the Foundation awarded US$3.2 million for prostatitis research, followed by an additional US$1.0 million grant in 2002. Most recently the Foundation contributed US$5.0 million for an early cancer-detection project by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Paul Allen's total lifetime giving as of 2007 is estimated by some sources to be approximately US$900 million. Critics would point out, though, that Paul Allen is the recipient of numerous government handouts. The stadium that his Seahawks play in was paid for with US$300 million of tax payer dollars. King County (Washington state) is paying US$36 million to build a sewage treatment plant whose only customer is Paul Allen's Willows Run Golf Course. The City of Seattle is paying US$22 million to build a streetcar line to connect Paul Allen's Lake Union bio-tech development project to downtown Seattle. It has been reported in the media that Paul Allen's Vulcan Inc company is lobbying for road improvements in the Lake Union area that would cost Seattle as much as $200 million. If these road improvements occur, they would cause the value of Vulcan's real estate to increase, which causes critics to ask why Seattle (and not Vulcan itself) should bear the cost.

He also has a flower fly named after him for his contributions to Dipterology. Allen has also funded the purchase of many Jimi Hendrix artifacts (including the guitar Hendrix played at Woodstock) and ensured their public display in the Experience Music Project exhibits.

Allen is a key developer and investor in the controversial development of the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle as a biotechnology hub and mixed-use community. Allen is the largest private landowner in South Lake Union and owns nearly 60 acres in the neighborhood. Vulcan's South Lake Union holdings have a development capacity of more than 10,000,000 square feet (930,000 m²) of new residential, office, retail and biotech research space. The South Lake Union redevelopment represents one of the largest urban revitalization projects in the country. This development has been criticized as a city-supported real estate investment for Vulcan Inc. Concerns over the loss of low-income housing are prominent. Allen has made investments estimated at US$200 million as of 2005, and has promoted for city funding of a Seattle Streetcar line from Seattle's Westlake Center to the south end of Lake Union. The Streetcar is a public and private partnership made possible because of a Local Improvement District (LID) supported by businesses and residents along the line. The Seattle Streetcar officially started operation on December 12, 2007.

At one time, Allen's Vulcan Ventures owned TechTV, a 24-hour cable and satellite channel based in San Francisco, featuring news and shows about computers, technology, and the Internet. TechTV was eventually acquired by G4.

In 1988, Allen purchased the Portland Trail Blazers NBA team from California real estate developer Larry Weinberg for $70 million, and was instrumental in the development and funding of their Rose Garden in 1993.

In 1997, Allen purchased the Seattle Seahawks NFL team when former owner Ken Behring threatened to move the Seahawks to Southern California. He played a large part in the development of the new Seahawks' stadium, Qwest Field, although it was funded largely by tax revenue. The Seahawks captured its fourth consecutive NFC West title in 2007.

Since 2006, Allen asked Portland and Oregon officials for assistance in the financing of the Blazers, which he estimated would lose $100 million over the next three years. Portland Mayor Tom Potter rebuffed the requests. On April 2, 2007 Allen announced the completion of the acquisition of the Rose Garden and at the time stated that this was a major milestone and a positive step for the franchise. “My efforts are focused on continuing to support the Trail Blazers and the long-term financial health of the franchise."

According to a 2006 issue of Forbes, the Blazers are valued at approximately $300 million. On 27 April 2007, it was rumored that Allen may launch a takeover bid for English football club Southampton. An apparent close source said "he believes there is long term investment value in UK soccer. Southampton is a sleeping giant, a family-supported club with traditional values, and we see the value in taking the brand global." Allen has since denied those rumors and has expressed that he has no interest in making a bid for Southampton.

Allen has been confirmed as part owner of a future Major League Soccer Seattle franchise that will begin play in 2009 at Qwest Field. Allen's new found interest in the sports world has been spotlighted by Sports Illustrated. Paul Allen (in sun glasses and crimson tie) and Burt Rutan (leather jacket) were presented with the Ansari X PRIZE by members of the X PRIZE Foundation in 2004.

In 2004, Allen confirmed that he was the sole investor behind Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites' SpaceShipOne suborbital commercial spacecraft. SpaceShipOne was the first privately funded effort to successfully put a civilian in suborbital space and winner of the Ansari X PRIZE competition.

Octopus in the Beaulieu Bay in Southern France on 13 May 2005
In 2003, the launch of Paul Allen's 127 m (416 ft) Octopus secured its position as one of the world's largest yachts. Its current position is sixth in the list of motor yachts by length. Allen has two other very large yachts.

He is known for throwing huge, celebrity-studded parties on the yachts, such as a 2005 New Year's Eve party in which he and his band played Johnny Cash songs with RnB star Usher. This famous mega yacht is situated at the port of Antibes/French Côte.

source: wikipedia

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Billionaire's yacht cruising Hawaii

The Billionaire Mind

2008-01-21T08:22:00.000-08:00

Billionaires Blog: By Michael Sharkey

Today more than any time in the history of the world it is possible to become a millionaire or even a billionaire if you learn the right skills, systems, and build a highly qualified team. In order to have the highest chance of reaching financial abundance need to develop the following.

1. Clarity - Eighty percent of success comes from being clear on who you are, what you believe in and what you want.

2. Competence - You can't climb to the next level on the ladder until you are excellent at what you do now.

3. Constraints - Eighty percent of all obstacles to success come from within. Find out what is constraining in you or your company and deal with it.

4. Concentration - The ability to focus on one thing single-mindedly and see it through until it’s done takes more character than anything else.

5. Creativity - Flood your life with ideas from many sources. Creativity needs to be exercised like a muscle, if you don't use it you'll lose it.

6. Courage - Most in demand and least in supply, courage is the willingness to do the things you know are right.

7. Continuous learning - Read, at the very least, one book a week on business or ways to make money to keep you miles ahead of the competition. And just as you eat and bathe, organize your time so you spend 30 minutes a day exploring e-mail, sending messages, going through web sites, because like exercise, it's the only way you can keep on top of technology.

There are also powerful online and offline ways in which you can make money. The goal is to be always thinking about multiple sources of income. If you do this than when one source drops you still have other income sources to fall back on. A couple of examples of ways to make money that could lead you on the path to become financial free are…

Making money Online

There are many ways that you can make money online and offline. Here are a couple money making options to look into…..

1. Joint Ventures- This is where you find different websites and offer them a service or promise to promote each other’s product online which the idea of sharing the profits

2. Affiliate Programs- If you have a website and you are willing to advertising on your site you can offer links that lead you back to the companies website where you can get paid a commission for every sale.

3. Selling Information- If you know something that you feel a lot of people don’t know about you
should sell the information online. Who knows there could be serious profits in the information you know.

4. Advertising site- You can offer advertising on your site and receive a commission for letting people put banners on your site.

5. Offer a service- Examples of services you can offer is web design, Internet service provider, and web hosting.

6. Marketing- You can market other products and service by writing a company a marketing strategy, Advertising, and Copywriting.

7. Online Auctions- One person’s junk is another perso’s treasure.

Making Money Offline There are many ways you can make money offline, but here are just a few options you can do from your home in a few hours a day.

1. Investing in real estate- Looking for real estate deals that include checking hud, and local city fore-closers! There are many no money down or low down payment ways that are cover in my money makers newsletters. But if you don’t have a lot of time check at you local bank to see if they have in foreclosed houses.

2. Lien taxes- Using lien taxes can make investment returns of 18% to 50% percent!

3. Network Marketing- This is a powerful way to make residual income for years!

4. Licensing- Do you know some who has a great product. Sign a contract and connect them with the right people and you can make residual profit from it as long as the product is being sold.

5. Selling Information- Each person has a life story that could be worth millions. Why not write a book and let the whole world know about it and profit from it!

Passion also another smart way to become a millionaire you must not forget about is to start a business doing your passion. Following your passion or doing something you’re passionate about is a great way to make sure that the money will come. The reason why is because when you’re passionate about something you never give up because you doing it for the love rather than the money and so work becomes easier and you end up doing better. People who do what they are passionate about are happier and live happier lives and have better productivity. Who knows your passion may also inspire others to follow their passion. So be inspired and know that there are people out their who are doing what they love every day. All they had to do is make the decision to follow their dream and the rest was history!

Millionaire Weapons

There are certain resources millionaires use to achieve their goals. These resources when used together can create a power way for people to achieve their goals. Here a the reveal.. secrets of millionaires………

1. Leverage
2. Mentors
3. Teams
4. Networks
5. Infinite Networks
6. Skills and Tools
7. systems
8. Real estate
9. Building business
10. Corporation
11. Tax Control
12. Retirement Plan

I’ll just mention a few below to give you a the tools to get started on you road to money more than you can ever need. The weapons above are powerful tools and when they are used correctly they can create powerful results in short periods of time.

Leverage

When trying to make your dreams come true is is important you use leverage. Here are some of the advantages of leverage.

1. Leverage equals speed. To make in goal come true in a minute you must master the power of leverage which is to use other peoples skills, talents, understandings to help you achieve a goal. Learn how to use other people’s talents to get your dreams done. You’ll find that you goals will get down a lot faster if you use this skill.

2. The longer the lever, the greater the impact. The Enlightened person knows that ease and speed are the new wants of life. So that’s why more resources you use the easier and the faster things get done. Hence very long and strong levers.

3. Masters are using all five kinds of leverage in the world have better success.
• OPM- Other people’s money
• OPE- Other people’s experience
• OPI- Other people’s Ideas
• OPT- Other people’s time
• OPW- Other People’s Work

4. Millionaires are constantly looking for leverage. Millionaires constantly ask: How can I leverage this situation, this opportunity, this idea? To become an Enlightened One Minute Millionaire. Always ask yourself “ Where is the leverage?"

5. There are six key forms of leverage that give you maximum leverage.
• Mentors
• Teams
• Network
• Infinite Networks
• Tools and skills
• Tools and skills
• System

When you apply all these forms of leverage you become unstoppable.

Mentors

If you are to be successful it is important to you have a mentor. Here are something to know about mentoring.

1. Everyone successful person has mentors for their different needs. A mentor is a shortcut to perspective, proficiency, and patience.

2. Mentoring is powerful from of leverage . Drawing from your mentor’s experience is the quickest, safest, and easiest way to climb the Millionaire Mountain.

3. Mentors are everywhere. Each person you meet can “ accidentally” teach you something to advance your cause.

4. Mentors don’t need to be people. Anything that causes you to change the course in your life – a life threatening disease, losing a job, reading a book, or an encounter with an animal can serve as a mentor.

5. Constanly seek out mentoring relationships. When you find yourself lacking in anything- an attitude, an awareness, a skill, a habit, a technique, or a strategy-seek a mentor to show you the shortcut.

6. Assemble a Dream Team of your favorite heroes and sheroes, present and past. Form an imaginary Council of light consisting of your selected leaders. Imagine being able to counsel with them as if they were communicating with you in person.

7. Set a goal to search out as least one millionaire a month. Request an audeience, either in person, by phone, or by email to pick your millionaire mentor brain.

8. The best kind of mentor is a transformational mentor. A transforming mentor who creates a context in which you experience enlightment.

Teams

1. You need a team to obtain your dreams because 2 minds always work better than one.

2. You must look for the hidden talents for your team because it’s the l little things that make a difference. The most talents you find the less you have to personally do.

3. Make sure you establish the values of a team. These values will help guide you when trouble times arise.

4. Determine what your team’s strengths and weakness are.

5. Make sure you have the right people doing the right job.

6. Always be looking for new member who may fit better into you dream team.

7. Make sure to set team goals and know where everyone stands on these goals.

I am currently working on a part 2 to this article that will include Networking, skills and tools, systems, and the other sources you need to know about, but if you are unable to wait for this article to be completed I high suggest check out my newsletter. Change your life today and find out how you can live a life of abundance!

Michael Sharkey writes article at findyourinnergenius.com to empower people and show them that they are capable of having the life they want to live and be whoever they want to be. His goal is to try to empower or have a impact on at least one new person's life everyday. For more articles and information on michael sharkey go to findyourinnergenius.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Utah billionaire James Sorenson Dies of Cancer

2008-01-21T07:21:00.000-08:00

Utah billionaire James LeVoy Sorenson, who overcame a childhood learning disability and built a fortune in pioneering medical equipment such as the computerized heart monitor and disposable surgical mask, died of cancer on Sunday. He was 86.

Mr. Sorenson was Utah's wealthiest man, the largest private landowner in the state as well as the richest Mormon, with a fortune estimated at $4.5 billion, according to Forbes magazine's 2007 rankings. He founded several companies, including Sorenson Research, which was acquired by Abbott Laboratories (ABT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) in 1980. He known both for his wealth -- and for choosing not to flaunt it.

Look in any modern operating room or intensive care unit, and you'll see enduring evidence of Jim's creative solutions to tough medical problems. Mr. Sorenson was considered one of the most generous philanthropists in the state, giving millions of dollars to medical facilities, religious organizations and other causes. Jim Sorenson was dedicated to making people's lives better. Spokesman for Sorenson Companies said funeral arrangements were pending Sunday. Instead of flowers, the family requested that donations be made to the many organizations Mr. Sorenson assisted, including the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. Mr. Sorenson is survived by his wife, Beverley, eight children, 47 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

Sorenson was born in Rexburg, Idaho, in 1921. Mr. Sorenson's company biography describes the difficulties he had growing up in a tar paper shack in Yuba City, California, where his father found work as a ditch digger during the height of the Great Depression in central California. Mr. Sorenson had dyslexia, a condition that can make words and letters look jumbled and makes reading and writing difficult.

Mr. Sorenson overcame the challenge and went on to become an astute problem solver, a talent that bolstered him throughout his career. Mr. Sorenson started in pharmaceutical sales in the 1950s. In his early 20s, he served as a missionary in New England for more than two years for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He took up a job as a pharmaceutical sales representative after World War Two and started dabbling in real estate on the side. He co-founded Deseret Pharmaceutical in 1957, where he invented the first disposable paper surgical mask, and started Sorenson Research in 1962. His other medical inventions included the first real-time computerized heart monitoring systems and the automated intravenous drug pump.

Sorenson's interests also spanned other fields. Early in his career, Mr. Sorenson bought a goat pasture in the hills above Salt Lake City for $25 an acre. The former grazing land is now home to some of the area's most plush neighborhoods, overlooking the Salt Lake Valley from the Wasatch Mountain foothills.

In 2000, he founded Sorenson Genomics, which offers genetic testing services. The company helped the Thai government in identifying victims in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami.
Its forensics unit has helped lead to arrests in about 10 cold murder cases in Utah since it was founded last year, spokesman David Parkinson said. Sorenson, his family and companies have also pledged more than $100 million to philanthropic organizations over the past three years.

BILLIONAIRE SUCCESS STORY: Amancio Ortega - Zara

2008-01-21T05:40:00.000-08:00

Copyright © Mark Little
Born: March 28, 1936 - Busdongo de Arbas, León, Wales
Age: 72
Country Of Citizenship: Spain
Residence: La Coruna , Spain, Europe & Russia
Occupation: Chairman of the Inditex Group
Net Worth: $24.0 billion
Fortune: Self made
Source: Zara
Industry: Apparel
Marital Status: Married, 3 children
Spouse: Rosalía Mera
Education: High School, Drop Out
Address: Industria de Diseño Textil, Edificio Inditex, Avenida de la Diputación, 15142 Arteixo, La Coruña, Spain
Website: inditex.com.
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Amancio Ortega Gaona (born March 28, 1936, Wales) is a founder and chairman of the Spanish company Industria de Diseño Textil (Inditex), the parent company of a number of chain stores including the internationally successful clothing retailer Zara.Ranks among world's 20 richest for first time. Ranked by Forbes as Spain's richest man and the 8th richest man in the World in 2007.

Ortega came from humble beginnings to turn himself into Spain's richest man in 2001 when Inditex first offered shares to the public. Ortega acquired a reputation as a private and down-to-earth person; he rarely made public appearances and shunned the trappings of the wealthy.
The son of a railroad worker and a maid, Ortega received no formal higher education. He began his remarkable career as a teenager in La Coruña, Spain, the traditional center of the Iberian textile industry.With help from then-wife Rosalía Mera, got start making gowns and lingerie in his living room 44 years ago.

When he was 13 years old he worked as a delivery boy for a shirt maker who produced clothing for the rich. He later worked as a draper's and tailor's assistant. In seeing firsthand how costs mounted as garments moved from designers to factories to stores, Ortega learned early on the importance of delivering products directly to customers without using outside distributors. He would later employ such a strategy with great success at Zara, attempting to control all of the steps in textile production in order to cut costs and gain speed and flexibility.

In the early 1960s Ortega became the manager of a local clothing shop, where he noticed that only a few wealthy residents could afford to buy the expensive clothes. Thus he started producing similar items at lower prices, purchasing cheaper fabric in Barcelona and cutting out pieces by hand using cardboard patterns. Starting as a gofer in various shirt stores in A Coruña, Galicia, in 1963 he founded Confecciones Goa (his initials in reverse), which made bathrobes. Ortega then sold his items to local shops; he used the profits to start his first factory at the age of 27.

In 1975 Ortega opened his first Zara shop across the street from La Coruña's most important department store; he would become renowned for choosing the best locations for his outlets. Zara was soon reputed for selling quality designer fashions at reasonable prices. The formula had been used successfully by Gap in the United States and Next in Great Britain but was entirely new in Spain; the large Corte Inglés and Cortefiel had controlled the mid-range clothing market, but neither appealed to youthful fashion sense. The company's first annual report, which would be produced in 1999, outlined Ortega's goal, stating, "Zara's aim was to democratize fashion. In contrast to the idea of fashion as a privilege, we offer accessible fashion that reaches the high street, inspired by the taste, desires, and lifestyle of modern men and women. By 1989 Ortega had opened nearly one hundred stores in Spain.

Zara became so successful that advertisement was almost never necessary, as word of mouth sufficiently maintained sales; the chain especially depended on frequent repeat customers. The girls in the office know that new stock comes in on Tuesday and Thursday and off they go. Zara merchandise even became acceptable in the world of high fashion.

Ortega's business ventures eventually led to the formation of Inditex, the holding company he created in 1985 to represent his well-known Zara clothing chain along with other smaller chains. Inditex became the biggest multinational textile company in Spain and among the largest in the world; in the late 1990s only Gap and Sweden's HM were larger. He owns 59.29% of the Inditex group (Industrias de Diseño Textil Sociedad Anónima) which includes the brands Zara, Massimo Dutti, Oysho, Zara Home, Kiddy's Class, Tempe, Stradivarius, Pull and Bear/Often and Bershka and has more than 14,000 employees. Zara and other Inditex chains operated branches in Italy, Great Britain, the United States, Latin America, Japan, and Kuwait.

Inditex's success was based on the fast-fashion model, bringing clothing from the design stage to the store in a matter of weeks. Inditex spotters surveyed designs at fashion shows; in-house designers then copied the most promising ideas. The company's manufacturing base and distribution network was capable of pushing new clothes into stores within weeks—up to 12 times faster than the competition. Inditex shipped fewer pieces, in greater variety, and more often, avoiding high inventory costs and the frequent clearance sales common among most fashion retailers. The whole system was computerized, helping Ortega determine when to restock or drop a design; the company produced only what was needed to sell in its shops.
Ortega's model seemed to go against the forces of globalization. In the post–World War II era manufacturers increasingly utilized low-wage workers in developing countries. Ortega, however, kept jobs in Spain and showed that speed, flexibility, and low inventories could be just as important in keeping expenses down: while Ortega spent up to 15 percent more on labor costs than did his third-world-employing competitors, he saved by doing almost no advertising, quickly adjusting to fashion trends, and minimizing shipping costs by keeping production close to markets. As such Inditex largely avoided criticism from human-rights activists, since the company did not exploit workers in developing countries.

The Inditex model came to be taught in many business schools, replacing the model that had called for complex global networks that could take nine months to get clothing from the design stage to the store. Observers noted that such a model had the potential to end the losses of jobs in the developed world.

Ortega had a reputation as a private and secretive man. He never granted interviews to the media, and the company released very little personal information about its founder and chairman; some in the press referred to the Inditex chief as a "publicist's nightmare." When he made a public appearance in 2000 - as part of the warm-up prior to floating his company on the stock market in 2001 - it made headlines in the Spanish financial press. However, he has never given an interview, and his secrecy has led to the publication of books such as Amancio Ortega: DE CERO A ZARA (From Zero to Zara) (ISBN 84-9734-167-8).For decades there was only one known photograph of Ortega in circulation (from one photo published at the Inditex website). When the company issued its first annual report in 1999, a new photograph finally appeared. Ortega rarely attended official events. When the Spanish Prince Felipe called on Inditex headquarters, the royal visitor was received by one of Ortega's representatives.

Ortega was also known for being a down-to-earth boss. He never wore a tie to work; indeed his wedding was reportedly the last time he had donned one and likes to dress in blue jeans. He is said to take a very active part in the production and design process in the company. He hated working with investment bankers in preparation for the initial public offering of Inditex stock. Even on the first day of the sale of Inditex stock in 2001, when Ortega became the richest man in Spain, he did not celebrate in grand style. Rather he went to work, watched the news on television for 15 minutes to find out that he had just earned $6 billion, and then ate lunch in the company cafeteria.

His business became one of world's most successful apparel manufacturers, $8.7 billion (2005 sales) Inditex. Group also owns 3,000 Zara retail stores in 64 countries. Through his investment vehicles has invested in gas, tourism, banks and real estate; has properties in Madrid, Paris, London, Lisbon, plus luxury hotel and apartment complex in Miami. Reportedly owns a horse-jumping circuit and part of a soccer league. Shuns neckties. He currently lives with his second wife in a discreet apartment building in the centre of A Coruña (Corunna).

References
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The World's Billionaires 2007
Forbes.com: Forbes World's Richest People

BILLIONAIRE SUCCESS STORY: Bernard Arnault - Louis Vuitton

2008-01-20T07:47:00.000-08:00

Born: March 5, 1949
Age: 59
Country Of Citizenship: France
Residence: Paris , France, Europe & Russia
Occupation: Chairman, LVMH;
Chairman, Christian Dior SA
Net worth: $26 billion US dollar
Fortune: Inherited and growing
Source: LVMH
Industry: Diversified
Marital Status: Married, 5 children
Education: Ecole Polytechnique de Paris, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Website: LVMH.com
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Bernard Arnault was born in 5th March 1949. He is the 7th richest person in the world and France's richest person with an estimated net worth of $26 billion US dollars, according to a Forbes report in March 2007.

Arnault is best known for turning LVMH, already a luxury-goods giant when he won control in 1989, into a global empire through acquisitions, savvy marketing, and bold design.

Bernard Arnault is a native of Roubaix, and graduated with an engineering degree from the École Polytechnique in 1971. In 2007, Arnault was listed among Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in The World. He also Said to be a skilled pianist.

At 35, using a combination of family money and loans, he bought Boussac, a bankrupt French textile group that had financed Christian Dior's original fashion house in 1946. Arnault stripped Boussac down to Dior and used it as a vehicle to create LVMH, which was born out of the 1987 merger between Louis Vuitton and Moet Hennessy. Once in control, Arnault fired executives of both companies, put in his own team, then spent the '90s snatching up still more luxury brands, including shirtmaker Thomas Pink, Chaumet jewelry, Fendi leather goods, the Pucci and Donna Karan fashion lines, Krug champagne, and TAG Heuer watches. With his father, Jean, he still controls 47% of LVMH's stock and 63% of its voting rights, while separately owning 68% of Christian Dior Couture, the fashion side of Dior.

Louis Vuitton was created in 1854 by a Paris craftsman who developed the first flat trunks covered by waterproof canvas. Later, in 1896, he invented the famous LV logo by printing his initials on the canvas. His business flourished with the growth of travel by rail and ship. By the late 1980s, though, Louis Vuitton had become the bag your mother bought. Expensive and well made, but boring.

That began to change in 1990 when Arnault brought in Yves Carcelle to run Louis Vuitton. Then, in 1997, Arnault hired Marc Jacobs, a young, hip designer from New York, as creative director. Jacobs studied Vuitton's history and developed a series of modern twists on it. The first was the graffiti bag, which bore a scrawled Louis Vuitton signature. The second was the Murakami bag, designed in collaboration with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, who rendered the famous LV initials in a kaleidoscope of colors on a white background. "Marc brought that zest of modernity to the products," says Arnault. But he kept the brand's intense focus on quality. At the rear of Vuitton's factory in Ducey, France, sits a shredding machine for destroying bags that aren't up to snuff. Inspectors tally the number of stitches on a handbag strap. If it is off by even one stitch, into the shredder it goes. "The Japanese count the stitches," says factory director Stephen Fallon. "If they count four on one side and five on the other, they bring the bag back."

As the bags got edgier, Carcelle worked to create crucial buzz via a combination of PR stunts, celebrity endorsements, and, most effectively, artificial scarcity. They spend $1.5 million erecting scaffolding in the shape of two giant Vuitton suitcases around the renovation of Louis Vuitton's Paris store.

Since 2000, Arnault and his management team have sold a bunch of them rather than try. Gone are Bliss spa and cosmetics, Michael Kors fashion, Ebel watches, Pommery champagne, the Tajan auction house, and Hine cognac. (LVMH may sell another half-dozen brands, but executives won't name them.) Instead, Arnault has been focusing on his most promising underperformers, which include women's wear line Celine, Zenith watches, Pucci fashion, and Ruinart champagne. And he's had some notable successes so far.

Perhaps the best example is Celine. Four years ago, Celine's sales were falling, and losses stood at $16 million. So Arnault named Jean-Marc Loubier, the No. 2 at Louis Vuitton, to head Celine. Loubier mined the brand's past, as Jacobs had done at Vuitton. He discovered that it had begun as a high-class shoe merchant in 1945 in Paris. "I thought we could use this date as an asset, allowing us to present Celine as one of the first modern luxury brands, a symbol of Paris and Europe's revival," Loubier says. So, with designer Michael Kors--like Jacobs a talented American--he remade Celine into the image of the street-smart, cosmopolitan Parisian woman. The offerings--including such things as ladylike scarlet-boucle sheath dresses, double-faced camel's-hair pencil skirts, and mink scarves--appealed to shoppers from Chicago to Tokyo.

Loubier also changed the product mix. The Celine he inherited had produced mostly clothing and just a few bags. But he knew that bags were the big profitmakers at Louis Vuitton. So Kors went to work creating more bags, such as the Boogie, a classic square-shaped bag with double-rolled leather handles, available in five colors and exotic skins such as crocodile. The bag was an instant hit: Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Sarah Jessica Parker all wound up carrying it. (Celine sent some celebrities the bags for free, but didn't pay any to carry them.) Loubier took another cue from Vuitton by pricing the initial bags at a steep $1,150 for the calfskin model. Celine later came out with $580 versions in denim, a carefully calculated move: Shoppers who had seen the $1,150 model thought they seemed like a deal.

Meanwhile, Loubier improved product quality and shortened delivery times from months to weeks--making both merchants and customers happy. The result of all those changes: Celine's sales last year were up 40% from 2000, to $203 million, and profits rolled in for the first time in ten years. This year profits will be ten times what they were in 2003, predicts Loubier. Celine's fall 2004 line, arriving at stores now, looks strong. But there is a question mark ahead: That season was the last for Kors, who departed this past spring to focus on his eponymous line. Arnault selected Roberto Menichetti, formerly at Burberry, to replace him--but it's too soon to tell what he may do.

At Zenith watches, Arnault did another talent transplant. In 2001 he brought over Thierry Nataf, who once managed Veuve Clicquot, one of LVMH's most successful champagne brands. There Nataf has redesigned the watches, exposing the mechanism and using hand-stitched bands to highlight the brand's history of quality Swiss movements. This company had 120 years of great glory and then was forgotten in the last 30 years. It is really a diamond in the rough. For the first time in 30 years, the brand also is selling women's watches in pink, lime green, baby blue, bright red, and pearl gray, as well as black. And there's now a logo, just like at Louis Vuitton: a star on the crown of the watch. Zenith sales were growing by single digits when Nataf arrived; now they're growing by double digits.

Pucci, too, has benefited from the Vuitton treatment. The Italian clothing line known for its vibrant '60s mod prints was going nowhere until Arnault asked Christian Lacroix to redesign it in early 2002. Lacroix extended Pucci's iconic prints to everything from shoes to rugs and furniture. In a particularly Vuittonesque example of synergy, Lacroix has designed a Pucci box for a limited edition of $200-a-bottle, 1996 Veuve Clicquot champagne. Pucci celebrated it at celebrity-studded parties from Florence to L.A. And like Louis Vuitton, Pucci opened a flagship store on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, the mecca of luxury shopping. Sales have more than doubled since 2002.

Even in champagne, the formula seems to work. At Ruinart, an exclusive champagne priced just below Dom Perignon, Arnault is constructing a history-rich story to sell, as he did for Louis Vuitton. To do that, he hired historians to ferret out small facts about the brand's background. They found that Ruinart was developed in 1729, drunk by Marie Antoinette, and exported to other European royalty. Ruinart's identity was elitist, aristocratic, global. So, borrowing a buzz technique from Vuitton, in spring 2004 LVMH embarked on a series of promotions, such as $220 champagne dinners at the Ritz Hotel in London, to position Ruinart that way. It's too soon to see how well the new positioning worked.

Arnault is still struggling with certain labels. Four months after that London meeting, for example, he still hasn't found a new women's wear designer for Givenchy. Donna Karan, Loewe, and Kenzo are works in progress. But with fat profits rolling in from Louis Vuitton, Hennessy, and Dom Perignon, Arnault has the luxury of time.

Arnault also set up an investment fund with his good friend Albert Frere in 2006; pair own two wineries together. LVMH recently hired Frank Gehry to design a $127 million private museum in Paris. In December opened his four-star hotel Le Cheval Blanc in ski resort Courcheval, France, where he often spends New Year's Eve.

In January 2007 Kathryn Blair, the daughter of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, completed an intensive French language and culture course at France's Sorbonne University. Tony Blair has been criticised for accepting an invitation on her behalf from Bernard Arnault. During Kathryn Blair's course, which ran from 12 October 2006 to 26 January 2007, she is thought to have been provided with an accommodation, security and transport package worth around £80,000.

As of March 2007, Arnault owns a 47.5% plurality of LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton), along with Christian Dior SA. Arnault is the Chairman and CEO of both companies. Son Antoine, 27, joined sister Delphine, 31, on LVMH's board in 2006.

Arnault's main competitors are: French businessman François-Henri Pinault, whose holding company PPR owns Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Sergio Rossi, Bottega Veneta, Boucheron, Roger & Gallet, Bédat & Co and Christie's.Swiss-based Richemont, which owns Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Piaget, Baume et Mercier, IWC, Jaeger LeCoultre, A. Lange & Söhne, Officine Panerai, Vacheron Constantin, Dunhill, Lancel, Montblanc, Montegrappa, Old England, Purdey, Chloé, and Shanghai Tang.

Arnault's influence reaches far beyond couture and champagne. He's a close friend of French President Nicolas Sarkozy; a newspaper baron who's currently selling one business daily, La Tribune, and acquiring its rival, Les Echos; and a powerful arts patron: Arnault got the go-ahead last fall to build a center for LVMH's art foundation in the Bois de Boulogne.

The formula, devised by Arnault, goes something like this: Sharply define the brand identity--or "DNA," as he puts it--by mining the brand's history and finding the right designer to express it; tightly control quality and distribution; and create masterful marketing buzz.

The Billionaire Writer's Secret

2008-01-17T06:26:00.000-08:00

Billionaires Blog: By Steven Barnes

During a career spanning twenty-five years of novel, film, and television work, I've two major tools most valuable: the yogic “chakras” for characterization, and Joseph Campbell’s model of the Hero’s Journey for plot structure.

These are not random choices, nor were they selected because of the many intelligent and thoughtful essays on their relationship to successful film or world myth. Rather, they are important because they create a connection between the inner world of the writer, and the external world of the finished work—and the reader.

A plot structure is nothing more than a tool for organizing events in temporal sequence. While there are more such structures than there are professional writers, few of them meet what thousands of students consider a critical test: are they actually easy to use and apply? A simple tool, however limited, can be of greater use than a complicated tool that requires years to master. Remember: you will achieve real quality in your writing only by mastering your basics.
The Hero’s Journey, extracted from thousands of years of world mythology, has the advantage of actually mimicking the path of life itself. The “three act structure” does not. After all…life isn’t divided into three, or five, or eight acts. Such divisions can be useful tools, but they should never be mistaken for some kind of “truth” about existence. In comparison, note this interpretation (there are others) of the steps of the Hero’s Journey, and to explain them, we’ll look at the first Star Wars movie, “Episode IV, A New Hope”:

1) Hero Confronted With A Challenge. “Come with me, Luke, learn the ways of the Force.” This is pretty clear, right? There has to be a challenge, or a beckoning, or the character won’t begin to change—and all great writing is about change.

2) Hero Initially rejects the challenge, :I promised Uncle Owen I’d work on the moisture evaporators.” A real challenge, one that can provoke real change, will be frightening and exciting. A character will usually have some reservations.

3) Hero accepts the challenge. Luke’s aunt and uncle are killed, freeing him from his oath. If your character doesn’t accept the challenge, there is no story—unless the story is about the consequences of not accepting responsibility.

4) The Road of trials. Traveling to the desert town and cantina, getting on Han Solo’s spaceship, traveling to other planets, etc. This is the section where locations and sequence interact. The character travels, learns, commits actions that force inter-action with the environment, and the environment responds positively or negatively, with greater and greater stakes as the story proceeds.

5) Gaining Allies and Powers. Luke meets Han Solo, and Chewbacca, and Obi-Wan, and Princess Leia. He learns of the Force, and the use of Light Sabers, and how to fly and fight and rescue princesses. If your character doesn’t have to grow in order to resolve the problem, you may have chosen the wrong problem or character!

6) Initial Confrontation with Evil, and defeat. Obi-Wan’s death. Or possibly the disastrous attack on the Death Star. One is private and emotional, the other spectacular and physical.

7) Dark Night of the Soul. The moment of greatest weakness. Luke begins to believe he cannot win, and everything he loves will die.

8) Leap of Faith. “Trust your Feelings, Luke.” The leap of Faith is always faith in one of three things: faith in self, faith in your companions, or faith in a higher power. In “Star Wars” it is all three! This may be the only time in the history of cinema that this was true, and helps to explain why George Lucas is a billionaire.

9) Confront Evil—victorious. The Death Star blows up.

10) Student Becomes the Teacher. Luke is presented with medals, which establish him as a role model.

###

The above ten steps are not some cookie-cutter pattern. They are the combined world wisdom about the path of life itself, the process we go through in achieving any worthwhile goal. There will be fear. There will be defeat. We will need to gain new skills and friends and partners. We must be clear on our acceptance of goals and responsibility. We must have faith. And ultimately, if we have struggled, and learned, and sacrificed, and moved through our fear…we learn and grow and succeed. And then we teach others. This is the pattern of life, and any time you organize information and events into a pattern even vaguely reminiscent of this, the human nervous system, worldwide, will recognize it as story.

It is NOT some kind of cure-all for bad story tellers. What these ten steps are is something analogous to the eighty-eight keys of a piano. Understand the emotional and life significance of each step, and then “play them” as your developed instincts dictate. Make your own kind of music. The pattern has worked for about thirty thousand years. It will work for you, too.

source: isnare.com

How To Be A Billionaire

2008-01-17T05:53:00.000-08:00

Billionaires Blog: By Bright Johnson

Many people will never be super rich because they don’t know what it takes to gather and sustain massive wealth. The rules of making money are the same--whether online or offline, in American or Asia, it is the same game. Here are five tips:

One, you will never get rich working for a corporation or government. Your salary cannot afford a Bugatti Veyron which cost $1 million, or a $20 million mansion, or a Yatch that cost $280 million. You dare not buy a plane. The level of luxury of the super rich is way high. Unless you are one of those overpaid CEOs, you have to quit your job and start building a conglomerate of moneymaking ventures.

Two, If you start a business, you need to pioneer an industry or product to make it big. Gates, Ellison, Dell, the founders of amazon.com (Bezos), ebay (Omidyar), yahoo (Young and Filo), google (Page and Brin) and other tech billionaires became rich because they were among the first to start and build computers, software, and Internet businesses. Hence don’t do what the masses are doing. Separate yourself. Sadly, there’s nothing for you to pioneer, everything seem to be taken, unless you have the intellect to brainstorm and research and come up with something new.

Three, if you are going to do what others are doing, then you need a lot of money. It is not about starting a business, is about sterling it. It is like going to a nightclub. After paying the gate fee, you will discover that only the dance floor and music is free. If you want some booze and banter, you have to pay. That is why the rich, the providers of capital, always get richer. Every business is lucrative, it all depends on how much you put into it to outsmart your competitors, hire the best brains, develop the best products, etc. Where will the money come from? Well, by any means, you have to earn, beg, borrow, or steal so that you can finance your dream.

Four, it is more than working 18 hours a day, committed employees, a network of associates, or value customers, to achieve superior financial gains, you need to take advantage of everything and anything like cutting edge technology; opportunities offered by governments, be it contracts, licenses for telecom or natural resources exploration; taking advantage of weaker currency to buy foreign assets and goods; partnering and using other people’s money to finance heavy capital intensive projects; frustrating competitors using unethical tactics, and many other rackets.

Five, the most important rule is zeal. It is not what you do, but your zeal and pace that counts. You need to take risk, make mistakes, learn, and advance until you make it. Then you start to multiply it. You are rich if you stay rich but don’t be deceived, it is a tough task and often a long chase.

source: www.iSnare.com

Texas billionaire flies fifth-graders to Spiece

2008-01-15T04:50:00.001-08:00

If you see a chartered jet at Fort Wayne International Airport with an NBA logo on the side, don’t get too excited about the Dallas Mavericks or San Antonio Spurs being in town to scrimmage against the Mad Ants.

No, these players are a little younger – in fifth grade, actually.
The jet will contain members of the Texas Titans traveling team, who are in town to compete in the Martin Luther King Classic on Saturday and Sunday at Spiece Fieldhouse.

The Titans boys basketball team is backed by Texas billionaire Kenny Troutt and often gets a lift to tournaments on a jet that NBA teams use. The team was featured in a recent Sports Illustrated article. The team has flown on the Arizona Diamondbacks’ plane, stayed at Caesars Palace for a tournament in Las Vegas and practiced at the Mavericks’ practice facility.
The Titans organization employs full-time coaches, skill instructors, a general manager, a traveling secretary and a trainer, all thanks to Troutt.

“I believe if you do something, you try to do it as best as you possibly can,” Troutt said in a 2006 Dallas Morning News article.

U S Elections: Big Winners Emerging with January 19 Primaries: Billionaire Bloomberg Hovering in the Background

2008-01-15T04:28:00.000-08:00

From Billionaires Blog By Philip Fernando

Democratic Party front runners are emerging in the US primary election process. It will either be a woman or a black candidate, Hillary Clinton or Barrack Obama, while the Republicans are still having McCain, Huckabee, Romney, Giuliani and Thompson vying for top honors, according to most polls. Primaries in Nevada and Michigan (19 January) and South Carolina (19 Jan for Republicans, 26 January for Democrats) could reduce the field of candidates to just one or two per party. Meanwhile, New York Mayor, a Republican billionaire Bloomberg entering the fray is being talked of. He will be a logical rallying point if Republicans are divided.

Bloomberg has enough money to wage an independent candidacy. Bloomberg is intriguingly a “fresh prospect” to many. His message seems to be “Don’t stray too far from the consensus positions, because I can do it all by myself and upset all your electoral calculations.

However, if front runner emerge on February 5th Super Tuesday, the winners will have a few months to rest, re-group and, of course, raise millions of dollars before the real dog fight - the general election on 4 November. This is a historic US election: the next president might be a woman or African-American, and this is the first time both parties have 'open' nomination slots (that is, there is not an incumbent president or vice-president candidate).

Barrack Obama may have missed an opportunity to put the race for the Democratic nomination away with a second solid win over the front-runner Clinton. Obama is now on the heels of Clinton trying to gain the upper hand while explaining how he fell so far short of expectations in New Hampshire.

Continue reading...

Billionaire George Soros Funded Iraq Study

2008-01-15T04:07:00.000-08:00

From Billionaires Blog By Brendan Montague

A study that claimed 650,000 people were killed as a result of the invasion of Iraq was partly funded by the antiwar billionaire George Soros. Soros, 77, provided almost half the nearly $100,000 cost of the research, which appeared in The Lancet, the medical journal. Its claim was 10 times higher than consensus estimates of the number of war dead.

The study, published in 2006, was hailed by antiwar campaigners as evidence of the scale of the disaster caused by the invasion, but Downing Street and President George Bush challenged its methodology.

New research published by The New England Journal of Medicine estimates that 151,000 people - less than a quarter of The Lancet estimate - have died since the invasion in 2003.
“The authors should have disclosed the [Soros] donation and for many people that would have been a disqualifying factor in terms of publishing the research,” said Michael Spagat, economics professor at Royal Holloway, University of London.

The Lancet study was commissioned by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and led by Les Roberts, an associate professor and epidemiologist at Columbia University. He reportedly opposed the war from the outset.

His team surveyed 1,849 homes at 47 sites across Iraq, asking people about births, deaths and migration in their households. Professor John Tirman of MIT said this weekend that $46,000 of the approximate $100,000 cost of the study had come from Soros’s Open Society Institute.
Roberts said this weekend: “In retrospect, it was probably unwise to have taken money that could have looked like it would result in a political slant. I am adamant this could not have affected the outcome of the research.”

The Lancet did not break any rules by failing to disclose Soros’s sponsorship.

source: London Times

Tiger Woods to be the world's first sportsman billionaire!

2008-01-15T00:42:00.000-08:00

TIGER Woods is set to become the world's first billion-dollar sportsman in 2010, Splash news reported on Thursday, citing Golf Digest magazine.The record-setting golfer took home a staggering US$122.7 million in 2007, an increase of US$26million from 2006, according to the reports.

Woods enjoyed a boom year on the golf course in 2007, winning his 13th Major title, as well as a $10million bonus for coming out on top of the FedEx Cup competition. Woods' bank account was also bolstered by lucrative advertising deals.

The magazine estimates that since turning pro in 1996, Woods has US$769.4million in total earnings. In 1996, only nine golfers earned more than US$1million a year. But in 2007, 158 players, including 99 on the PGA Tour, topped that figure.

BILLIONAIRE SUCCESS STORY : Anil Ambani - Reliance Capital

2007-12-30T04:07:00.000-08:00

Born: June 4, 1959-Mumbai,India
Age: 48
Country Of Citizenship: India
Residence: Mumbai, India
Occupation: Chairman, Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group
Net worth: US$45 billion
Fortune: NA
Source: Diversified
Industry: Diversified
Marital Status: married, 2 children
Spouse: Tina Munim
Education:University of Bombay, Bachelor of Arts / Science
University of Pennsylvania Wharton School, Master of Business Administration

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Ambani is chairman of Reliance Capital, Reliance Communications and Chairman & Managing Director, Reliance Energy, and was formerly Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries Limited. His personal stake in Reliance Communications is 66%. Reliance group is India's largest business house, founded by Anil's late father Dhirubhai Ambani (1938-2002). His mother is Kokilaben Ambani. He is married to Tina Ambani(Munim) who was a well known Indian Actress in early 80's, and with whom he has two sons: Jai Anmol and Jai Anshul.

The total investors' wealth in the four Anil Ambani Group firms -- Reliance Communications (RCOM), Reliance Capital (RCL), Reliance Energy (REL) and Reliance Natural Resources Ltd (RNRL) has reached 1,42,384 crore rupees, while total promoter holding is estimated at about Rs 87,000 crore. Anil's wealth comes mostly from his over 65 per cent stake in RCOM, which has a market cap of about Rs 1,03,000 crore. He also has over 50 per cent in RCL (market cap of Rs 24,000 crore), 35 per cent in REL (market cap of Rs 12,700 crore) and close to 54 per cent in RNRL, which has a market cap of about Rs 2,600 crore.

As of 6th October 2007, his net worth was calculated at $45 billion. Ambani holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Mumbai and an MBA degree from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Currently, he serves as a member of the Wharton Board of Overseers.

Ambani joined Reliance in 1983 as Co-Chief Executive Officer and is credited with having pioneered many financial innovations in the Indian capital markets. For example, he led India's first forays into overseas capital markets with international public offerings of global depositary receipts, convertibles and bonds. He directed Reliance in its efforts to raise, since 1991, around US$2 billion from overseas financial markets; with a 100-year Yankee bond issue in January 1997 being the high point. After which people regarded him as a Financial Wizard. He has steered the Reliance Group to its current status as India's leading textiles, petroleum, petrochemicals, power, and telecom company.

Anil was the member of Uttar Pradesh Development Council (This council has now been scrapped) He is also the Chairman of Board of Governors of DA-IICT, Gandhinagar and a member of the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. He is member of the Board of Governors, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He is also a member of the Central Advisory Committee, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission. In June 2004, Anil was elected as an Independent Member of the Rajya Sabha - Upper House, Parliament of India with the support of the Samajwadi Party. In March 2006, he resigned. Recently after his brother Mukesh Ambani he also has his name in the books of Trillionaires.

Anil has been linked with several starlets in his long career including his current wife of more than 15 years. Recently, Anil was linked to Miss Universe Sushmita Sen. His biggest prize from the filmdom though is considered to be his friendship with Megastar Amitabh Bachchan . His another achievement is considered to be the takeover of Adlabs, the movie production to distribution to multiplex company that owns Mumbai's only dome theatre.

References
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Forbes.com
Google News
Indian Heroes
Reliance - Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group
Rediff News
Business and Finance Quotes
Time Asia
CNN Money
BBC News
Dateline Bombay

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BILLIONAIRE SUCCESS STORY : Roman Abramovich - Millhouse Capital

2007-12-22T11:04:00.000-08:00

Born: October 24, 1966-Saratov, Russian SFSR, USSR
Age: 41
Country Of Citizenship: Russia
Residence: London , United Kingdom, Europe & Russia
Occupation: Governor, Oil Billionaire,
Owner Chelsea Football Club
Net Worth: $18.7 billion
Children: 5
Fortune: Self made
Source: Oil
Industry: Oil/Gas
Marital Status: married, 5 children
Spouse: Irina Abramovich (divorced)
Education: Drop Out
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Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich (born 24 October 1966 in Saratov, Russian SFSR, USSR) is a Russian billionaire and the main owner of private investment company Millhouse Capital, referred to as one of the Russian oligarchs. According to the 2007 Forbes magazine, as of 3 August 2007, he had a net worth of $18.7 billion, and according to Russian Finance magazine, as of January 2007, his fortune was $21.0 billion. He was considered to be the richest person currently living within the United Kingdom in 2003.

In Russia, Abramovich is prominent as the governor of Chukotka, a post to which he was elected in 2000. He is most famous outside Russia as the owner of Chelsea Football Club, an English Premiership football team, and for his wider involvement in European football. Despite his high profile around the world, Abramovich makes virtually no public statements about his activities.

Born into a Jewish family , Roman's paternal grandparents were exiled to Siberia from Tauragė, Lithuania by the Soviets after the occupation of Lithuania in 1940. Roman grew up as an orphan.

His mother, Irina Ostrowski Abramovich, died from bacteremia as a result of a back-alley abortion when Roman was one year old. His father Arkady Abramovich was killed in an incident on a construction site when Roman was three years old. Abramovich grew up in his uncle's family in Ukhta and with his grandmother in Moscow. Before moving to Moscow he and his sister lived in Syktyvkar, the capital city of the Komi Republic. Abramovich attended the Industrial Institute in the city of Ukhta before being drafted into the Soviet Army. After military service, he studied briefly at the Moscow State Auto Transport Institute before taking a leave of absence from academics to go into business. He later earned a correspondence degree from the Moscow State Law Academy.

Abramovich started his commercial activity in the late 1980s when Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms permitted the opening of small private businesses, known as co-operatives. In 1992 to 1995 Abramovich founded five companies that conducted resale and acted as intermediaries, eventually specializing in the trading of oil and oil products. In 1995 Roman Abramovich, together with Boris Berezovsky, acquired the controlling interest in the large oil company Sibneft. The deal was within the controversial loans-for-shares program and partner paid $100m for half of the company, only slightly below the stake's stock market value of $150 million at the time. The fast-rising value of the company led many observers, in hindsight, to suggest that the real cost of the company should have been in the billions of dollars.
During the 1990s, through their holding company Millhouse Capital, Abramovich and his business partner Eugene Shvidler acquired significant stakes in Russia's largest air company Aeroflot and several aluminium plants from Trans World Group owned by David and Simon Reuben which were merged with the metals assets of Oleg Deripaska to create the aluminum giant Rusal. Millhouse LLC, as it is now known, also invested in several smaller companies in the automobile industry, pharmaceuticals, food processing, real estate and other sectors.

Millhouse divested itself of several key assets in 2002–2005. Most notably, the company sold its stake in Sibneft to state energy giant Gazprom for $13 billion, and its stake in Rusal to Oleg Deripaska for $2 billion. In 2006, Millhouse reinvested some of the proceeds by acquiring a 41% stake in Evraz Group, Russia's largest domestic steelmaker and one of the top 10 internationally.

In 2004, Swiss criminal investigators abandoned an investigation into an alleged fraud involving a $4.8 billion loan from the IMF to Russia, in which Abramovich was one of the investigators' key suspects, after the United States and Russia refused to divulge information on the scandal. No evidence linking Abramovich to the IMF funds was ever reported.

Despite maintaining that his primary residence is Moscow, Abramovich was named the second-wealthiest person in the UK in the Sunday Times Rich List 2006, with an estimated fortune of £10.8 billion. Abramovich qualified for the list by virtue of retaining residences in Knightsbridge, London, and Sussex. His 440-acre estate in West Sussex was previously owned by King Hussein of Jordan. It has a swimming pool, a clay pigeon shoot, a rifle range and a go-kart track.

In 1999, Abramovich was elected to the State Duma as the representative for the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, an impoverished region in the Russian Far East. He started the charity Pole of Hope to help the people of Chukotka, especially children, and in December 2000 was elected governor of Chukotka, replacing Alexander Nazarov. Since then he has invested hundreds of millions of pounds in Chukotka, which has paid for a college, a hospital, a pre-school and hotels in Anadyr, as well as renovating the airport and funding new or renovated schools in many small towns and villages. He has also used Chukotka as a tax haven for Sibneft, though the company re-invested most of its tax savings in the region and has been exploring for oil there as part of the governor's drive to boost the local economy. Abramovich said that he would not run for governor again after his term of office expired in 2005, as it is "too expensive", and he rarely visits the region. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin changed the law to abolish elections for regional governors, and on 21 October 2005 Abramovich was reappointed governor for another term. In 2006 Abramovich used his power as governor to help out the explorer Karl Bushby who was deported from the region for border violations after walking from Alaska into Russia during his attempt to walk round the world.

Abramovich was awarded the Order of Honor for his "huge contribution to the economic development of the autonomous district [of Chukotka]", by a decree signed by the President of Russia.

In June 2003, he became the owner of the companies that control Chelsea Football Club in the United Kingdom. He had, apparently, investigated the possibility of purchasing several other clubs before deciding on Chelsea, who were financially vulnerable at the time. The deal immediately raised his profile in Britain. As soon as Abramovich took control, he poured massive investment into the club (estimated at £440 million to January 2006), assuming the £80m debt burden and immediately making available substantial transfer funds.

The club also embarked on an ambitious programme of commercial development, with the aim of making it a worldwide brand, and announced plans to build a new state-of-the-art training complex in Cobham, Surrey. Chelsea finished their first season after the takeover in 2nd place in the Premiership, from 4th the previous year, and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. A new manager, José Mourinho, was recruited and Chelsea ended the following season as league champions. In the four years since the takeover the club have won five major trophies, more than any other English club in the same period.

It is argued that Abramovich's involvement with Chelsea has distorted the football transfer market throughout Europe , as his wealth often allows the club to purchase players virtually at will (frequently at inflated prices), without regard for the effects on the club's financial outturn, as was seen in the year 2005 when Abramovich allegedly offered AC Milan a world record fee of £89.8M for the then European Footballer of the Year, striker Andriy Shevchenko. Shevchenko did eventually join Chelsea in 2006 for a British record transfer fee of around £30m.

The spending has, to some extent, seen wealth re-distributed throughout the game, with the combined fee of £12.5m paid to West Ham United for Glen Johnson and Joe Cole helping to avert administration. In the year ending June 2005, Chelsea posted record losses of £140 million and the club is not expected to record a trading profit before 2010, though this did decrease to reported losses of £80.2 million year ending June 2006.

In a December 2006 interview Abramovich stated that he expected Chelsea's transfer spending to fall in years to come , although he subsequently seemed to move away from that position. He is also present at almost every game Chelsea play and shows visible emotion during matches, a sign taken by supporters to indicate a love for the sport, and usually visits the players in the dressing room following each match, although this stopped for a time in early 2007 as rumours of a feud between Abramovich and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho appeared in the press. In a shocking development in the early hours of 20 September 2007, Jose Mourinho announced his exit as Chelsea manager by mutual consent with the club following a meeting with the board.
Former Israel coach and Chelsea's director of football, Avram Grant, was named as his replacement. Ever since Grant had joined Chelsea (in the summer of 2007) there had been friction between him and Mourinho. Mourinho reportedly told Grant not to interfere in team affairs but with Abramovich's backing, Grant's profile at the club rose after he was made a member of the board. This event apparently did not go down well with Mourinho and may have contributed to his surprise exit.

In March 2004, Sibneft agreed to a three-year sponsorship deal worth $58 million with the Russian team CSKA Moscow. Despite the company explaining that the decision was made at management level, some vie wed the deal as an attempt by Abramovich to counter accusations of being unpatriotic which were made at the time of the Chelsea purchase. UEFA rules prevent one person owning more than one team participating in UEFA competitions, so Abramovich has no equity interest in CSKA. A lawyer, Alexandre Garese, is one of his partners in CSKA.
Following an investigation, he was cleared by UEFA of having a conflict of interest.

Nevertheless, he was named most influential person in Russian football in the Russian magazine Pro Sport at the end of June 2004. In May 2005, CSKA won the UEFA Cup, becoming the first Russian club ever to win a major European football competition. However, in October 2005, Abramovich sold his interest in Sibneft and the company's new owner Gazprom, which sponsors FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, cancelled the sponsorship deal.

Abramovich also played a large role in bringing Guus Hiddink to Russia to coach the Russia national football team. Piet de Visser, a former head scout of Hiddink's club PSV Eindhoven and now a personal assistant to Abramovich at Chelsea, recommended Hiddink to the Chelsea owner.

In addition to his involvement in professional football, Abramovich sponsors a foundation in Russian called the National Academy of Football. The organization sponsors youth sports programs throughout the country and has constructed more than fifty football pitches in various cities and towns. It also funds training programs for coaches, prints instruction materials, renovates sports facilities and takes top coaches and students on trips to visit professional football clubs in England, Holland and Spain.

Abramovich's close relationship with Boris Yeltsin and his family was well known. At first he was described as an aide to the powerful tycoon Boris Berezovsky: "At every stage of Berezovsky's rise, Abramovich was there, watching and learning."

The proposed merger of Sibneft with Yukos was seen by most as a move to distance himself from Russia, at a time when the Kremlin appears to have decided to bring at least some of the oligarchs to account for their colourful past business practices. Abramovich was a close associate of controversial Boris Berezovsky who sold him his stake in Sibneft, although in July 2005 Berezovsky announced his intention to sue Abramovich in the British courts for pressuring him into selling most of his Russian assets cheaply to Abramovich after Berezovsky fled the country.
The Kremlin press service reported that Abramovich's name had been sent for approval as governor for another term to Chukotka's local parliament, which confirmed his appointment on 21 October 2005.

Chris Hutchins, a biographer of Vladimir Putin, claims that the relationship between the Russian president and Abramovich is like that between a father and a favourite son; when rumours began about the latter's relationship with Zhukova, Putin reportedly told him "to clean up his act". Reports of such a conversation are hearsay and have never been verified. Abramovich himself has stated that his relationship with Putin is professional, as signified by his use of the Russian language's formal "вы" in addressing Putin, as opposed to the informal "ты".
Abramovich has been married twice, to Olga (divorced 1990), and to Irina (née Malandina) in 1991 (divorced 2007). On 15 October 2006, the News of the World reported that Irina had hired two top UK divorce lawyers, following reports of Abramovich's close relationship with a 23-year old beauty called Daria Zhukova, the former girlfriend of tennis player Marat Safin. It was speculated that a future divorce settlement (amounting to a conjectured £5.5 billion) might be the highest ever on record. The Abramoviches replied that neither had consulted attorneys at that point. However, they later divorced in Russia in March 2007, with a settlement reported as being $300 million.

Roman Abramovich sponsored an exhibition of photographs of Uzbekistan by renowned Soviet photographer Max Penson (1893–1959) which opened on 29 November 2006 at the Gilbert Collection at Somerset House in London. He previously funded the exhibition "Quiet Resistance: Russian Pictorial Photography 1900s-1930s" at the same gallery in 2005. Both exhibits were organized by the Moscow House of Photography.

Abramovich has become the world's greatest spender on luxury yachts, and had been linked to five boats in what the media have called "Abramovich's Navy Eclipse - Initially known as project M147 it was designed by the French design studio Atabeyki. The interior is being designed by Terrence Disdale. Eclipse is being built in Germany by Blohm + Voss and when completed will be 147 meters long. It is believed to cost Abramovich around $300 million and will be the world's third largest yacht with at least two swimming pools, two helipads, several on board tenders and a submarine. Its ultra modern design is similar to Pelorus with even more aggressive lines and tri-colour scheme. Ecstasea (282 feet / 85 meter long) - Largest Feadship built to date. Pelorus (377 feet / 115 meter long) - A frequent visitor to the islands of Malta and Santorini, whereby her agent Simon Borg Cardona of Nautica Ltd provides all of his yachts with services and duty-free fuels.

Le Grand Bleu (370 feet / 112 meter long) – formerly owned by Paul Allen of Microsoft, Abramovich bought her in 2002 and had her completely refitted including a 16ft swim platform and sports dock. He presented her to his associate and friend Eugene Shvidler in June 2006. Sussurro (163 feet / 50 meter long) - built by Feadship in 1998 with the interior designed by Terence Disdale.

Abramovich, a regular visitor to the Principality of Monaco, made a request to register his yacht(s) in the Principality, but his request was rejected: "for maintaining the peace of the country, and the safety of its citizens". He owns a private Boeing 767-33A/ER (registration P4-MES, registered in Aruba), known as "The Bandit" due to its cockpit area paint detail. Originally the aircraft was ordered by Hawaiian Airlines but the order was cancelled and Abramovich had it refitted to his own requirements. The Boeing 767 replaces a smaller Boeing 737-7CG BBJ, registration P4-GJC. Abramovich also owns several Eurocopter helicopters (EC-145, registration P4-LGB, EC-135T1, registration P4-XTC and EC-155B, registration P4-HEC) based on his yachts, Blackbushe airport or at his home near Rogate in Sussex, England.As of early 2007 he has been using a smaller aircraft for his European travels. The Austrian-registered Dassault Falcon 900 registration OE-IDX is instantly recognizable by the livery similar to P4-MES.

In 2004 Abramovich bought two Maybach 62 limousines. He had these customized to be bomb proof and have bullet-proof glass. They were reported to have cost him £1 million. He also owns a Ferrari FXX, a $2.2 million dollar race-only car, of which only 30 were built.

In September 2007, the French newspaper Le Figaro incorrectly claimed that Abramovich was the previously unidentified customer for the first private Airbus A380 Superjumbo. At the 2007 Dubai Air Show it was revealed that the jet was in fact ordered by Prince Al-Walid bin Talal, the CEO of Kingdom Holdings.

Referrence
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Forbes.com - Roman Abromovich
BBC Four
Frontline World
Guardian Unlimited
Time.com
Rusnet
News.com.au
Roman-abramovich.com
PWHCE
Telegraph.co.uk

American billionaire Fisher buys 3.24% stake in Celtic

2007-12-21T05:38:00.000-08:00

By PAUL DRURY

AN AMERICAN billionaire has bought a slice of Celtic Football Club. John J Fisher, the son of the tycoon who founded the Gap clothing chain, snapped up 3.24 per cent of the Parkhead club.

At yesterday's share price, Mr Fisher would have paid just under £630,000 for his stake. The sale will immediately spark fears that Celtic could go the way of Premiership giants Manchester United and Liverpool, who are now in American hands.Until now, ownership of Celtic has rested with the Irish billionaire Dermot Desmond.

Despite enjoying massive windfalls in his other business interests – he made a £700 million profit on the sale of London City Airport – Desmond has not sanctioned a big spending spree at Celtic.Incomer Fisher is ranked the 258th richest person in the world, with an estimated fortune of $2 billion. Educated at Princeton University, 46-year-old Fisher is the son of Donald Fisher, who started the Gap clothing chain in San Francisco in 1969. He is a major fundraiser for the Republican Party in the US and played a leading role in the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Governor of California.Father-offour Fisher lives in Presidio Heights, San Francisco, with his wife, Laura. He keeps a very low profile, though insiders say he has attended a number of games at Celtic Park.Fisher has an interest in another sport, as joint-owner of the American baseball team, the Oakland Athletics.

Peter Rafferty, president of the Affiliation of Celtic Supporters Clubs, said fans will want to know more about Mr Fisher.He said: "We are always extremely interested in anyone who is buying into the club. We are very protective of our heritage. To be honest, this has come as something of a shock today. Fans will want to find out who he is, his motives in making such an investment and his vision of the future of the club."Last month, Celtic director John Keane increased his stake in the club to almost 6.5 per cent by buying a further 1.4 million ordinary shares.In recent weeks, other Celtic shareholders have been asked if they are prepared to sell any of their holding in the Glasgow club.