Wealthiest Man On Earth

Akira Mori

2008-06-19T20:57:00.001-07:00

Age: 68
Fortune: inherited
Source: Real estate

Net Worth: 4.5

Country Of Citizenship: Japan
Residence: Tokyo, Japan, Asia & Australia
Industry: Real Estate
Marital Status: married, 3 children

Real estate mogul leads Mori Trust, which owns and operates office and residential buildings, mainly in central Tokyo and other major Japanese cities. Also has 17 hotels, including newly opened Conrad Tokyo. He and his older brother Minoru Mori inherited initial fortune from their late father, which they split after a falling-out. The elder Mori isn't yet a billionaire because he reportedly has borrowed heavily to finance his showcase property developments, such as the Roppongi Hills in Tokyo, that have often let him steal the limelight from his younger sibling.

Nintendo's Yamauchi

2008-06-19T20:52:00.000-07:00

Soaring sales of Nintendo's Wii game machine have made former Nintendo chairman Hiroshi Yamauchi Japan's richest man, worth $7.8 billion, Forbes magazine said in its annual rankings.

The net worth of Hiroshi, 80, jumped $3 billion in the past year -- boosting him from third place to surpass property tycoon Akira Mori, Japan's richest man last year, the magazine said.

Nintendo's Wii, with its motion-sensing controller and quirky games that attract casual users, has far outsold rival game machines such as Sony's PlayStation 3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360 since its launch in 2006.

Shares of Kyoto-based Nintendo have more than tripled in the past two years, boosting the value of the company to around $79 billion, and the fortune of Yamauchi, who owns 10%.

Mori, whose Mori Trust is one of the Tokyo's biggest landlords fell to second spot with a net worth of $7.7 billion, the magazine said.

Kunio Busujima, the 83-year-old founder of pachinko gambling machine maker Sankyo Co. Ltd, was third with a net worth of $5.4 billion, Forbes said.

A new arrival to Forbes' Japan 40 Richest List is a 32-year-old Kenji Kasahara, who created social networking site Mixi, Forbes said.

Forbes said its rich lists calculations were based on public share prices and its own estimates of privately held wealth.

Rozilawati Tan Sri Basir

2008-04-21T02:25:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Rozilawati Basir is the epitome of the modern woman.
She is educated, enjoys a successful career as Nationwide Express chief executive officer, single and loving it.

But what sets Rozilawati apart from her peers is her love for vintage cars.

Rozilawati who professed to "loving all things old" started dabbling in vintage cars about 20 years ago.

"I have been interested in vintage cars since I was young. I also collect antiques. Old things have character," she said.
It helped too that her late father, Tan Sri Basir Ismail, shared the same interest.

"We influenced each other when it came to vintage cars."

Father and daughter bonded as they participated in various vintage car exhibitions and rallies.

"My fondest memories of him were of our time together when we went for rallies."

When her father died early last year, Rozilawati inherited his cars: 10 classic cars including the rare 1934 Lagonda Rapier, 1941 Jaguar MK1 and 1972 Rolls-Royce Corniche.

"The Lagonda Rapier is very special as it is the only one in Malaysia, and it was one of the first few cars in the world to have an automatic transmission," she said.

Her gleaming cars were among 79 cars on display during the KLGP Vintage and Classic Car Concours and Drive at Dataran Merdeka yesterday.

Rozilawati and co-driver Harani Khalid joined other participants on a 40km drive to the final venue at Putrajaya.

The event was jointly hosted by Kuala Lumpur City Hall and Putrajaya Holdings.

Khairy Jamaluddin

2008-03-31T01:19:00.000-07:00

Khairy Jamaluddin - young man making millions
It’s only been a few months since the dagger-waving Umno Youth demanded that the NEP be reintroduced. This was to benefit the Malays (the deserving ones!) to reach a certain level of economic success. How hard its deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin cried for the poor Malays!

Let’s fast forward to the present time. Khairy on Dec 28 last year bought 13 million shares from ECM Libra at 71 cents per share for RM9.2 million. These shares were sold by the three main shareholders. Questions were asked why these were sold at a discount, how he financed the purchase and more importantly, the timing of the purchase. He and the company have threatened to take legal action on some personalities who have questioned his credibility regarding the ECM Libra share purchase.

Yesterday’s announcement that Avenue Capital Resources Bhd and ECM Libra will merge to form one of the country’s largest investment banks shows how young leaders in power are mixing politics and business. Avenue is to buy all of ECM Libra’s assets for RM280 million in exchange for shares in a reconstructed new company. The new company will have a shareholders fund of RM600 million making it eligible for Investment Bank (IB) status.

Khairy will surely have a conflict of interest as his father-in-law is the finance minister who decides on the bank licenses. He is also privy to the latest confidential information both in the private and public sector.

It is clear why this young man bought those shares in such a hurry. Just by this transaction alone he has made RM4.85 million with the present share prices. The trading of the company’s shares was suspended with the news of the merger. What will he make after the merger? Roughly RM8.4 million. All this within months.

Maybach AMG - Malaysia Sultans Official Car

2008-03-20T18:08:00.000-07:00

Maybach Cars - only 6 unit available in Malaysia... Definitely my dream car ...

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

2008-03-14T01:57:00.001-07:00

Posted by: Raja Petra -Malaysia-today.net

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has a RM60 million home in Perth, Australia.

Extract of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s speech in Kulai, Johor, on 29 March 2007 (VIDEO BEST VIEWED WITH BROADBAND)

According to what Malaysia Today found out, the home is in the exclusive and expensive residential area of Mosman Park, overlooking the serene Swan River, and close to the St Hilda’s Anglican high-class all-girls school.

Mosman Park is one of Perth’s most pleasant, and expensive, suburbs, on a narrow strip of land with Mosman Bay in the Swan River as its eastern border and the city beaches defining the western boundary. To the east of the Stirling Highway, about 14 kilometres south-west of Perth’s CBD, Mosman Park is characterised by expansive homes set in manicured gardens, many with delightful views over the river. Neighbouring it is the equally-prestigious suburb of Peppermint Grove. Popular Cottesloe Beach is just a kilometre or so from the centre of Mosman Park and the great port city of Fremantle, with some of Australia’s most interesting restaurants and watering holes, is just 3 kilometres down the road. Mosman Park’s largest industry could be said to be its education establishments. Within the town council’s narrow boundaries there are no less than six schools, three of which have boarding facilities. When settlers first came to this area in about 1835, the land was thickly wooded with tuarts, jarrahs, red gum, banksia, native pines, hollies and the beautiful peppermint trees which inspired the name of Mosman Park’s neighbouring suburb. Brumbies roamed the area, along with native cats, wallabies and an abundance of birds.

Eka Tjipta Widjaja

2008-02-25T00:07:00.000-08:00

Age 84
Net Worth $2.8 billion
Married, 15 children

Emigrated from China to Indonesia; got start selling biscuits at age 17. Created Asia Pulp & Paper, which defaulted on more than $10 billion in debt in 2001. Still has stakes in pulp, paper; also plantations, food. New venture, Smart Telecom, launched in September, offers phone calls for 45 rupiah (half a penny) a minute.

R. Budi Hartono

2008-02-25T00:05:00.001-08:00

Age 66
Net Worth $3.14 billion
Married, 3 children

With brother Michael, owns clove cigarette brand Djarum, most popular of its kind among Americans, founded by father in 1951. Also owns stake in country?s largest private bank, Bank Central Asia. Developing Grand Indonesia, a luxury shopping mall, office building and hotel complex in the center of Jakarta.

Sukanto Tanoto

2008-02-25T00:03:00.000-08:00

Age 58
Net Worth $4.7 billion
Married, 4 children

Owns April, one of Asia's largest pulp- and papermakers, and Asian Agri, among country's 5 largest palm oil producers. Helped fund journalism school in Singapore. Reportedly used Chinese-English dictionary to teach himself English.

Aburizal Bakrie & family

2008-02-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Age 60
Net Worth $5.4 billion
Married, 3 children

Runs family-held Bakrie group, founded by late father in 1942. Has interests in infrastructure, property, telecom. Huge stock run-up in biggest holding, coal producer Bumi Resources, lifted fortune. Co-owns Lapindo Brantas, oil-and-gas outfit whose drilling allegedly helped trigger a massive mudslide in 2006, burying villages, displacing thousands. Onetime presidential candidate, he is country's Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare.

Mikhail Fridman

2008-02-20T01:22:00.000-08:00

Net Worth: $ 5.2 billion

Primary Source: Alfa-Group , oil, telecommunications
Age: 40
Marital Status: married, two daughters

After growing up in the Ukrainian city of Lvov, Fridman came to Moscow to study at the Institute of Steel and Alloys in the 1980s. He founded Alfa Group in 1988 with a group of college friends. Now it's a diverse conglomerate with oil, retail, telecom and Russia's largest private bank. He has strong Kremlin connections, including a former subordinate who serves as President Vladimir Putin's chief political advisor. Last year he merged his oil company, TNK, with the Russian oil interests of BP, in an $18 billion deal--quite an achievement, considering that five years ago BP was in a bitter fight against what it claimed were Fridman's unorthodox methods in taking over a partly BP-owned oil field. But that's Fridman's style: aggressive, highly leveraged takeovers, followed by reorganization and then a sale to a strategic investor.

Vladimir Potanin

2008-02-20T01:20:00.000-08:00

Net Worth: $ 5.4 billion

Primary Source: Norilsk Nickel (quote), metals
Age: 43
Marital Status: married, three children

A former Soviet foreign trade official, Potanin teamed up with banker Mikhail Prokhorov in 1992 to take over the assets of two Soviet-era foreign trade banks. Later he won control of metals giant Norilsk Nickel and oil company Sidanco in controversial loans-for-shares auctions. He served as deputy prime minister in charge of the economy in 1996-1997. He then partnered with George Soros to invest in telecom monopoly Svyazinvest, but sold Soros his stake after the two had a falling out. The devaluation of the ruble in 1998 forced the liquidation of his Uneximbank. He sold his oil interests to Mikhail Fridman's Alfa Group. His Interros holding company remains broadly diversified, with interests in metals, insurance, media, agriculture and engineering. Last year he bought the last remaining U.S. platinum and palladium producer, Stillwater Mining, for $255 million. Now paying attention to his social standing, he joined the board of the Guggenheim Museum in 2002.

Bernard Arnault

2008-02-14T00:49:00.000-08:00

Bernard Arnault was born in 5th March 1949. He is a French businessman and the 7th richest person in the world. He is France's richest person with an estimated net worth of $26 billion US dollars, according to a Forbes report in March 2007.

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. His daughter Delphine Arnault is actively involved in the management of LVMH. Arnault also owned the art auction house Phillips de Pury & Company from 1999 to 2003.

Jean Todt

2008-02-14T00:41:00.000-08:00

Jean Todt was born on 25 February 1946 in Pierrefort Cantal (France).

Todt joined Ferrari in 1993 as Team Principal of Ferrari Gestione Sportiva. He had just achieved back-to-back victories at the Le Mans 24 Hour race in 1992 and 1993 with Peugeot, for whom he had headed the competition department.

This former rally co-driver joined Ferrari to lead the team back to the top level of Formula One and has since amassed an accomplished career. By 2001, with Ferrari in true World Championship form, he was nominated General Director of Gestione Sportiva, assuming responsibility of all the sporting activity of the Ferrari Maserati Group. He was then appointed Chief Executive Officer of Ferrari S.p.A in the autumn of 2006 and, assuming an interim role of Managing Director of the Gestione Sportiva - continues to be a regular face on the Grand Prix circuit.

Jeffrey Skoll

2008-02-05T23:54:00.000-08:00

Age: 41
Fortune: self made
Source: Ebay

Net Worth: 5.0

Country Of Citizenship: Canada
Residence: Los Angeles, California, United States, North America
Industry: Technology
Marital Status: single, no children

University of Toronto, Bachelor of Arts / Science
Stanford University, Master of Business Administration

Ebay's first president and full-time employee, Skoll remains its second-largest shareholder. He is no longer involved with the company, though, and is now turning his attention to the movies. Skoll was executive producer of North Country, starring Charlize Theron, and two recent George Clooney films, including Syriana. All three were made by Skoll's Participant Productions. Pumped gas in Toronto before getting an M.B.A. from Stanford in 1995.

Galen Weston

2008-02-05T23:51:00.001-08:00

Age: 65
Fortune: inherited and growing
Source: Retail

Net Worth: 8.4

Country Of Citizenship: Canada
Residence: Toronto, Canada, North America
Industry: Retailing
Marital Status: married, 2 children

University of Western Ontario, Bachelor of Arts / Science

Chairman and president of George Weston Ltd., founded by his grandfather George in 1882 and now one of North America's largest bakers. Owns a controlling stake in sister company Loblaw's, Canada's largest supermarket chain, which has had a tough time amid restructuring; stock fell 25% in the past year. Also has his hands in privately held upscale retailers like Canada's Holt Renfrew, Ireland's Brown Thomas and London's department store Selfridges, which he purchased in 2003 for $958 million through his Wittington Investments. Daughter Alannah is creative director at Selfridges. Avid collector of avant-garde artist Christo; Weston regularly hosts exhibits of influential artists at Windsor, the private community that he founded in Vero Beach, Fla.

James, Arthur & John Irving

2008-02-05T23:49:00.000-08:00

Fortune: inherited and growing
Source: Oil

Net Worth: 5.5

Country Of Citizenship: Canada
Residence: Saint John, Canada, North America
Industry: Oil/Gas
Marital Status: , no children

Secretive and sprawling, the empire founded in 1881 by J.D. Irving dominates the economy of New Brunswick and Maritime Canada. Crown jewel Irving Oil, which owns Canada's largest refinery, is benefiting from the global boom in fuel prices. The ruling triad of brothers also controls 3.6 million acres of timberland in Canada and Maine, 600 gas stations and four daily newspapers. Developing, with Spain's Repsol, a liquid natural gas terminal with 1 billion cubic feet daily capacity in St. John, N.B.. Family caught flak in Canadian papers in 2003 for boondoggles involving prominent Canadian politicians at their New Brunswick estate. Later donated $2 million to fund journalism programs at two New Brunswick universities.

Kenneth Thomson

2008-02-05T23:47:00.000-08:00

Age: 82
Fortune: inherited and growing
Source: Publishing

Net Worth: 19.6

Country Of Citizenship: Canada
Residence: Toronto, Canada, North America
Industry: Media/Entertainment
Marital Status: married, 3 children

Canada's richest man still holds 68.5% of Thomson Corp. media conglomerate, founded in 1934 by his father, Roy. Today son David is chairman. Lately, Thomson has abandoned traditional printed titles for electronic media and financial services software. In 2004 acquired Tradeweb bond trading platform, which booked $42.8 trillion in trades last year. Same year sold 54 trade publications, including American Banker and The Bond Buyer, to Bahrain's Investcorp for $350 million. In his later years Thomson the elder has amassed an internationally famous art collection of some 3,000 pieces. In 2002 he purchased Peter Paul Rubens' "Massacre of the Innocents" for $77 million, the fourth-highest price ever paid for a painting at auction. The same year Thomson donated 2,000 works to the Art Gallery of Ontario and pledged $60 million for the museum's expansion.

Gregorio Perez Companc & family

2008-02-05T23:41:00.000-08:00

Age: 71
Fortune: inherited
Source: Oil & gas

Net Worth: 1.7

Country Of Citizenship: Argentina
Residence: Buenos Aires, Argentina, South & Middle America
Industry: Diversified
Marital Status: married, 7 children

High School, Drop Out

Argentina's sole billionaire built his fortune with oil but lately has focused on food. Sold namesake energy company to Petrobras for $1 billion in 2002. Now holds a controlling stake in Molinos Rio de la Plata, Argentina's biggest packaged-food concern, which sells Luchetti's pasta and Cocinero oils. With wife, Maria Carmen, raises dairy cows and operates Munchi's, small chain of ice cream parlors. Devoted family man is father of seven. One indulgence: his $500,000 red Ferrari F50.

Albert Frere

2008-02-05T23:37:00.000-08:00

Age: 80
Fortune: self made
Source: Investments

Net Worth: 3.0 billion

Country Of Citizenship: Belgium
Residence: Charleroi, Belgium, Europe & Russia
Industry: Investments
Marital Status: married, 3 children

High School, Drop Out

Built family's scrap metal business into a cascade of assets in media, utilities and oil. Investments include a 25% stake in German media behemoth Bertelsmann, which will likely go public in May. Should push Frere's worth into the stratosphere. Known as a workaholic who claims he'll never retire, Baron Frere is a connoisseur of fine wine and co-owner, with French billionaire Bernard Arnault, of the Chbteau Cheval Blanc vineyard.

Patokh Chodiev

2008-02-05T23:33:00.000-08:00

Age: 53
Fortune: self made
Source: Mining, metals

Net Worth: 2.0 billion

Country Of Citizenship: Belgium
Residence: Almaty, Kazakhstan, Europe & Russia
Industry: Diversified
Marital Status: married, 3 children

With partners and longtime friends Alijan Ibragimov and Alexander Machkevich (see both) built a metals and mining empire in Kazakhstan. The trio has spent the last four years consolidating assets in the now-named Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation. Hopes to ride the crest of successful Kazakh offerings in London next year. A native of Uzbekistan, Chodiev studied international law and Japanese and lived in Japan before teaming up with his pals to take advantage of the freewheeling trading during Gorbachev's perestroika. Oldest daughter is very active in the business.

Richard Chandler

2008-02-05T00:29:00.000-08:00

Standing, left

Net worth : 2 billion
Split with brother Christopher after running Sovereign Global investments together for 20 years. His new Orient Global owns holdings in financial services in India. Sovereign made fortune in Brazil, Japan andrussia. Made news when bought stakes in Korean conglomerates.

Graeme Hart

2008-02-05T00:26:00.000-08:00

Known for astute debt-financed purchases. Last year hisrank Group bought out and privatized Burns Philp foods and Carter Holt Harvey paper products for $3.3 billion. Soon after sold pieces of each, like Uncle Tobys snacks and New Zealand forests.

Richard Pratt

2008-02-05T00:25:00.000-08:00

Age: 71
Net Worth: $ 2.3 billion
Country: Australia
Status : Married, 3 children

Owns Visy Industries, a $2 billion (sales) paper recycling and packaging company. Recently doubled its U.S. presence through acquisitions. Embroiled in an Australian government investigation of price-fixing with rival Amcor. Pratt vigorously denies allegations that he or Visy knowingly took part in anticompetitive activities.

Frank Lowy

2008-02-05T00:22:00.001-08:00

Age: 75
Net Worth: $ 3.8 billion
Country: Australia
Married, 3 children

Deli-owner-turned-shopping-mall-Midas oversees a $33 billion (assets) portfolio of 130 malls in Australia, New Zealand, the U.K. and U.S. As chairman of Football Federation Australia, turned around Australia's languishing soccer league.

James Packer

2008-02-05T00:20:00.000-08:00

Age: 38
Net Worth: $ 5.2 billion
Country: Australia
Status : Divorced

After his famous father died in December, inherited majority holding in media empire Publishing & Broadcasting (PBL), where he is executive chairman. Also got stakes in Challenger Financial Services and Consolidated Pastoral. Making his mark in gaming with projects underway in Macau.

Kerry Packer

2008-02-05T00:04:00.000-08:00

Kerry Packer was Australia's richest man through his media company PBL Publishing and Broadcasting Limited. PBL owns the Channel 9 TV station in Australia, the majority of the magazines and newspapers published in Australia, gambling interests including the Burswood and Crown Casino, and various other Internet, media and financial interests.

The Packer family have been involved in publishing and media for several generations in Australia. It started with Kerry Packer's grandfather Robert Packer who managed and owned a part of a newspaper in the 1920s. Kerry's father then went on to produce one of Australia's most successful magazines the "Australian Women's Weekly". The success of the weekly magazine funded further acquisitions and established the foundation of what has grown into the Publishing and Broadcasting media empire that exists today.

After his father's death in 1974 Kerry Packer took control of the business. Packer continually expanded and grew the company over the years. The companies were merged and became part of the Publishing and Broadcasting Limited company in 1994. The core industries that PBL has interests in is Television broadcasting and production, magazine distribution and publication, and gaming.

Forbes Rich List - Estimated Net Worth in American Dollars
2004 - $4.2 billion - ranked 111 of the World's richest people
2003 - $2.5 billion - ranked 147 of the World's richest people
2002 - $2.5 billion - ranked 157 of the World's richest people
2001 - $2.5 billion - ranked 182 of the World's richest people

Teh Hong Piow

2008-02-04T00:12:00.000-08:00

Net Worth : $1.8 billion

Source: banking
Age: 74
Status:married
Country: Malaysia

Controls Public Bank, one of Malaysia's largest banks. Implemented a no-layoff policy despite the turmoil of the past few years. An avid shooter, he is a member of a local gun club.

Lucio Tan

2008-02-04T00:11:00.000-08:00

Net worth : $1.6 billion

Source: tobacco
Age: 70
Status:married
Country: Philippines

In July, the Philippine government revived a $358 million tax evasion suit against Tan and his Fortune Tobacco, which supplies two-thirds of the nation's smokers. Company also faces possible tax hike and antismoking legislation. Has other interests in aviation, banking and liquor.

Chaleo Yoovidhya

2008-02-04T00:09:00.000-08:00

Rank: 12
Net Worth: $1.6 bil

Developed energy drinks in Thailand. Then, 17 years ago, teamed up with Austrian Dietrich Mateschitz and began marketing Red Bull drink worldwide. Today the $1.6 billion brand (2003 sales) is sold in more than 100 countries. U.S. sales, which account for one-third of revenues, jumped 41% over last year. Both founders have 49% stakes in Red Bull; Chaleo's son Chalerm has the remaining 2%. Also owns a stake in a private hospital in Thailand that mostly caters to foreign patients.

Embrio One-Wheel Concept

2008-02-03T17:38:00.000-08:00

Balancing Act:

The riding position will be similar to a motorcycle with a complex series of sensors and gyroscopes balancing passengers on the single wheel. The rider activates a trigger on the left handlebar to accelerate and turns are made by shifting body-weight rather than actually steering.

When the EMBRIO concept is at rest in "stand-by configuration", the front wheels deploy to the ground like landing gear on a plane to increase longitudinal stability. The landing gear retracts when the vehicle speed reaches 20 km/h but even without the landing gear, the EMBRIO would be stable when motionless because of the gyroscope.

The EMBRIO concept's main power source is a hydrogen fuel cell and additional advanced technologies including a high-performance braking system, active suspension, night vision, a digitally encoded key and robotic assistance would be incorporated into the design.

The Concept is constructed from lightweight materials including Polypropylene, Santoprene, nylon (injection moulding), aluminum (stamping, die casting and robotic assembly), magnesium (casting) and the use of fuel cell technology and recycling of aluminum and polyethylene is designed to make the Bombardier EMBRIO an eco-friendly design throughout its life cycle.

The Bombardier EMBRIO concept is one of several concepts proposed by Canadian based Bombardier Recreational Products and it received the Gold Award at the 2003 Annual Design Awards (Industrial Design Society of America & Business Week Magazine).

Dimensions and weight:

48.75" x 27.5" x 47.5" 360 lb

124 cm x 70 cm x 120 cm 164 kg

This hydrogen fuel cell powered, gyroscopically balanced, one-wheeled recreational and commuting vehicle provides an extraordinary vision of the kind of personal transport we could be using 20 years from now.

The design brief for Bombadier EMBRIO Concept was to "create highly innovative, functional and exciting products to exceed people's recreational needs" and find the "next thing" in recreational vehicles. The result is a futuristic and minimalistic one-wheeler that is as about far away as you can get from the conventional image of a uni-cycle - a mode of transport normally associated with circuses and street parades.

Lotus 2-Eleven 2007

2008-02-03T17:14:00.000-08:00

Lotus unveiled the new Lotus 2-Eleven. Launched at the 77th annual Geneva International Motor Show, the Lotus 2-Eleven is aimed at the true track day enthusiast, taking Colin Chapman’s philosophy of ‘Performance Through Lightweight’ to its most extreme level yet.

Weighing in at just 670 kg (1,477 lbs) with 255 PS (252 bhp / 188 kw) on tap courtesy of its supercharged and intercooler 1796 cc engine, the Lotus 2-Eleven boasts a power to weight ratio similar to that of a 1960’s Formula One car. Designed with the most serious of track day enthusiasts in mind, the Lotus 2-Eleven offers race car levels of performance coupled with legendary Lotus Ride and Handling to deliver a truly outstanding track day car.

Said Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive Officer for Group Lotus plc: “The Lotus 2-Eleven takes our core brand values to the extreme. It is the ultimate track day vehicle - not only phenomenally quick, but also very user-friendly. In short, the 2-Eleven delivers everything that the modern track day warrior and clubman racer demands, and more.”

Production of the Lotus 2-Eleven is scheduled to commence in April 2007 at the award winning and world-class Lotus manufacturing facility at Lotus Headquarters in Hethel, Norfolk, UK. The 2-Eleven build will be completed in dedicated Lotus Sport workshops and each vehicle will be given a Lotus Sport build plate.

The Lotus 2-Eleven is initially available in Launch Edition specification only, which boasts a dynamic and unique three-way Lotus Sport colour scheme complete with decal pack. The Launch Edition is available in two versions - Road Going Version (UK Single Vehicle Approval) fitted with front and rear lights, exhaust catalyst, single plane rear wing and other items to achieve compliance with UK road legal requirements and Track Only Version with an enhanced aerodynamics package including high downforce single plane carbon fibre rear wing, high downforce front splitter, brake lights and rear indicators and FIA approved driver’s race seat.

The recommended selling price (incl UK VAT) of the Lotus 2-Eleven Launch Edition will be £39,995. In the UK, the SVA version (Single Vehicle Type Approval) which includes delivery, Pre Delivery Inspection, first service, number plates, first registration fee, valet, 12 months’ Road Fund Licence, a full tank of fuel and SVA test costs an additional £1,100. The Lotus 2- Eleven is only available as a track-only option outside of the UK at 49,575 excluding local tax in mainland Europe. Pricing in Japan, South Africa and Lotus other international markets will be announced shortly.

The Lotus 2-Eleven in more detail

Engine
The supercharged and intercooled 1796 cc engine in the Lotus 2-Eleven has a maximum power output of 255 PS (252 bhp / 188 kw) at 8000 rpm and a torque figure of approximately 242 Nm (179 lb/ft) at 7000 rpm. This significant amount of extra power and torque now available together with the VVTL-i variable cam system ensures that there is a smooth and linear surge of power from low engine speeds all the way to the maximum 8000 rpm. The Roots-type Eaton M62 supercharger (with a sealed-for-life internal mechanism meaning that it does not require the use of the engine’s oil) is run from the crankshaft and has an integral bypass valve for part load operation. Four high capacity injectors and an up rated fuel pump add additional fuel under hard acceleration or high speed driving.

An Accusump (engine oil accumulator unit) is included in the whole package as an oil reservoir back-up for extreme track use ensuring that, under those conditions, the engine oil pressure remains constant.

Twin oil coolers complete the powertrain package.

Transmission
A sports-type clutch plate and heavy duty clutch cover transfer the engine power and torque to the lightweight aluminium C64 six-speed gearbox (with an aluminium casing) – with the same perfectly spaced ratios as the Exige S. An open type differential is fitted as standard. The Lotus switchable Traction Control System (LTCS) works through the engine, reducing power to maintain traction; it is active above 8 km/h (5 mph) and reacts much more quickly than many brake-based systems.

Chassis & Integral Safety Features
The Lotus 2-Eleven uses a unique high-sided variant of the Lotus Elise lightweight chassis structure featuring epoxy bonded aluminium alloy extrusions with modified Exige S based running gear. This strong and stiff package features a comprehensive safety system with a glass fibre reinforced composite front crash structure allied to a high sill chassis for side impact protection. Additional chassis safety features include an FIA compliant 6-point rollover structure with integral harness mounts and lightweight galvanized steel rear sub frame incorporating a further crushable structure.

Body
The Lotus 2-Eleven features all new ultra-lightweight (40 kg / 88 lbs) composite bodywork featuring core-mat technology. All external panels are bolted on for ease of removal, maintenance and repair.

Wheels & Tyres
5-spoke lightweight forged black alloy wheels (front 7Jx16, rear 8J x 17) are shod with Lotus Sport specific Yokohama A048 R LTS tyres (front 195/50 R16, rear 225/45 R17), designed to maximise grip and achieve the exacting ride and handling targets set by Lotus.

Brakes
The brake system includes 288 mm cast iron cross drilled and ventilated discs, upgraded Pagid RS14 sports brake pads set into the brake calipers (aluminium alloy AP Racing 2-piston at the front and Brembo single sliding piston at the rear), high grade silicone brake fluid and stainless steel braided hoses. In addition, the proven Lotus track tuned servo-assisted fourchannel ABS system enhances braking performance and minimises stopping distance without taking over from the skill of the driver.

Suspension
Fully independent suspension utilising unequal length wishbones; Öhlins 2-way adjustable dampers with coil over springs and Lotus Sport adjustable front anti-roll bar. A rear double shear track control arm brace is provided to cope with the expected kerb abuse during heavy track day driving, with unique steering arms and front upper wishbones to suit ultra-low ride height.

Reference: Lotus Cars Press Release

Toyota RiN concept

2008-02-03T17:07:00.000-08:00

Designers have lofty goals for their concepts, and the Toyota RiN is no different. With a massive greenhouse, seats that keep your spine in its proper position, an oxygen-level conditioner and humidifier, plus a meter that gauges your mood through the steering wheel and then displays a color based on your psychological state, Toyota thinks it can make better, happier motorists, that are more aware of nature and the society that infuses it. Hyperbolize much?

Other interesting features include the leaf-shaped gas and brake, glass that makes the world outside seem brighter and sliding doors with glass that wraps underneath the floor providing a view of the road below. Plus, you can motor along (supposedly) knowing that when your headlights are on, you won't blind any pedestrians or oncoming motorists because the light is thoughtfully being distributed to avoid such stresses.

Press Release:
The RiN focuses on "increased comfort" and "serene, healthy living". Through their relationship to the vehicle, drivers are encouraged to reevaluate themselves and, furthermore, to turn their attention to society and nature, producing a healthy rhythm for both mind and body.

* Promotes a healthier well-being thanks to features such as seats that help maintain good back posture and image displays aligned with the driver's psychological state that are conveyed within the meter cluster of the "mood-training" steering control.

* In addition to featuring comfortable, heated seats, an oxygen-level conditioner and pinpoint humidifier, uses green glass that reduces infiltration of ultraviolet and infrared light and makes the surroundings seem brighter and clearer to increase cabin comfort.

* Creates a feeling of harmony with the surrounding environment by using sliding doors with a low window that lets you view nature at ground level, as well as headlights with light distribution control that take into consideration pedestrians and vehicles coming in the opposite direction.

* Uses the motif of the deep-rooted and tall-growing Yakusugi tree (a variety of Japanese cypress) for its exterior and interior design to express both "harmony with nature" and "healthy mind and body".

* Contrasts deep green with beige in its interior color scheme to richen the complexions of those onboard and evoke a healthy mental and physical feeling.

Reference: autoblog

Guo Guangchang

2008-01-29T01:10:00.000-08:00

Net Worth: $4.85 billion
Age: 40

Company: Fosun
Industry: NA
City: Shanghai

Shanghai's richest resident took his main holding company, Fosun International, public in August; says it was 6th-most-oversubscribed offering in Hong Kong stock exchange history at the time; reportedly attracted such investors as legendary Li Ka-shing. Chairman and chief executive cofounded Fosun 1992 with fellow Fudan University grads; soon moved into pharmaceuticals, real estate. Other interests now include iron, steel, retail.

Hui Wing Mau

2008-01-29T01:08:00.000-08:00

Net Worth: $7.3 billion
Age: 57

Company: Shimao Group
Industry: NA
City: Hong Kong

Fujian-born real estate tycoon had 26 projects under construction in 17 mainland cities, as of July. Recently opened Hyatt on the Bund, overlooking Shanghai's financial district. In October announced restructuring in which his Hong Kong-listed Shimao Property Holdings will become biggest shareholder in Shanghai-listed affiliate Shimao Shanghai.

Yang Huiyan

2008-01-29T01:05:00.000-08:00

Net Worth: $16.2 billion
Age: 26

Company: Country Garden
Industry: NA
City: Shunde

Yang Huiyin received 58% stake in real estate developer Country Garden from its main founder, her father, Yeung Kwok Keung. She's now Asia's richest woman and world's youngest female billionaire, thanks to soaring value of newly public company.

Mikhail Prokhorov

2008-01-29T01:02:00.000-08:00

Net Worth: $ 5.4 billion

Primary Source: Norilsk Nickel (quote), metals
Age: 39
Marital Status: bachelor

This Moscow State Financial Institute graduate worked in one of the big Soviet foreign trade banks and teamed up with Vladimir Potanin to take over the assets of two foreign trade banks being liquidated. The venture, later named Interros, grew through the 1990s to include metals, engineering, agriculture and media; since 2001, Prokhorov has been chairman of its most valuable holding, metals conglomerate Norilsk Nickel. he has a slightly larger stake than his longtime partner. A bachelor, Prokhorov is often featured in gossip columns about blow-out parties on the French Riviera. But then it's back to work at his metals plant on the Arctic Circle.

Viktor Vekselberg

2008-01-29T01:01:00.000-08:00

Net Worth: $ 5.9 billion

Primary Source: TNK-BP, SUAL-Holding , oil, metals
Age: 47
Marital Status: married, son and daughter

The Ukrainian-born oil baron studied at the Moscow Institute of Railroad Engineering in the 1970s. He went into business in 1988, trading personal computers; he teamed up with former classmate who had emigrated to the U.S. in 1989. He led Russia's first successful hostile takeover in 1994, when his Renova firm took control of the Vladimir Tractor Factory and installed a Russian-born Harvard M.B.A. to run it. Later he bought medium-size aluminum smelters and bauxite mines, united them into the $1 billion (sales) SUAL Holding in 1996; now selling a 25% stake to a foreign investment group. But Vekselberg made the bulk of his fortune when he teamed up with Mikhail Fridman's Alfa Group to take over TNK, Russia's third-largest oil company, in 1997-1999. Last year TNK merged with the Russian operations of BP, giving Vekselberg and other TNK owners $6.35 billion in cash and BP stock. In February, he bought the Forbes Faberge collection for an undisclosed sum and returned it to Russia.

Roman Abramovich

2008-01-29T01:00:00.001-08:00

Net Worth: $ 12.5 billion

Primary Source: Sibneft, Russian Aluminum (quote), oil, metals
Age: 37
Marital Status: Married for the second time, five children

Abramovich lost his parents as a child, dropped out of college and then made a fortune in a series of controversial oil export deals in the early 1990s. His fortune really took off in 1995 when he teamed up with Russia's most powerful crony capitalist, Boris Berezovsky, to take over oil giant Sibneft at a fraction of its market value. When Berezovsky fled Russia in 2000 to escape fraud charges, he sold out to Abramovich. Now, besides Sibneft, Abramovich has interests in aluminum, TV and automobiles--all held by British-registered Millhouse Capital. He is spending his fortune conspicuously, including $400 million to buy London's Chelsea football club and some of the world's best players.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky

2008-01-29T00:58:00.000-08:00

Net Worth: $ 15.2 billion

Primary Source: Yukos (quote), oil
Age: 40
Marital Status: Married for a second time, four children

Russia's richest person has tried his hand at a number of trades. He has worked as a carpenter, an official in the Komsomol (the Soviet Communist Party's youth organization) and as deputy head of the Russian Fuel and Energy Ministry. In 1995, his Menatep group bought control of oil giant Yukos at a fraction of its market value. Khodorkovsky has also made waves with his pen: In 1992, he co-authored (with Leonid Nevzlin, No. 18 in our list) a book titled Man With a Ruble, in which he called on Russians to come to terms with the rise of the new rich. As the Kommersant newspaper wrote at the time: "The book presents entrepreneurs as the driving force of the economy, the foundation of the state and the guarantors of society's well-being." Twelve years later, after being arrested on charges of fraud and tax evasion, Khodorkovsky picked up the pen again, publishing an essay, "The Crisis of Liberalism in Russia," in which he wrote: "For many (though certainly not all) of our entrepreneurs who made their fortunes in the 1990s, Russia is not their native country. It's just a wide-open hunting ground." Such penitence has not helped Khodorkovsky to hang on to his fortune. Since his arrest in October 2003, Khodorkovsky's net worth has dropped thanks to a decline in Yukos' capitalization.

Kunio Busujima

2008-01-27T19:31:00.001-08:00

Age: 80
Fortune: self made
Source: Gaming

Net Worth: 5.2

Country Of Citizenship: Japan
Residence: Kiryu, Japan, Asia & Australia
Industry: Gambling /Leisure
Marital Status: married, 4 children

Kiryu Commerce & Technical School, Bachelor of Arts / Science

Worked for rival pachinko manufacturer Heiwa before founding Sankyo in 1966. One of the few listed companies in Japan's pachinko gambling industry, Sankyo is the second-largest maker of pachinko pinball machines. Thanks in part to its quick delivery of new models, company sales rose by 54% last year to $2 billion and profits rose 68% to $399 million. Avid golf player Busujima owns an 18-hole golf course where his company sponsors a female professional golf tournament every year.

Yasuo Takei

2008-01-27T19:26:00.000-08:00

Yasuo Takei was born in January 4, 1930, died in August 11, 2006, was the founder and former chairman of Takefuji company, Japan's number one consumer finance group.

According to a Forbes survey in June 2006, Takei was the second-wealthiest person in Japan (after Masayoshi Son) - he possessed an estimated net worth of US$5.6 billion.

Founder of consumer lender Takefuji was arrested in 2003 for ordering wiretaps on journalists critical of company. Pleaded guilty but sentence was suspended. Then ordered to reduce family's stake in company from more than 60% to less than 25%.

Masayoshi Son

2008-01-27T19:21:00.000-08:00

Masayoshi Son was born in August 11, 1957 in Tosu, Saga Prefecture, Japan. He is a Korean Japanese, whose grandfather came from Korea to Japan, and the founder and current chief executive officer of Softbank Capital, and the chief executive officer of SoftBank Mobile (the renamed, effective October 1, 2006, Vodafone K. K. ). According to the Forbes magazine, his net worth is 7 billion dollars and he the richest man in Japan.

Chief executive of Softbank, Japan's leading Internet and telecom-services company. Thanks in part to several years of aggressive promotion, his IP phone/ADSL service now has more than 5 million subscribers. In March the company posted its first annual profit in 5 years. Stock doubled in past 12 months. Recently bought Vodafone's Japan unit for $17 billion.

Lee Kun-Hee

2008-01-27T19:12:00.001-08:00

Lee Kun-Hee was born in January 9, 1942. He is the current chairman of Samsung Group. Lee has an Economics degree from Waseda University in Tokyo and an MBA from George Washington University in the United States. He speaks Korean, English, and Japanese. In 1996, Lee became a member of the International Olympic Committee. With an estimated net wealth of $3.4 billion, he and his family rank among the Forbes richest people in the world. He is the third son of Samsung Group founder Lee Byung-chul.

Chung Mong-Koo

2008-01-27T19:00:00.000-08:00

Chung Mong-koo was born in March 19, 1938 in Seoul. Curently as a chairman of Hyundai Motor Group. He graduated from Hanyang University in 1967. In 1999, he took over as head of Hyundai, succeeding his father and founder Chung Ju-yung. In 2000, he attracted widespread attention when he defied his father Chung Ju-yung's order to step down. He was named by BusinessWeek as one of the top managers for 2004.

In 2006, he and his family were targeted by the Seoul Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office as part of an investigation into embezzeling 100 billion won ($106 million USD) from Hyundai to create slush funds. Despite a travel ban, Chung left South Korea in April 2006. Chung was arrested on 28 April 2006 on charges related to embezzlement and other corruption. He was convicted of embezzlement and breach of fiduciary duty on 5 February 2007 and sentenced to three years of prison. Chung plans to appeal the sentence and remains free on bail. On September 6, 2007, Chief judge Lee Jae-Hong ruled to suspend the sentence of Chung Mong-koo (in consideration of the huge economic impact of imprisonment), ordering instead of a 3-year jail term, the performance of community service and a $1 billion donation to charity.

Chung Mong-Koo personal wealth are well above $2.2 billion. The Hyundai Motor chairman is out on bail after being sentenced in February to a 3-year prison term on embezzlement charges. Remains chairman while appealing. Apparently won court approval in April for overseas business trips. Received nation's biggest dividend check last year.

Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong

2008-01-25T00:05:00.000-08:00

Lim Goh Tong started his tender age of 16 with his father passed away and he was forced to take over his father’s petty trading business. There were all sorts of problems with the business, on some days he failed to make even a single sale. In 1937, the year the Japanese launched their war of aggression on China, he at 20 years old, bravely set off for Malaya with a small suitcase and 175 dollars (100 from his mother and 75 from his own savings).

In Malaya, he eventually went into iron mining; became a middleman for heavy machinery trading; and took on government contracts for development projects. You have correctly guessed that he had already made himself a fortune by then. However, in 1964 when he was a sub-contractor for part of the Cameron hydro-electric dam project in Cameron Highlands, an evening stroll hit him upon the idea of developing a mountaintop resort in Malaysia to cater to city dwellers seeking an escape from the tropical heat.

After 40 years, today his publicly-traded Genting holds the only license to operate a casino in Malaysia; his Star Cruises touts itself as the operator of the world’s “most modern and exciting world-class fleet.”

He was renowned for his vision and courage in transforming Genting Highlands from an unexplored hilltop into one of the world's most successful Casino resorts. He was once the 3rd richest man in Malaysia with a net worth estimated to be 4.2 billion USD, making him the 204th richest person in the billionaire list compiled by Forbes.

Tan Sri Ananda Krisnan

2008-01-24T23:52:00.000-08:00

According to Wikepedia, the free Internet encyclopaedia, Tatparanandam Ananda Krishnan was born in 1938 in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur to a Tamil immigrant family from Sri Lanka

Nicknamed TAK, Krishnan is a Malaysian businessman and philanthropist and he is estimated to worth about US$7.4 billion, making him the second wealthiest man in Southeast Asia (and world's 99th).

Krishnan hates public exposure and is known to maintain a very low profile for a person of his stature. However, his hugely successful business activities always thrust him into the limelight and his name represents a huge business empire.

Currently, he has business interests in entertainment (Astro), space (3 Satellites), oil, power, shipping, telecommunications (Maxis - Malaysia, Aircell - India), property and gaming (Pan Pools Malaysia). His companies operate in most parts of South East Asia. A quarter of his wealth comes from the gambling business (lottery, horse-racing wagering). He is also said to be behind the world's largest indoor Water Park in Tropical Islands, Germany with former Genting Group executive Colin Au. He is also pondering an online lottery venture in Russia, Wikepedia said.

Said to have an extraordinary entrepreneurial flair and being far-sighted, it was Krishnan who sold former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad the idea of the 88-storey Petronas Twin Towers, the world's second tallest building, which stake he has now sold off. “Ananda Krishnan has been called everything from a recluse to a humble, silent worker. Not much is known about him and his tightly guarded private life because he maintains such a low profile,” Wikepedia said. He is known to be apolitical but also a close friend of both Dr. Mahathir and Mahathir's former arch-foe Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. He brokered the peace deal and healed the political rift between them a few years ago.

Despite his wealth he still maintains and stays in his family's Minangkabau styled mansion in Kuala Lumpur. He was one of the first tycoons to own a Dassault Falcon private jet.

Robert Kuok

2008-01-13T01:47:00.000-08:00

Age: 82
Fortune: self made
Source: Diversified

Net Worth: 5.0

Country Of Citizenship: Malaysia
Residence: Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Asia & Australia
Industry: Agriculture
Marital Status: married, 8 children

Raffles College, Bachelor of Arts / Science

Got his start trading rice, sugar and wheat flour in Malaysia in 1949 and in Singapore in 1953. Today heads multinational Kuok Group with interests ranging from shipping to real estate to media. His Malaysia International Shipping Corporation is the leading dry bulk shipper in the Pacific basin; his Transmile Group, which transports freight by air, has landing rights in China and India. In Hong Kong owns modern warehouse and cargo distribution centers; and in China, plants for processing edible oils and 10 Coca-Cola bottling plants. The group also owns and manages extensive sugar and oil palm plantations, mills and refineries in Malaysia and Indonesia. Has 38 hotels throughout Asia Pacific including the luxurious Shangri-La.

Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary

2008-01-13T01:32:00.000-08:00

Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary has become the latest Malaysian to join the ranks of world's richest, according to the Forbes 2007 list of US dollar billionaires.

The inclusion of the 55-year-old, who made his fortune in the rice and sugar trade, increased the number of Malaysians in the list to nine from eight last year.

He was ranked as the seventh richest Malaysian and 754th in the world.

EARLY LIFE
Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary was born into a mid-low class family of Hadhrami Arab descent in north of Peninsular Malaysia; whose house was without necessities and luxuries. His highest education was only until form five, and he never went to university. A whole lot of his knowledge and experience was gained through his own entrepreneurship experience during his youth time.

Due in part his family's mediocre-to-poor background, Syed Mokhtar al Bukhary had to step into the working world in his early life, while pursuing his primary and secondary studies. Syed Mokhtar helped his mother planting and selling vegetables in the market and also selling roti canai. His numeric knowledge was used to help his father in doing daily book keeping.

After finishing school, Syed Mokhtar helped his father in breeding cow business but only to see the business washed away by foot and mouth disease. Nevertheless, he took over the business and start over by selling meats. He then move on to packaging the meats and start selling them wholesale. His determination paid off and the business started to take off.

Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Shah bin Syed Nor Al-Bukhary is the richest Bumiputra corporate figure in Malaysia. With involvement in diversified business areas which include transportation and logistics, plantations, property development, defense and armory as well as engineering and power generation. He has a net worth estimated to be US$2.00 billion according to Forbes, making him the 7th richest Malaysian.

Carlos Slim

2008-01-13T01:24:00.000-08:00

It was said to be that Bill Gates will be the richest for ever!! But latest news about a Mexican telecom billionaire Carlos Slim has overtaken Microsoft founder Bill Gates as the world's wealthiest man with riches of $US59 billion.
Fortune, which tracks the performance of the world's top companies, said Slim has increased his net worth by $US12 billion so far this year based on the market value of his companies listed on stock exchanges.
In an online profile of Slim, 67, Fortune said he had a fortune of $US59 billion based on the value of his public holdings at the end of July.
Gates, the Microsoft founder and perennial No. 1, had a net worth estimated to be at least $US58 billion," the magazine said.
Slim, the son of a Lebanese immigrant, owns Latin America's largest cell phone company America Movil.
Fortune said Slim's companies, ranging from a restaurant chain to a bank, made up a third of the Mexican stock market and his family's holdings represented more than 5 percent of Mexico's gross domestic product last year.
In July, a respected Mexican financial journalist announced that Slim had overtaken Gates as the world's richest man but the magnate said he did not care.
"It's water off a duck's back to me," the cigar-smoking Slim told foreign correspondents last week. "I don't know if I'm No. 1, No. 20, or No. 2000. It doesn't matter."
Gates and billionaire U.S. investor Warren Buffett, who was the second-richest person in the world until Slim overtook him this year, have been giving more of their money to charity in recent years.
Slim also backs philanthropic causes and last week announced a $US300 million plan to build 100 schools in Mexico, but says he does more good by creating wealth and jobs through his own companies.

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah

2008-01-12T22:06:00.000-08:00

Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam,GCMG(born July 15 1946) is the 29th Sultan of Brunei the eldest son of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the previous Sultan of Brunei, and Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit. With an estimated net worth of $30 billion, he is cited as one of the richest men in the world.

PERSONAL WEALTH
The Sultan has a sizable private fortune derived from his total control over the national economy's finances and the appropriation of the state's sizeable oil revenues to bankroll his extravagant lifestyle. He is one of the richest people in the world, with an estimated net worth of $22 billion.

PERSONAL MOTOCARS
The Sultan is famous for his vast automobile collection. In 1998British car magazine published undercover photographs of the Sultan's cars, which included unique modifications of Ferraris and Bentleys. It has been said that he has at least 3,000 to 5,000 cars and has bought over U.S.$4 billion worth of cars. The number purchased by his business interests and the number actually used by himself and his family differ greatly. According to Guinness World Records the Sultan's personal private collection has 500 Rolls-Royces — the largest collection of that marque in the world. During the 1990s, his family accounted for almost half of all Rolls-Royce purchases, bulk buying slightly modified vehicles for diplomats and adding unique cars to their own collection. He also owns the very last Rolls-Royce Phantom VI, a 1992 state landaulette.
Among his collection are the Porsche Carrera GT Lamborghini Diablo Jota,Porsche 959 Bugatti EB110 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Maybach 62 Jaguar XJR-15 and six Dauer 962's. He is also the owner of six models of the Ferrari FX, the original red show model of the Bentley Continental R, two fully operational versions of the Ferrari Mythos concept car, both of the , the only Right hand drive Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR in the world, five McLaren F1's including both black LM models and three Cizeta-Moroder V16T cars. He also possesses a Formula One car as driven by every Formula 1 World Drivers Champion since the 1980 Formula One season, particularly the ones driven in the last race for each season. A prime example of this is Jacques Villeneuve's Williams FW19 which still bears the collision damage courtesy of Michael Schumacher in the 1997 European Grand Prix.
He has a special interest in buying one-of-a-kind concept cars, including the Bentley Java and Bentley Dominator 4x4, whilst leaving slightly more common race cars such as the Aston Martin AM3 or the modified Mercedes-Benz 300SL to his brother Jefri. The collection of vehicles was for the most part stored and serviced in five aircraft hangars, where specialist teams from the various manufacturers would maintain the collection.
The Daily Mirror (UK) reported on October 26th 2007. That the Sultan owned 531 Mercedes Benzs, 367 , 362 Bentleys, 185 BMWs, 177 Jaguars, 160 Porsches, 130 Rolls-Royces, and 20 Lamborghinis. For personal use, the sultan has a Boeing 747-400 furnished with gold plated furniture with an estimated value of $233 million including $3 million on furniture, six smaller planes and two helicopters.
He also operates a $3 billion theme park called Jerudong Park, which in the past used to be free of charge.
Despite his personal extravagance, he has attempted to share the country's oil wealth. In a country mockingly dubbed the "Shellfare State" (in reference to the significant influence of the Shell Oil Company citation needed, Bruneians have free education and medical services. There is no personal or corporation tax in Brunei.
He once bought and donated a state-of-the-art team bus to Newcastle United but took it back when Kevin Keegan quit as manager.
Some details given to the Privy Council were released with information on the salaries of the Sultan's staff: His badmington instructor was paid 1.8 million euros (similar salary to masagists), the staff in charge of his exotic birds were paid 70,000 euros, residence personnel in his residences were paid around 6.4 and 10.5 million euros, and his 5 public relations assistants were given 8.3 million euros each.
His official residence is the Istana Nurul Iman.

source : wikipedia

Oprah Winfrey - The Most Powerful Women on Earth

2008-01-12T22:03:00.000-08:00

Oprah Gail Winfrey (born January 29, 1954) is the American multiple-Emmy Award winning host of The Oprah Winfrey Show, the highest-rated talk show in television history.She is also an influential book critic, an Academy Award-nominated actress, and a magazine publisher. She has been ranked the richest African American of the 20th century, the most philanthropic African American of all time, and the world's only black billionaire for three straight years.She is also, according to some assessments, the most influential woman in the world.
Born in rural Mississippi to a poor unwed teenaged mother, and later raised in a Milwaukee ghetto, Winfrey was raped at the age of nine, and at fourteen, gave birth to a son who died in infancy. Sent to live with the man she calls her father, a barber in Tennessee, Winfrey landed a job in radio while still in high school and began co-anchoring the local evening news at the age of 19. Her emotional ad-lib delivery eventually got her transferred to the daytime talk show arena, and after boosting a third rated local Chicago talk show to first place, she launched her own production company and became internationally syndicated.
Credited with creating a more intimate confessional form of media communication, she is thought to have popularized and revolutionized the tabloid talk show genre pioneered by Phil Donahue, which a Yale study claimed broke 20th century taboos and allowed gays, transsexuals, and transgender people to enter the mainstream. By the mid 1990s she had reinvented her show with a focus on literature, self-improvement, and spirituality. Though criticized for unleashing confession culture and promoting controversial self-help fads, she is generally admired for overcoming adversity to become a benefactor to others.

Honda Stream 1.8 i-Vtec

2008-01-12T21:43:00.004-08:00

Engine

Engine Type
4 Cylinders, 16 Valve, SOHC i-VTEC
Fuel Supply System
PGM-FI
Bore & Stroke (mm)
81.0 x 87.3
Displacement (cc)
1,799
Compression Ratio
10.5:1
Maximum Power [PS (kW) @ rpm]
140 (103) @ 6,300
Maximum Torque [Nm (kg-m) @ rpm]
174 (17.7) @ 4,300
Drive-by-Wire (DBW)
•
Transmission

Automatic Transmission Type
Electronically Controlled 5-Speed Auto, 1-Speed Reverse
Automatic Clutch
Torque Converter
Drive Wheels
Front
Steering

Type
Rack and Pinion with Power Assisted (Electric Power Steering)
Overall Ratio
14.23
Turning Radius at Wheel (m)
5.8
Turns, Lock to Lock
2.7
Braking

Braking System Type (Front)
Ventilated Disc
Braking System Type (Rear)
Drum in Disc
Parking Brake Type
Foot Brake
Brake Circuit
Diagonal
Suspension

Suspension System (Front)
MacPherson Strut
Suspension System (Rear)
Reactive Link Double Wishbone
Tyres and Wheels

Tyre Size
205 / 65 R15 94S
Wheel Size
15 x 6JJ
Dimensions

Overall [length x width x height] (mm)
4,570 x 1,695 x 1,545
Wheelbase (mm)
2,740
Treads (Front) (mm)
1,470
Treads (Rear) (mm)
1,470
Ground Clearance (mm)
150
Curb Weight (kg)
1,385
Fuel Tank (litres)
55

Mitsubishi Evo-7

2008-01-12T21:43:00.003-08:00

Toyota MR2 @ Spyder - My Dream Car

2008-01-12T21:43:00.001-08:00

Ferrari

2008-01-12T21:42:00.001-08:00

Ferrari is passion on wheels, and that passion comes alive in the articles we’ve created. Every significant Ferrari car is profiled, more than 100 models in all, from the very first machines to wear the prancing horse in 1947 to today’s thrilling lineup of V-8 and V-12 coupes and convertibles.Our journey proceeds along the three paths that make up the Ferrari cars legend: the road cars, the sports-racing cars, and the F1 cars.Clothed in graceful bodywork by Enzo Ferrari’s friend, Battista “Pinin” Farina, the early road cars were only slightly tamed versions of his racing cars. Indeed, the very first Ferrari road car, the 166 MM, took part of its name from the Mille Miglia, the famed 1,000-mile Italian road race won by a Ferrari in 1948. The theme continued through such wondrous stallions as the Ferrari 340 America and 375 MM of the early 1950s. These cars could be driven to the track, compete for the checkered flag, and carry their driver to dinner that night. This was the romance of the dual-purpose sports car, an ideal that culminated with the Ferrari 250 GT SWB coupe of 1959.

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Al-Saud

2008-01-12T21:41:00.001-08:00

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Al-Saud ranked as the richest man in Saudi Arabia, and the Middle East, in the latest list of the world's richest people published by Forbes magazine. With $20.3 billion (SR76.3 billion), the prince ranked No. 13 out of nearly 1,000 billionaires profiled by the magazine. Twelve other billionaires make their home in the Kingdom, it was reported.
A nephew of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Prince Alwaleed built his fortune through successful investments with his own Kingdom Holding Company, and Forbes reports that his public and private holdings are growing more valuable. The prince has significant holdings in both Saudi and foreign companies.
Other Saudi billionaires on the list include construction and oil magnate Mohammed Al-Amoudi, with $8 billion (SR30 billion); contractor Maan Al-Sanea, with $7.5 billion (SR28.2 billion); aviation and media tycoon Saleh Kamel, with $3.5 billion (SR13.1 billion); and several members of the Al-Rajhi family, owners of the Kingdom's most profitable bank.
Globally, the number of billionaires reached a record 946, Forbes said.
India became home to the most billionaries in Asia, pushing Japan back to the No. 2 spot. Lakshmi N. Mittal, the London-based steel magnate who spearheaded the takeover of European steel maker Arcelor SA, was the richest Asian - and the world's fifth-wealthiest - with a net worth estimated at $32 billion (SR120.3 billion), the magazine said.
India added 14 new billionaires since last year to bring its total on the list to 36, with a combined wealth of $191 billion (SR718 billion), Forbes said, contrasting sharply with the 400 million Indians who still live on less than a dollar a day.
Japan's 24 billionaires had an estimated combined net worth $64 billion (SR240.6 billion), according to the list, while Hong Kong came in the third spot with 21 billionaires, and China was fourth with 20.
The United States may still have 44 percent of the world's total billionaires, but many of them are dropping through the ranks and are being overtaken by business tycoons from Asia and other emerging economies, including Russia and Mexico, the Forbes list showed.
Only five Americans were in the top 20 that included three Indians. However, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett remained the richest and second-richest private citizens in the world, as they have been for several years.
Hong Kong-based business tycoon Li Ka-shing was Asia's second-wealthiest with a net worth of $23 billion, the list showed.
Ranking second and third among Indians were the brothers Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani, who split their father's business after months of feuding in 2005.
Mukesh Ambani, whose Reliance Industries is largely focused on petroleum and petrochemicals, was No. 14 with wealth totaling $20.1 billion. His brother Anil, whose diversified business interests include telecommunications, power generation and finance, ranked 18th with an estimated net worth of $18.2 billion.
The methodology of the rankings remains similar to the practice Forbes followed in previous years.
The worth of an individual's holdings in public companies was based on the closing stock price on February 9, and the value of private companies was estimated by evaluating comparable public firms in the industry and by consulting with experts in the field.

William Henry Gates III

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William Henry Gates III (born October 28, 1955 is an American entrepreneur, software executive, philanthropist and chairman of Microsoft, the software company he founded with Paul Allen. During his career at Microsoft he has held the positions of CEO and chief software architect, and he remains the largest individual shareholder with more than 8% of the common stock.
Gates is one of the best-known entrepreneurs of the personal computer revolution. Although he is widely admired,his business tactics have been criticized as anti-competitive and in some instances ruled as such in court.Since amassing his fortune, Gates has pursued a number of philanthropic endeavors, donating large amounts of money to various charitable organizations and scientific research programs through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, established in 2000.
The annual Forbes magazine's list of The World's Billionaires has ranked Gates as the richest person in the world from 1995 to 2007, with recent estimates putting his net worth over $56 billion USD. When family wealth is considered, his family ranks second behind the Walton family, heirs of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. In July 2007, Fortune magazine reported that the increase in value of Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim's holdings of stock caused him to surpass Bill Gates as the world's richest man.Forbes maintains that Slim is second to Gates as of its last calculation of billionaire fortunes. Forbes does not plan to recalculate Slim's wealth until next year.

Angela Merkel

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For the second year in a row, Angela Merkel, the first woman to become chancellor of Germany, ranks No. 1 on our list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women. She continued to impress the world with her cool leadership at two back-to-back summits. First, she stuck to her principles, getting G-8 leaders to agree to significant cuts in carbon emissions, among other things. Merkel later corralled European Union countries into an agreement on a treaty to replace the E.U. constitution.
Meanwhile, China's vice premier, Wu Yi (No. 2), continues to help lead a government that oversees an economy whose gross domestic product may soon eclipse Germany's, making it the third-biggest economy in the world. Wu recently stared down U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson when he made myriad demands, including a revaluation of the yuan, in recent strategic economic talks with the U.S.
But China faces enormous challenges in improving its rickety social, legal and economic infrastructure, which now has to contend with an overheated stock market, unsafe and shoddy products and severe pollution.