And If Warren Buffett Bought North Korea?

Published in Le Figaro
(France) on 23 October 2009
by Arnaud de la Grange (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Drue Fergison. Edited by Jessica Boesl.
Forbes Magazine compared the wealth of some of its VIPs among the top 400 fortunes worldwide with the economies of several countries.

Instead of treating oneself to chateaux in France, paradisaical Caribbean islets or deluxe 007-style yachts, the most daring billionaires on the planet could set about buying countries. And, if possible, countries enmeshed in filthy destitution, as a way of rendering service to humanity.

Forbes Magazine thus amused itself by comparing the wealth of some of its VIPs with the 400 top fortunes worldwide with the economies of several countries. The richest American, Bill Gates, with his US$50 billion, could browse the GDPs of 140 countries on the planet. Even the “small budgets” of those like Gary Magness, who made a fortune on water in Colorado and have US$990 million, could buy Vanuatu for themselves. The founder of eBay, Pierre Omidyar, with his fortune of US$5.5 billion, could control the Somali market. And, in spite of losing some $10 billion in the latest worldwide economic storm, Warren Buffett would still have enough to purchase North Korea, whose economy is worth no more than $40 billion. And then present it to Barack Obama?


Et si Warren Buffett achetait la Corée du Nord ?

Le magazine Forbes a mis en parallèle la fortune de certains de ses hôtes du classement des 400 premières fortunes mondiales et les économies de plusieurs pays.

Au lieu de se payer châteaux en ­France, îlots paradisiaques dans les Caraïbes ou yachts de luxe à la 007, les plus hardis des milliardaires de la planète pourraient se mettre à acheter des États. Et si possible des pays englués dans une misère crasse, de manière à rendre service à l'humanité… Le magazine Forbes s'est ainsi amusé à mettre en parallèle la fortune de certains de ses hôtes du classement des 400 premières fortunes mondiales et les économies de plusieurs pays. Le plus riche des Américains, Bill Gates, avec ses 50 milliards de dollars, peut toiser les PIB de 140 pays de la planète. Même des «petits budgets» comme Gary Magness, qui a fait fortune dans l'eau au Colorado, avec ses 990 millions de dollars, pourraient s'offrir le Vanuatu. Le fondateur d'eBay, Pierre Omidyar, avec sa fortune de 5,5 milliards de dollars, pourrait contrôler le marché somalien. Et, malgré la perte de quelque 10 milliards de dollars dans la dernière tempête économique mondiale, Warren Buffett aurait encore de quoi acheter la Corée du Nord, dont l'économie ne pèse pas plus de 40 milliards de dollars. Pour l'offrir ensuite à Barack Obama ?
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