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My takeaway: Forbes rich list amounts are basically fictional. Do you think they are devoting the kind of resources it would take to unravel each billionaire's finances? Clearly not. If it's mostly large sharehioldings they might be in the ballpark in some obvious cases.

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How about the rich list is just a list of rich people that also desire others to know of their riches.

Famously, there was the Saudi billionaire who would pump up the price of his stocks in the months prior to when they published the rich list.

Al Waleed bin Talal. Shrewd businessman, but also one of the most fragile egos out there.

Probably more that it's easier to figure out wealth from public stocks compared to private businesses and real estate.

forbes sell entertainment. their clients are not even who read it, but advertisers who but advertisement.

readers and space for ads on the magazine pages are both called inventory in the biz.

A legit biz, I mean, look at everyone reading and commenting here! :)

this is also a publisher so yes, you're correct, fellow inventory item.

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