Walt Disney History

Walt (bottom row, right) and his staff at the Hyperion studio.
The Walt Disney Company started in 1923 in the rear of a small office occupied by Holly-Vermont Realty in Los Angeles. It was there that Walt Disney, and his brother Roy, produced a series of short live-action/animated films collectively called the ALICE COMEDIES. The rent was a mere $10 a month. Within four months, the ever-growing staff moved next door to larger facilities, where the sign on the window read "Disney Bros. Studio." A year later, in 1925, the Disneys made a deposit on a Hyperion Avenue lot in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles. Construction began on the new studio shortly thereafter. During the next 14 years, many changes took place at the Disney studio: Mickey Mouse was "born" in 1928, followed by Pluto, Goofy, Donald Duck, and the rest of the Disney gang.
In 1937, Disney's innovative first full length animated feature, SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, was released to critical acclaim and worldwide success. In order to expand and meet the expectations of his audience, Walt saw a need to increase the size of his studio. With profits from SNOW WHITE, he made a deposit on 51 acres of land in Burbank and began designing a modern studio specifically for the purpose of making animated films.Walt was personally involved with all aspects of designing the studio. From the layout of the buildings to design of the animators' chairs, nothing was left to chance. His main concern was to produce a self-sufficient, state-of-the-art production factory that provided all the essential facilities for the entire production process.
Walt and company discuss the progress made at the new Studio lot.
Employees in front of the Animation Building.
The Animation Building, housing the Disney Artists and animators, was planned in the center of the lot. Across a small street were built the Inking and Painting and the Camera buildings, where the artwork was completed and photographed. Next to Camera, in the Cutting building, the post production process occurred. Sound facilities included dubbing, scoring, effects, and voice recording studios. Many of the buildings were linked together by an underground tunnel, so even in bad weather, the process of making animated films was not disrupted. To enhance the campus-like setting, all of the utilities were placed underground which was an innovation for 1940.
During the 1940s and 1950s many prominent animated features were produced in Burbank, including FANTASIA, BAMBI, CINDERELLA, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, and PETER PAN.
James Mason is menaced by a giant squid during the filming of 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA.
Beginning in the late 1940s, Disney launched into the production of live-action features and television programs. The Studio lot was subsequently expanded during the 1950s, to include sound stages and production craft facilities.Sound StagesMany of the interior scenes for Disney films were shot on five live-action sound stages.Stage 1 is part of the original lot that was built in 1940. It was first used for filming the live-action scenes for FANTASIA. Stage 2 was built in 1949 in conjunction with Jack Webb, who used the stage for the filming of the television series DRAGNET. A popular television show filmed there was THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB. Stage 2 is one of the largest sound stages in Los Angeles at approximately 31,000 square feet.
A live-action reference for a scene in LADY AND THE TRAMP.In 1954, Sound Stage 3 was built specifically for 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, complete with watertank. Stage 4, completed in 1958, was first used for DARBY O'GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE. In 1988, it was divided into two television stages, thus creating Stages 4 and 5. Well-known tenants on our stages have included Disney classics such as DAVY CROCKETT, MARY POPPINS, POLLYANA, THE LOVE BUG, BLACKBEARD'S GHOST, PETE'S DRAGON, and BEDKNOBS & BROOMSTICKS. Other well-known tenants have included ARMAGEDDON, HOME IMPROVEMENT, ELLEN, MTV, MADONNA, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, NATIONAL TREASURE 2, and PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN I, II & III. Riverside LotAcross the street from the Studio now stands the new Feature Animation Building and The ABC Building. This is where Walt was planning to build a place called Mickey Mouse Park. There were to be lifelike statues of Mickey and Donald, and guests could take pictures with their favorite characters and enjoy a train ride. However, as Walt's ideas continued to grow, he realized more space was needed to fulfill his dreams. Shortly thereafter he acquired more than 200 acres of orange groves in Anaheim, California. Those orange groves became the site of Disneyland.ShopsThe back-lot shops were built to provide the many crafts and services required by live action productions. The Machine Shop, which is no longer in use, housed machines and equipment that produced innovative camera and projection objects for the film industry. During the construction of Disneyland in the mid-fifties, this shop's engineers designed and hand-built many of the automobiles, train parts, boats, trams and carts that were required by the new park. Hollywood Records now occupies the building. Close by you'll find the Electric / Plumbing building containing machines and equipment for repairing and maintaining the many systems within the Studio complex. Nearby was the Staff Shop where they made molds, plaster casts, and fiberglass figures, many of which are in use at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
Walt looks on as a set piece is fabricated in the Studio Mill.The Electric/Plumbing building has its own machines for installing and repairing all plumbing and mechanical equipment within the Studio, along with equipment for work in sheet metal, welding, and plastics.Next to Electric/Plumbing was the Special Effects shop, where our craftspeople created the myriad of unique effects that have come to be associated with Disney films. Flying cars, spaceships, miniature paddle wheelers, and medieval armor that comes to life are just some of the effects produced by this department. The Paint Shop, which is in another large metal building, does everything from spraying cars and furniture to be used on a movie set, to spraying the set itself.Other prominent shops throughout the back-lot include Sign Graphics, Craft Services, and the Mill.Back LotFor more than 30 years, the back-lot featured exterior sets used for outdoor live-action filming. These consisted of a Western Street, Zorro Pueblo, Residential Street, and Town Square.Most of the buildings on the Western Street were constructed in 1958 for the ELFEGO BACA and TEXAS JOHN SLAUGHTER television shows. Other productions which modified the structures for filming were DARBY O'GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE, THE LOVE BUG, THOSE CALLOWAYS, and THE APPLE DUMPLING GANG. The last major feature films to utilize the street extensively were HOT LEAD AND COLD FEET and THE APPLE DUMPLING GANG RIDES AGAIN.Sets representing a downtown area were constructed in 1965 for THE UGLY DACHSHUND and FOLLOW ME BOYS. They were changed extensively for various films, and then completely demolished in 1981 to make way for a new town set for SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES.There were four original buildings on the Residential Street originally constructed in 1960 for THE ABSENT-MINDED PROFESSOR, including the main house and garage used for the laboratory. Other houses were used for THE SWAMP FOX and the original THAT DARN CAT.A well-known set was constructed for the ZORRO television series in the 1950s. This was once the Pueblo de Los Angeles with a fort, a jail, a square, an inn, and a church. Later, one of the old Spanish squares was redesigned to become a French village. Hills, pools, berms, and caves were built nearby for other productions.With the increased use of "on location" shooting, the back lot sets were gradually replaced by the Property building, the Zorro parking structure, the Frank Wells office building, and Stages 6 & 7.The Golden Oak RanchWalt Disney first leased the Golden Oak Ranch, which is situated in the nearby Santa Clarita area, in the mid-1950s for the SPIN AND MARTY segments of THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB. Because of the variety of natural settings available there, the Studio purchased the 700-acre property in 1959. Disney films shot at the Ranch include: OLD YELLER, TOBY TYLER, THE PARENT TRAP, THE SHAGGY DOG, FOLLOW ME BOYS, and more recently THE SANTA CLAUSE, PEARL HARBOR, PRINCESS DIARIES II and the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN II & III.A western street was created for the renowned television miniseries ROOTS II in the late 1970s, and remained an active filming location until it's removal in 2008. Other ranch sites include a rural bridge on a lake, an entertainment and event venue, "THE GOLDEN OAK HALL," farm houses, barns, fields, country roads, tree groves, a forest area, a creek bed, and a running waterfall. Currently being developed is a pine lake designed to give the feeling of a High Sierra setting.The Golden Oak Ranch is used by the entire industry and has been seen in LASSIE, BEVERLY HILLS 90210, CHARMED, RED DRAGON, MURDER SHE WROTE, DIAGNOSIS MURDER, BONANZA, INDEPENDENCE DAY, PROFILER, CSI, MY NAME IS EARL, ENTOURAGE, BOSTON LEGAL, BONES, SONS OF ANARCHY, GHOST WHISPERERS, AMERICAN IDOL and so many more.ImagingFilm imaging facilities have existed at the lot from its earliest days, starting with the Process Lab, building which was adjacent to Inking and Painting. Through the years the building housed a motion picture laboratory, primarily employed for animation, and photo/visual effects facilities.
Fred MacMurray flies in this process shot for THE ABSENT MINDED PROFESSOR.
In the 1950s, as live-action films increasingly played a major role in the success of the studio, so did the inclusion of visual effects. Such memorable films as 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA and DARBY O'GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE began a tradition of combining complex optical effects with miniatures and matte paintings to create rich fantasy worlds on the screen. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the Process Lab, renamed Photo Effects and then Visual Effects, was home to the distinguished artists and technicians responsible for the effects seen in MARY POPPINS, THE ABSENT MINDED PROFESSOR, BLACKBEARD'S GHOST, BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS, PETE'S DRAGON, and TRON.During the 1980s, the unit was named Buena Vista Visual Effects Group and expanded its facilities into the Camera building to include a motion-control stage. In 1990, the unit became Buena Vista Visual Effects (BVVE) and shifted rapidly to digital-imaging technologies. Rooms within the Camera building, which formerly housed multi-plane cameras used to shoot animation, were filled with computer equipment. BVVE transitioned to Buena Vista Imaging in 1996.Today, Buena Vista Imaging occupies the Camera building, providing a full range of photo-optical and digital-imaging services, which include a black and white lab, digital workstations, film recorders and scanners, optical printers, and title graphics.Post Production SoundThe Main Theater is a state-of-the-art digital sound dubbing and screening facility that was first used to mix the sound for FANTASIA. Sound mixers blend dialogue, music, and sound effects tracks to the various levels appropriate for a movie theater. The acoustics are designed to simulate a theater that is three-quarters full. Although the theater is empty during the mixing session, extra padding in the seats and specially designed walls absorb and reflect the sound. This helps the sound mixers to know what the final product will sound like when it is released to the public.
A sound recording session on Stage A.Stage A, situated next to the Main Theater, was originally used for scoring. For many years, the music for innumerable Disney movies and cartoons was recorded here. In 1985, the stage was converted to a dubbing stage and theater. Like the Main Theater, Stage A is an all-digital, state-of-the-art dubbing facility.Stages B & C were designed to provide sound elements for the animated films. Because of the Studio location near the Burbank Airport, special priority was given to soundproofing with "building within a building" design for noise reduction.Stage B is known as the dialogue stage, where character voices were recorded for many animated classics including ALICE IN WONDERLAND, LADY AND THE TRAMP, PETER PAN, and THE JUNGLE BOOK. The tradition continues today, as Stage B is still used for such recent films as ALADDIN, THE LION KING, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. Today, that tradition continues not only on Disney films, but also with Pixar hits such as TOY STORY, BUGS LIFE, TOY STORY 2, and MONSTERS INC. Stage B accommodates Automatic Dialog Replacement (ADR), a process that allows the talent to re-record their dialogue. One such use is for scenes shot on location, where an talent's lines were destroyed by outside sound or noise, such as a plane flying over at the time of filming.Stage C was originally used for the recording of various sound effects for the animated features and short subjects. Many of the unique sound-effects props and gadgets for these processes were invented by Disney technicians. Today, Stage C serves as a dubbing stage for film and television. It was recently renovated in 2001 and like the other stages it features an all-digital, state-of-the-art film console.

Einstein's History

Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

Undated portrait of German-born Swiss-US physicist Albert Einstein. © Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics and the most famous scientist of the 20th century. Albert Einstein was born in Ulm in southwest Germany on 14 March 1879. His family later moved to Italy after his father's electrical equipment business failed. Einstein studied at the Institute of Technology in Zurich and received his doctorate in 1905 from the University of Zurich. In the same year he published four groundbreaking scientific papers. One introduced his special theory of relativity and another his equation E = mc2 which related mass and energy. Within a short time Einstein's work was recognised as original and important. In 1909 he became Associate Professor of Theoretical Physics at Zurich, in 1911 Professor of Theoretical Physics at the German University in Prague and then returned to the Institute of Technology in Zurich the following year. In 1914 he was appointed director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics in Berlin. He became a German citizen in the same year. In 1916 he published his theory of general relativity. Einstein received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect and his work in the field of theoretical physics. During the 1920's Einstein lectured in Europe, North and South America and Palestine, where he was involved in the establishment of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Born into a Jewish family and a supporter of pacifism and Zionism, Einstein increasingly became the focus of hostile Nazi propaganda. In 1933, the year the Nazis took power in Germany, Einstein emigrated to America. He accepted a position at the Institute of Advanced Study in Princeton and took US citizenship. Einstein retired from the Institute in 1945 but worked for the rest of his life towards a unified field theory to establish a merger between quantum theory and his general theory of relativity. He continued to be active in the peace movement and in support of Zionist causes and in 1952 he was offered the presidency of Israel, which he declined. Einstein died on 18 April 1955 in Princeton, New Jersey.

top 10 smartest people

1. Bill James - Sabrematician
   
   
   
   Sabremetrics of the study of baseball statistics. SABR is the Society of American Baseball Research. Long before the Internet (Okay, long before most people had heard of the Internet) and before the plethora of stat books that fill bookstores today, Bill was doing surveys, compiling studies and mailing Xerox copies out to fans who were interested. I fist heard of him after I won big in Atlantic City and decided to go to the bookstore and buy The Baseball Encyclopedia and found myself reading furiously through this book called The Baseball Abstract. I bought both. And then sat down in the mall and read James' book cover to cover. I can only liken it to a blind man being able to see for the first time. Platooning, Park Effects, Reliever's ERA and 100 things you never even considered.

   And it's not just the statistics. He's a brilliant essayist. Goes off on wonderful rants. I can't find a website for Bill himself. I suspect he doesn't have one. The link above is to his Amazon author page. Here are some other links about him and his work.
   
   

2. Virginia Postrel - Dynamist
   
   
   
   I first learned of Virignia when she was editor of Reason, a libertarian magazine. Since then she's moved on to be a full-time writer. Her first book was The Future and It's Enemies. She's currently working on her second book, Look and Feel. I am amazed at the number of times She will write something, that I had never considered before, and then once upon reading it, I'll say to myself "Of course, this makes perfect sense." Two examples are this piece on Clinton-Lewinsky and this one on the Republican Revolution. I listed her as a Dynamist, rather than as an author or editor, because she coined the term. Roughly speaking, Dynamists recognize the need for change and trial-and-error experimentation, while their counterparts The Stasists like things they are and are real big on one size fits all top to bottom solutions.
   
   
3. David Friedman - Anarcho-Capitalist
   
   
   
   I don't know if David Friedman coined the term Anarcho-Capitalist, but he seems to be the world's leading proponent of this form of "government." In a nutshell Anarcho-Capitalists do not beleive that government should have a monopoly on the use of force. Individuals contract with others to receive all services currently provided by goverment, including police protetction, courts and even laws. Friedman is the son of Nobel Prize Winning Economist Milton Friedman. The younger Friedman never took an Economics course,learning from his parents at the dinner table. His doctorate is in Physics. Friedman is also quite an enagaging author. His two most recent books are Hidden Order and Law's Order. Future Imperfect will be published soon. A draft is available here.
   
   
4. Jonah Goldberg - Syndicated Columnist
   
   
   Okay, lots of explaining to do here. First that's not Jonah, It's his dog Cosmo. Then there is the Dave controversy. Dave Fowler doesn't understand why I even need 9 other people on my list, he says Goldberg alone is sufficient. Meanwhile Dave Pierson wants to know how I can have on person on my list (Jonah) attacking another person on my list (Virginia). See the column Dave P. is talking about here.
   Well I don't have to agree with everything thing somebody on my list says. Bill James wants to make it more difficult to change pitchers in mid-inning. I disagree, but he's still on my list. And so is Goldberg. Somtimes, especially when he picks on (or misrepresents libertarians) I get annoyed. But he is well-read, skewers liberals and is consistently funny. Dave Fowler and I had a great time when Goldberg spoke at Widener back in January. These are 3 of my favorite columns: here, here and here. Also this is an interesting book by his wife, Jessica Gavora.
   
   Update 5/22/02: Here's another good column.
   
   
5. NM Dan Heisman - Chess Instructor
   
   
   
   Dan Heisman is the Renaissance Man. He had helped me immeasurably with my chess game. He is also a world class backgammon player.
   
   
6. P.J. O'Rourke - Humorist
   
   
   
   PJ O'Rourke is quite simply the funniest man alive. he is the only writer that can make me burst out loud laughing on a regular basis. Here's what he has to say about government: Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. His travel essays on the more decrepit areas of the world are brilliant. These are his best three books: Parliament of Whores, All the Trouble in the World, and Holidays in Hell.
   
   
7. John Allan Palous - Mathematician
   
   
   
   Professor of Mathematics at Temple University and Adjunct Professor of Journalism at Columbia University as well as an extensively kudized author, public speaker, and monthly columnist for ABCNews.com, John Allen Paulos received his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin. Too many people in this country (and around the world) take statistics at face value. It's important to understand the context that numbers are used in. His best book is Innumeracy. Em took my copy to work where she routinely uses it to slam her co-workers.
   
   
8. Walter Williams - Professor of Economics
   
   
   
   Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dr. Walter E. Williams holds a B.A. degree in economics from California State University - Los Angeles, and M.A. and Ph.D degrees in economics from UCLA. He also holds a Doctor of Humane Letters from Virginia Union University and Grove City College and a Doctor of Laws from Washington and Jefferson College. He serves on the faculty of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, as John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics. From 1995 to 2001, he served as department chairman. He is also an occasional substitute host for the "Rush Limbaugh" show. His books include The State Against Blacks, and More Liberty Means Less Government. You can read his syndicated column here.
   
   
9. Glenn Reynolds - InstaPundit
   
   
   
   Reynolds is a law professor at the University of Tennessee. His most recent book is The Appearance of Impropriety: How the Ethics Wars Have Undermined American Government, Business and Society. He also owns a small record company (it's not organized as a nonprofit, but it might as well be) with his brother and another guy, called WonderDog Records. But the main thing Professor Reynolds is known for is being the hyper-blogging InstaPundit. Any time day or night he can be found blogging. Fifteen, twenty, twenty-Five intersting and insightful posts or links a day.
   
   
10. Laurie Dhue - News Anchor
    
    
    
    Fomerly an anchor on MSNBC and CNN, Laurie Dhue now is responsible for the weeknight up dates 6pm-10:37pm Mon-Thursday on the Fox News Channel. She also anchors Fox News on Sundays from 2-4pm, hosts the Fox Report and Fox Magazine on Sundays at 7pm and 11pm respectively. All times are Eastern.
    
    Laurie was a competitve swimmer at the University of North Carolnia, and is also a Seattle Mariners fan.

posted by: razan

top 10 fastest cars in the world

10 � Aston Martin V12 Vanquish S

Made of lightweight aluminium and carbon fiber, it has a V12 engine that puts out 520 hp, enough to get this British Lady to a maximum speed of 200 mph (320 km/h). It can get from 0 to 60 mph (0-100 km/h) in 4.8 seconds and it's a car built with understated elegance and excellent craftsmanship, a symbol of luxury and technology combined into an elegant design.

9 � Ruf RT 12 Porsche


The German carmaker Ruf is doing a lot more than copying Porsche models and shoving steroids up their throats. Over the years, it has imposed itself as a serious, hard-working official tuner, much like AMG is for Mercedes and M-Power for BMW. This model also has a 200 mph (320 km/h) top speed, but a slightly improved acceleration, of 4.6 seconds from 0 to 60 mph (0-100 km/h).



8 - Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren "722 Edition"

It's enough to say Mercedes to think of great cars and German technical perfection, but when adding the name McLaren, which requires no further presentation, you can be sure that the outcome can only be a superb car. She has a 650 hp, 5.5 liter V8 engine, a 209 mph top speed and gets from 0 to 62 mph in 3.6 seconds.

7 - Lamborghini Murcielago LP640

Lamborghini was the supreme supercar of the 90s with the now classical and forever great Diablo. The new Murcielago in this limited edition can only be the proud successor of a true legend. It has a 6.5 L version of the legendary Lamborghini V12 engine, 640 hp and a top speed of 211 mph (339 km/h), with a 0-60 mph acceleration of 3.5 s

6 - Pagani Zonda C12 F

A not so famous car, produced by Argentinan car manufacturer Pagani in Italy, again, but lacking a long history behind the brand name, but a truly magnificent piece of work, having a 600 hp engine and a 3.5 second sprint to 62 mph (97 km/h), with a top speed over 217 mph (350 km/h).

5 - Bristol Fighter T

An even more anonymous car was produced in small numbers in 2004 by British manufacturer Bristol Cars. She's a huge rocket, having a V10 engine producing 1012 hp and huge 1036 lb ft of torque, with 225 mph + top speed (+362 km/h). Fighter T gets from 0 to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds.

4 � McLaren F1


The brand name says it all. What it doesn't say is that it was conceived as an exercise in creating what its designers hoped would be considered the ultimate road car. She's strange looking, having the driver's seat mounted in the center and two passenger seats on each side, but to the back. She was the fastest production car ever built (having achieved a top speed of 240.14 mph, 386.5 km/h) until surpassed in 2005 by the Koenigsegg CCR and then the Bugatti Veyron a few months later.


3 - Koenigsegg CCR




The second latest supercar form the Swedish manufacturer Koenigsegg, she has a 4.7 L twin supercharged DOHC V8 engine, 806 hp, a 0-60 mph acceleration of 3.1 seconds and a top speed of 251 mph (403 km/h)




2 - Bugatti EB 16/4 Veyron

Many people think this monster is still the fastest, most powerful and most expensive street-legal production car in the world. Indeed, she has a proven top speed of 253.2 mph (407.9 km/h). Built by the German carmaker Volkswagen through its subsidiary Bugatti Automobiles SAS, in France, it represents almost 70 years or racing history, with the Bugatti cars ruling the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours competition in the 1930s and 1940s. She has a monster of an engine, too, a 8.0 L quad-turbo W16 that puts out a massive 1001 hp of thrust.


1 - Barabus TKR

Few people know this, but this is now the fastest car ever made, having dethroned the Bugatti beast. The name is not to be confused with the German tuner Brabus, as she's built by the British company Barabus Sportscars Ltd and will be produced in Italy. She has 1005 horsepower, it can do 0 to 60 mph (0-100 km/h) in...unbelievably...1.67 seconds (manufacturer's results). And, surprisingly, this power doesn't come from a huge engine, but rather from a "small" 6.0 liter V8 twin-turbocharged with dual intercoolers.

This declared speed is impressive and some people think that such a figure is not even possible: 270 mph (435km/h), nearly 20 more than the Veyron.

So, this top is a picture of today's most outstanding performances in the field of car engineering, but no one knows when the next "road-runner" will be made and how fast it will travel without taking off.

posted by: razan

top 10 richest people in the world

(1) William H. Gates III

Age: 43
Nationality: American
Martial Status: Married
Children: 2
Education: Harvard dropout
Worth: $90 Billion

We should all just face the fact that Bill Gates will one day rule the world. By the time Windows 2015 comes out, all will fear Bill’s wrath. But you gotta admit that it doesn’t look like it went to his head; the richest human on Earth, and he has the dorkiest haircut money could buy.

The son of a lawyer father and teacher mother, Gates dropped out of preschool to devote all of his time to inventing Microsoft with chum Paul Allen, then just 3 years old. After drooling all over the HVAC tubes, Bill decided to go back to school for a few more years, eventually dropping out of Harvard University to work on Microsoft.

The rest, as they all too frequently say, is history. Microsoft became this huge international corporate behemoth, and is currently fighting off anti-trust investigations and accusations that it holds a monopoly. When Bill rules the world, he’s going to come down and fire those federal court judges with extreme prejudice. They’ll never work on his planet again!

Gates relinquished his role as President of Microsoft in 1998, and as CEO on January 13, 2000; both posts are now held by Steve Ballmer. However, Bill remains Chairman and “chief software architect” of the company, as well as its largest shareholder. So they still let him come to board meetings.

Mr. Bill once gave $17 Billion to charity, which makes Ted Turner’s paltry offering of $1 billion to the UN look like chump change. He’s also written a couple of books and is heavily invested in biotechnology and cellular and satellite technology. Investors, call your brokers

(2) Warren Edward Buffet

Age: 68
Nationality: American
Marital Status: Married
Children: 3
Education: Columbia
Worth: $36 Billion

A distant second, Warren Buffet also has a quarter century on Mr. Gates, so he’s had lots of time to build up his not-too-shabby cache of $36 billion. Frankly, we don’t know what he’s been doing with his time… apart from heading up investment conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway, that is. Warren took over 30 years ago, and the company has averaged a 25% annual rate of return since.

Strangely enough, Buffet’s investment style is conservative, leaning more to the long-term buy. Warren owns about 40 percent of the company, and at over $47,000 a share, it will be a while before anyone buys him out. Much better to try to get in at Microsoft, or strike oil, where you don’t need money up front.

(3). Paul Gardner Allen

Age: 46
Nationality: American
Marital Status: Single
Children: 0
Education: WSU dropout
Worth: $30 Billion

Another Microsoft billionaire, Paul Allen is the buddy who dropped out with Bill Gates to build the software company that now holds a monopolistic stranglehold on the world. Paul dropped out of Microsoft some time ago to spend his time privately investing his money and sipping piña coladas, but he still holds a stake in the company. His current baby is Vulcan Ventures, with which he pursues his dream of a “wired world” by buying up cable operators and other technology-related companies.

It’s not all boring tech stuff, though. Paul was also smart enough to invest in sports teams like the Portland Trailblazers and Seattle Seahawks. Single guy, 30 billion, owns a couple sports teams, knows Bill Gates personally… poor baby.

(4). Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah

Age: 53
Nationality: Bruneian
Marital Status: Married
Children: 10
Education: Sandhurst Royal Military Academy
Worth: $30 Billion

The 29th Sultan of Brunei was educated in his early years by tutors and private institutions before winging his way north to Britain. There, he entered Sandhurst Royal Military Academy as an officer cadet. The training seems to have paid off, as he is now Sultan and Ruler of Brunei, as well as Prime Minister, Defense Minister, Finance Minister, Religious Figurehead, and Grand High Poobah. All elected offices. Kidding! This guy can go to the bathroom and still have a cabinet meeting.

All of his money is in, say it with me now, oil, gas, investments, and yes, the ever-popular sweat of his people. Especially that oil thing, which has made so many billionaires in the Middle East. The illustrious Sultan also has two wives and ten kids. So lets see… 6 jobs, 2 wives, 10 kids, 2 turtledoves, 1 dictatorship, and he’s an avid polo player. So much accomplished, and a mere 53 years old.

(5). King Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud

Age: 77
Nationality: Saudi Arabian
Marital Status: Married
Children: 1
Worth: $28 Billion
Born in Riyadh in 1923, the King has spent his life on one diplomatic mission after another. He has also held such posts as Minister of Education, Minister of the Interior, and, of course, the King. He was present at the signing of the United Nations Charter in 1945, the coronation of Queen Liz the second in 1953, and a meeting with Richard Nixon in the U.S. in 1974 (taped recordings of this meeting still exist to this day, but no one knows where).

He came to power in 1982, and all of his money is in oil, investments, property, and the sweat of his people (sound familiar?). All because of the great defining factor of birth. Yes, birth and dumb luck. Ya gotta love it.

(6). Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan

Age: 66
Nationality: Abu Dhabian
Worth: $20 Billion

Sheikh Zayed’s home country of Abu Dhabi has grown over the last half century into one of the richest in the United Arab Emirates. Educated by local clerics and later by wandering Bedouin tribesmen in the desert, the Sheikh’s defining achievement has been the management of supply and distribution of water. This is an important thing in the desert, so you can imagine he is quite popular there.

All of his money is in oil, investments, vast property, and the sweat of his people. And water. For the love of God, don’t forget the water.

(7). Steven Anthony Ballmer

Age: 43
Nationality: American
Marital Status: Married
Children: 2
Education: Stanford and Harvard
Worth: $19.5 Billion

The first of the Microsoft Billionaires on our list, Steve actually lived down the hall from Bill Gates at Harvard, and is now the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mr. Bill’s little venture. Many revere/blame him for the supposed monopoly Microsoft Corp. now holds, because of his tenacity and amazing business know-how.

He joined the company in 1980 and has held a number of positions, starting as Bill’s personal towel boy, and leading up to VP of Sales and Support before becoming the Prez in ‘98. Ballmer was appointed CEO of Microsoft on January 13, 2000. Not a bad little gig.

(8). Amir Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al sabah

Age: 77
Nationality: Kuwaiti
Worth: $17 Billion

The man’s money is in oil, investments, property, and the sweat of his people. And this is just what’s left over since we kicked Saddam Hussein out of the neighborhood. Imagine the filthy stinkin’ riches that he had prior to the burning of thousands of his oil wells. This is why we recommend Microsoft or oil baron as the best way to becoming a billionaire. You’re born, you inherit oil fields, you live the easy life in the Middle East… you just can’t beat it.

(9). Phillip F. Anschutz

Age: 59
Nationality: American
Marital Status: Married
Children: 3
Education: Kansas
Worth: $16.5 Billion

Phil is the kind of guy whose father was a rich oil billionaire, but decided he didn’t like the family business. Phil preferred real estate and railroads, and he still made a bundle. Rather than just being born lucky (although we’re sure that didn’t hurt), Anschutz is a savvy businessman. He has interests in fiber optics companies such as Qwest Communications International, LA sporting interests, huge cattle ranches in Wyoming, and lots of downtown Denver real estate interests. But let’s face it: the biggest chunk was inherited.

(10). Michael Dell

Age: 34
Nationality: American
Marital Status: Married
Children: 4
Education: U. Texas
Worth: $16.5 Billion

Just barely squeaking in at number ten is the youngest of all of our billionaires, the young pup who founded Dell Computers. Mike dropped out of U. Texas at 19, put up his BMW to get a business loan, and started selling people PCs by mail order. The day his former classmates were graduating, his sales had already hit $70 million a year. Today, of course, he sells $2 million a day, and the company revenues are about $7.8 billion a year. He has passed IBM in annual sales, and is closing in on industry leader Compaq. The bastard.

posted by: razan