Palisadian., 1923-06-22
SIX AMERICANS
AMONG WORLDS
10 RICHEST men
Henry Ford Leads Them All, With
John D. Rockefeller Second.
MYSTERY MAN LEADS EUROPE


who had part interest in an automo-
bile company whose capital was $685.
600. Today Henry Ford is probably
the richest man in all history, with a
net business income of $119,OO0OO0 a
year, which if taken on the basis Of
per cent interest represents a poten-
tial capital Of $2,3S00 100000, says the
New York Times.
What man living today comes near
est to Ford in riches? What ten men
are the wealthiest in the world? Ask
the man in the street and he will sug-
gest Rockefeller, Morgan, perhaps an
other obvious name or maybe two.
But begin even a cursory analysis Of
any such list, weighing more or less
definitely known facts with the opin-
ion Of bankers, appraisers, brokers,
statisticians, travellers, and others
who can do more than make wild
hazards and the result is list that
contains more than one surprise.
In truth, 1t is impossible to set
down ten names and say: "These ten
are the worlds wealthiest In the or
der given," because each name to be
qualified for such a roster must repre-
sent more than $1OO,O0O,OOO, and in
dealing with fortunes of such bulk ac-
curacy becomes increasingly difficult
in geometrical ratio. The world has
more than ten men in the 100000 900
class. The name Of one of Americas
richest men, T. B. Walker of Mime
sofa, is virtually unknown in Wall
street. and the financial rank of 9TH
ers, notably George F. Baker, has
never been realized by the public.
Here is list Of men who are cred
tied in authoritative circles with pos
sessing more wealth as individuals
than any other group on earth:
Henry Ford-$550, 100000.
John D. Rockefeller-$50O,OO 900.
The Duke of Westminster-$15O,-
100000 to $2OO,0OO,OOO.
Sir Basil Zaharoff-$1Oo,OOO, to
$125, 100000.
Hugo Stinnes-S100,0O
Percy Rockefeller-$1GO,OOO
Baron HI. Mitsui-$100,0 900.
Baron X. Iwasaki-$1O0,OO 100000 +
J. B. Duke-$1OO,OOO
George F. Baker-S10O0O0,O
The Gaekwar Of Baroda-$125,OO ,OOO,-
600.
T. B. Walker-Perhaps less than
$100,O0O,OOO; perhaps as high as
$3OO,OOO.OOO.
The Richest Families.
! Some explanations are necessary in
these items, but of that later. More
pressing Is the need of accounting for
some palpable omissions. The Roth
schilds will occur to anyone glancing
over the list. But the Rothschilds
come in another class-those whose
fortunes cannot be credited to any in
dividual, but belong to. family
In this second category the leaders
are:
The Rothschilds - $25OOOO,0OO to
$5OO,OOO,OOO.
The Guggenheims-$2O OO,OOO,0OO..
The vanderbilts - $75,OOO,OOO to
$1OO,OOO,OOO.
The Weyerhaeusers- $780,.
100000 up.
The Astors-Estimates range from
less than $1O0,OOOOOO to $70O,0OO,OOO; :;
the lower figure is probably nearer the
truth.
The Mellons-$75 100000, two-thirds
Of which is credited to A. w. Mellon,
secretary Of the treasury.
The family group should properly
embrace the Rockefellers including
John d. Rockefeller, Jr. Baron Mitsui
perhaps belongs here, too, for he is
the head of clan; with him should
go Baron X. Iwasaki, whose family is
second only to the Mitsuis. But the
wealth Of families is even harder I'd
estimate than that Of individuals.
Consider the Rothschilds; they are
scattered all over Europe. There are
five Of them in England alone. They
have generations behind them; the
founder Of the house was born in
1742. Nobody can say how extensive
their interests are-probably not even
they themselves.
The first list of individuals is made
more comprehensive by few COM
ments. In the first place. comes the
basis for comparison. Estimates of
wealth vary widely, even when they
come from persons Of reliable judg-
ment. These lists represent the bal
anced judgment of men, averaging
high in executive rank, in the f1nan-
cial district Of New York The fig
ures given are based on q unit-the
fortune Of the late J. P. Morgan, Sr.
His estate was $78, 149,O24 Before his
death In 1913 his estate was estimat-
ed at $10O,OOO,OOO to $3.50, 100000.
The figures given in the list, so far as
most of the Americans are concerned,
are based on comparison with the ell
der Morgan's fortune and on the as
sumption that In his case the $780,
100000 figure was approximately cor
rect.
Easy to Figure Ford.
Henry Ford's S55O,0OO,OOO was ar
rived at more directly. With his son,
Edsel, Ford owns the Ford Motor COM
pany, Inc, which ON February %, &C.
cording to its own statement, had
$5S6,351, ,939 assets andS $159, 9,6O5 ,6S7
cash. There are also subsidiary Ford
companies not covered in the state.
Many friends and relatives of the