Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 03/11/09
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Tonight on AC360°, recession news flash: the rich are getting poorer. Just hours ago, Forbes magazine published its 2009 list of the world’s top billionaires. The take-away: there are fewer of them, and their fortunes are shrinking. It’s not a story that will generate much sympathy. We get that. But it’s still an interesting look at the recession’s reach. We’ll tell you who has lost the most and who has fallen the furthest. Tonight we want to keep the live blog on this one topic. So, please share your thoughts with us.
And, don't miss Erica Hill's webcast on billionaires during the commercials. Watch our WEBCAST
Want to know what else we're covering tonight? Read EVENING BUZZ
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Mark Zuckerberg is so young ...
So the guy who ran AIG into the ground has only $100 million of personal wealth remaining. Pitty. Let's take up a collection.
lol...worlds smallest violin! how cute!
Goodnight yall, talk to yall tomorrow.
The 24 year old has more time to make up for falling out of billionaire status.
The money has to be somewhere, now we just have to get out there and work hard to earn it.
AIG's founder better have lost money!!
Pardon me, but I'm not shedding tears over the losses of these people who make ridiculous amounts of money anyway.
So Bill Gates manage to get back to the top of the chart of billionaires. Even thought he lost 18 billions. Hey even Oprah was on the list even thought she was at number 234.
@Joe...you have to be kidding. The Obama girls were trotted out at every event. And their still waiting for the puppy which was also put out there for political reasons.
Where can I sign up to make 4.5 billion dollars a year?
I meant to say Forbes can't possibly know all of the debt of these guys. So how can they judge net worth?
Gates gives a lot of his money to his money to good causes. Not a Bloomberg fan.
Bill Gates once again the richest man on the planet ...
Is Oprah the only woman in that club?
This millionaire story is interesting. I thought it was funny they put Bill Gates face on a picture of our dollar – I wonder if that means our money will crash as much as Windows does?
Donald Trump is no shining example of a good business man. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He has had more than his share of bankrupticies and business failures, including casino hotels (when others were thriving).
He's a disrespectful, arrogant, windbag.
Bill Gates will lose the # 1 next year. China is working on their own operating system!
It's really easy to not feel bad for the rich losing money. It's also really easy to forget that many wealthy people are tremendous philanthropists, and their loss is a big loss to their causes...
Loving the money graphics. So was Bill Trumped by Buffett?
Oh.... to have 25 billion dollars to lose! Sigh!
@ David Gergen
Yes David we are waiting for your next poll. You got a great response to this one, more than half the board contributed. Always love to see David blog on the show.
C'mon this Forbes list isn't right because it doesn't consider debt.
Wow that is incredible how much money they lost! Bill Gates does do a lot of charity work with his money though he is not just some greedy billionaire!
These guys may be down on our level before the year is out! LOL
Erica, I love your jacket. It's gorgeous.
I like both Bill Gates (and his wife Melinda) and Oprah Winfrey. They're extremely charitable people.
I don't think you can justify using the word "poor" in relation to these people.
I'm not on the Forbe's List, but I'm not poor either and I give and participate in charity work as much as I can. At least Gates and Buffett contribute some of their wealth to charites so they are okay in my book!
I've had some personal experience working with Congressional staffers to explain our programs to them. When I found out how plus-ups worked in Congress I was appalled. Obama is partially correct that some earmarks do some good. But the vast majority are plain pork. Many are not even supported by the agencies that get the money to spend. They originate from lobbyists and are pushed by congressmen as a way of getting support and votes. It's corrupt to the core. Obama could have shown true courage and instead failed pathetically.
They keep saying that most support what Obama is doing. But- I'm in a small town in SE Texas and I have NOT found just ONE
Charles
David Gergan. While I agree with some of your comments, what message does the world want to hear. I can tell you. Tighten Financial regulations, close down shadow banking and offshore funds. These three things is what we want to hear.
Enough of the idiots on Wall Street wrecking ordinary peoples lives, by inventing ways to make money at our expense.
Good night all. Have a fantastic tomorrow... Peace and happiness.
I think the Bristol Palin marriage was a sham from the beginning. Now that its been several months they break up – surprised? No, expected it. Just surprised it lasted this long.
Two "real women"...smart, tough, and interesting.
Everyday is great to be a woman.
Miranda
Anderson and Erica, I'm happy to see the Beat 360 back in the broadcast rather than just the podcast. I missed it.
Also, Chris is right...the last webcast was just audio for me too.
Yea!! Beat 360 is back! Thank you!
@David Gergen,
I am in total agreement with you I think the President passing this bill was a show of his weakness!
I think he should have made a stand like I said and stood up to them and let them know he will not stand for all this over the top spending, his message should have been " I am the President Not You"
but he let Pelosi and her Democrats bully him which made me lose some respect for him!
He does need to pick his fights and the first one should have been to stand up to Congress!
Sanjay!!
Good job for interview Clinton on Larry King Live........ he is amazing doctor!!!
And two women Clinton-Obama are very powerful tonight!!!!!
"spoiler alert" – Mike Bloomberg is richer
usually I don't know who has the money cause I don't reallt care but I know it's him because he has Bloomberg network
good thing as a fellow New Yorker that he didn't get mixed up with that Maddoff...
I have a question regarding a comment I've heard Sanjay Gupta make twice this evening...he keeps saying that not a single person has been helped by stem cells? Does he mean to say that not a single person has been helped by embryonic stem cells? I only ask because my cousin had a stem cell transplant for treatment on Leukemia and its the reason he's alive today.
No surprise that Bristol and Levi broke up! Kinda saw it coming!
Crystal Palin and David Johnson broke up. Must be those good "family values" Sarah Palin teaches her kids so well.
@Courtney, read your blog, very thoughtful and i agree with you for the most part.
@Heather...we are praying for all of you and ny prayer to you too, being so close to the tragedy.
Hurray for women....who are truly making tremendous strides in USA, rest of the world, maybe not so much.
What is wrong with government owning a bank. Government owned financial institution (at least one strong one) would balance the greadiness of bank executives and the invisible rich investors behind the curtail.
Hi David
I had hoped Obama would veto the bill with all the earmarks but I can understand that there are bigger fights right now to fight. I just hope he does get rid of earmarks in the end.
I like Randi's ending on power duo of Obama and Clinton
"Today would be a good day to be woman"
Every day is a great day to be a woman. Today is no different.
Why are you guys talking about the Bristol/Levi break up? Her mother is no longer running for VP. It's a private matter.....leave them alone.
The whole story about Bristol being engaged was just that a story. Just a way to polish up the pregancy. She's only human and she got pregant out of wedlock just like millions of other women. Republican, Democrates, black, white. She is no different than anyone else.
Sarah Palin used her daughter and family in her campaign. She arranged an interview with her daughter. The media availed themselves of the opportunity to cover the daughter and her teenage boyfriend. Is anyone really surprised that this relationship dissolved? This is an example of poor parenting, not because the girl became pregnant, but because she was used in a political campaign. I would never have allowed my daughter to be used in that way. Palin's ambition overrode her parental responsibilities. And before anyone brings it up, the Obama children were controlled exposure and very positive. They were not compromised.
Guys,
The years passed to Secretary of State Hilary ... even though the experience comes together!