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The book The Richest Man Who Ever Lived is riveting. The guy bankrolled kings, wrote a collections letter to the Holy Roman Emperor, etc. etc.

• prox 5y ago
  Who are the bankrollers of today? Do they still exist?
  • jdavis703 5y ago
    They are nation-states and multinational corporations with market values that exceed the GDP of smaller countries.
    • adventured 5y ago
      > market values that exceed the GDP of smaller countries Revenue that exceeds the GDP of nations. Walmart = $566 billion. Good enough for #25 among nations, larger than Nigeria or Thailand, just below Belgium and Poland. Amazon = $443 billion. Equal to #30 among nations. Nearly identical to Israel or Norway, and ahead of the Philippines or Egypt. Berkshire Hathaway = $365 billion. Equal to #40 among nations. Comparable to Singapore or Vietnam, just below Denmark. Apple = $347 billion. Equal to #41 among nations. Larger than Pakistan, Finland, Chile and just below Bangladesh. CVS = $278 billion. Equal to #48 among nations. Comparable to Czechia and larger than Portugal, New Zealand. UnitedHeath = $270 billion. Equal to #49 among nations. Just below Romania or Colombia. Google = $220 billion. Equal to #52 among nations. Comparable to Greece or Peru. Microsoft = $168 billion. Equal to #56 among nations. Just below Hungary or Kazakhstan, ahead of Ukraine or Algeria.
      • zaarn 5y ago
        For comparison, Fugger's net worth today at the peak would have been 400 billion $. Not revenue, net worth. Also keep in mind that revenue is not market value nor is it wealth/net worth.