The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1922-11-17
Who Is Worlds
Richest Man?

cash and easily negotiable, gilt edged
securities; that is, whose fortune has
the greatest quick, force-sale value!
The answer is John D. Rockefeller.
Income 25,Ooo,OOO a Year.
"He is an investor today and he has
practically retired from active busi-
ness. Of course, his advice is avail
able for the many companies in which
he is interested, but he is not actively
engaged in business as he was twenty
years ago. His income is about $685.
00O, 900 year, or perhaps little more.
Of it he reinvests. 1t is the income
Of his investments.
"His wealth varies from day to day,
perhaps $1,000,OO0 or even $5,OOO,OOO,
but his securities are sound invest
ments that would be worth just as
much if he were dead as when he is
living, which is very different from the
case with Mr.. Ford. Mr. Rockefeller's
fortune today is certainly $500, 100000
probably nearer $750,OO0,OOO, and
when the present bull market reaches
it's peak he will be worth approximate
ly $1,000,00O,000, which justifes the
popular appellation Of 'billionaire.'
Third, who has the biggest individ-
ual income? 1 agree that this man is
Henry Ford. but not in the sense Of
actually handling the money. Mr.. Ford
only draE,s out enough for his personal
and family requirements, but the bulk
of the $125, 100000 a year or so which
the Ford Motor company and its SUBJ
salaries earn for him he leaves in
the business. In actual wealth he is
worth far less than Mr.. Rockefeller.
''If Edsel Ford and Mr.. Ford were
killed in an automobile accident to-
night, and Mrs. Ford desired to liqui-
date the business, she would find it q
very difficult thing to do. 1t would be
a task requiring great care and judg-
ment, and if the business could be sold
out for half the amount of Mr.. Rookie
feller's fortune it would be very fortu-
nate"
The name of "John d. has stood so
long for the richest man in the world
that 1t is still Strange to hear Of Ford,
comparatively a newcomer, and Mel
Ion, until recently an obscure name to
most of the country, contesting his po-
sition. Yet there seems little choice be-
tween wishing for his money and wish
ing for Ford's right profitable busi-
ness.
Greatest Fortunes in U. S.
1t is also odd sounding that the three
richest men should all be in America
But Hugo Shines fortune, the great
est in Europe, is generally rated below
all three of the American fortunes. The
Rothschild money is so split and divid-
ed that no one of the family can make
q claim on the little kingpin moneyed
man.
Henry Ford has an income of S125,-
100000, roughly speaking (if one may
speak roughly of such a sum) which
draws down yearly. 1t would not be
improper in any way for him to at
tempt capitalization of his business
for $2,0OO,000,000. But Babson thinks
he could not sell the securities, no mat
ter how solid and profitable the invest
ment. There is that much money in
the country, but there isn't that much
desiring to buy Forl stock.
Ford's wealth differs in this respeet
from Rockefeller's; Ford is reinvesting
his profits regularly in his own busi-
ness. John D. reinvests, when he does
reinvest, in other businesses than the
Standard OIL
Ford gave some interesting insight
into his wealth when he disclosed some
of his income tax figures. He said he
had $145,985, ,669.31 in cash in the hank
His assets-taZablc cssets-in NI;chi-
gan were given at S215, 5,215, ,662. .92, and
outside of Michigan, $114, 4O4, 1905.
The total he gave including good will.
was $4O9, $40, O,132.97.
But taxable property is not all that
Ford owns, or any other rich man.
The tax fee Is an inaccurate way of
gauging q fortune. The high rates of