BILLIONAIRES

Do you want to be included on next year's list of billionaires? Charles G. Hill of Dustbury.com has the answer... ;) I am glad to see so many new individuals on the list. There are 671 billionaires in the world at the moment.

In just the last two years, we have added an astonishing 215 new names to the ranks of the world's billionaires. In 2003 we found 476 billionaires. Today it's a record 671. Their aggregate net worth has grown from $1.4 trillion to $2.2 trillion. The average net worth has also jumped, from $2.9 billion to $3.2 billion. To what do the billionaires owe their good fortunes? (Forbes, 03/10/05.)

I agree with Jourgy's statement: "Ikea = Incredible awesomeness," but it seems that the blogger hasn't understood the true meaning of capitalism. Maybe Jourgy should read Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal?

But back to Ingvar Kamprad... I dunno. Something about the fact that he's isn't so extravagent kind of reconfirms my whole decision to be in business. I always questioned it. Something about it just screams "selfish!" to me sometimes. (My gut is telling me no..., 03/11/05.)

Ingvar Kamprad of IKEA is number 6 on the list. Mr. Kamprad was for a moment (due to a weaker dollar) in 2004 the richest man in the world. From Edward Black's article, 'IKEA mania' puts founder on Forbes billionaires list.

The top ten did see a lot of movement with IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad moving from No 13 last year to No 6 in 2005. His success has come from the strength of the euro as well as the profile of IKEA around the world. He is now the richest European in the world. (The Scotsman, 03/11/05.)

Jeff Turrentine reports in his article, The Swede Smell Of Success, that the British design magazine, Icon, has named IKEA as the "most influential taste-maker in the world today." What do you think of IKEA's design? Do you have products from IKEA in your home?

For more on why IKEA's business idea has been so successful, read the following articles:

• Ingvar Kamprad: Ikea always was a disaster to assemble (The Sunday Times).

• The miracle of Älmhult (The Guardian).

I think the marketing department at IKEA has the right to decide on how the catalog should look, but it is a bit disturbing how they market their stuff in Muslim countries... Read Alastair Jamieson's article, Who wins IKEA battle of the sexes? For more on this issue, read the post, IKEA Dhimmitude Watch, at Little Green Footballs.

Do you think that Mark Cuban (#507) has read Edwin Locke's book, The Prime Movers: Traits of the Great Wealth Creators?