One of the most enjoyable aspects of life at the Utne Reader is the daily access to hundreds of publications from all over the world. On any given afternoon, the mail bin might bring the latest issue of anything from Tin Houseto Waxpoeticsto The American Window Cleaner. This onslaught can be overwhelming, as you might imagine, and it’s surprisingly easy to lose half a day wading through a case study of mid-life crisis in Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention.
Fascinating as that might be, however, I recognize that it might be rough sledding–or even just plain too creepy–for the general reader. And even I sometimes feel like I need a little palate cleanser, some entertaining trifle to stoke my day dreams.
ForbesBillionaires feature was just what the doctor ordered today, and of particular interest was the magazine’s list of the world’s billionaire bachelors and bachelorettes. It’s irresistible, really, and full of lots of people I’d never heard of.
Oprah kicks the thing off, but from there it was all fresh faces to me (and if you think it’s nothing but snoozy white geezers, think again). Hong Kong’s Richard Li (net worth: $1.1 billion), for instance, is only 37 years old and is “a licensed jet plane pilot and avid scuba diver.” Twenty-year-old Albert von Thurn und Taxis (there’s a name fit for a billionaire, and the lad is worth $2.1 billion) is a 6′ 4″ German who “enjoys riding his Harley-Davidson and playing the drums.” Guy Laliberte ($1.1 billion) is the 44-year-old founder of Cirque du Soleil, and is described as a “fire-breathing billionaire” as well as a “consummate dreamer” who loves kids.
And then there’s Adrei Melnichenko, a 33-year-old Muscovite also worth $1.1 billion. But he seems like a bit of a snooze, frankly.
Also, Ria Novosti has a gallery of Russia’s other wealthiest celebrities, but there’s no indication of eligibility status (or even proper identification–a number of them appear to be hockey players), so if you’re really serious about snagging a billionaire you’re probably just wasting your time.
Source: Forbes
Image by mahalie, licensed under Creative Commons.
