Gizmodo: rich dudes

Bill Gates Lost $7 Billion Last Year, Is Still Richer Than God

Adam Frucci — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:20:00 EDT

Pity poor Bill Gates! In this terrible economy, he lost $7 billion last year, bringing his net worth down to… $50 Billion.

Don't worry! He's still the richest man on the planet, but he's less richer than everybody else than last year. Other losers on this year's Forbes 400 include Paul Allen, who lost $4.5 billion, Michael Dell, who lost $2.8 billion, and Steve Ballmer, who lost $1.7 billion.

Amazon's Jeff Bezos, unlike all the other tech mavens on the list who lost money, actually made $100 million this year, bringing his value up to $8.8 billion. Good for him! I'm sure that made a fucking difference. [Forbes via Fortune]

Saudi Prince Dropping $475 Million on Airbus A380

Adam Frucci — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:00:00 EST

The mystery baron who's dropping $475 million on an Airbus A380, the biggest commercial aircraft in existence, has been revealed. It's none other than everyone's favorite member of the Saudi royal family, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. Oh Alwaleed, you were always the crazy one in the family! He already owns a 747, so I guess the A380 is what he'll take when he wants to fly somewhere and really make an impression. Oh, and in case you were curious, the average income in Saudi Arabia is $17,000, making this purchase equal to the yearly salaries of 27,941 Saudis. [FlightGlobal (Thanks Jason!)]

I'll Take the Airbus for $300 Million if You Throw Rustproofing In For Free

Adam Frucci — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 16:15:00 EST

Rich guys buy sports cars. Really rich guys buy private jets. Guys that want to live even more extravagantly? They buy entire airliners for personal use.

An Arab oil magnate is spending $300 million on an Airbus A380, with another $100 million earmarked for the interior. What does that kind of scratch buy you? Peep this.

New York-based jet-interior expert Edése Doret who will be designing the A380 for the customer says it will include two dining halls, one 600 foot master bedroom, game room, lounge with giant curtains that will mimic tents of the Arabian desert, and a fiber-optic mosaic that will depict a shifting desert scene. Plas include a whirlpool tub (first in the air) with a rapid drainage system that can empty the standing water in seconds to a tank in the cargo hold and a missile defense system too.

Geez, and I thought those spinning rims were over-the-top.

Amazingly flashy WSJ video on the jet after the hop.

–Adam Frucci

Wall Street Journal [via New Launches]