Forbes releases a list of the richest people in the world annually. According to the 2018 list, Amazon owner Jeff Bezos holds the top spot followed by Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, and Warren Buffett, business magnate, investor, and the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.
However, there are some people in the world who are apparently as rich or richer than these top 3 but will never appear on any lists of billionaires.
We at Weekly Express invite you to assess the power of these legends and speculate about their wealth.
1.Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin may not own a number of planes and palaces but he does hold the top position on Forbes’s list of the world’s most powerful people.
Putin’s rise to the top was not easy: born in a working-class family, he spent years working for Russian intelligence and security (KGB) and in local politics before becoming one of the prominent leaders of his country.
As per International Business Times, the net worth of Putin has been widely speculated. Some even hail this Russian leader as the richest man in the world with a net worth of $200 billion pwing to investments and shares in companies.
2. Kim Jong-un
Kim Jong-un is a supreme leader of North Korea. Just like Putin, his wealth is not registered and is a product of speculation for many. He assumed the power of his father, Kim Jong-il, upon his death in 2011.
Kim Jong-un certainly likes to live a luxurious life. He prefers to spend money on liquor, designer cigarettes, resorts, yachts, cars, pianos, palaces, and even owns a private cinema.
3. Muammar Gaddafi
He might have not received a thorough education but Muammar Gaddafi is proficient in military training. Various sources reported that the deceased Libyan dictator’s hidden wealth would make him one of the richest men in history. According to Forbes, however, there is no direct proof of such an amount of wealth albeit Gaddafi’s lavish lifestyle.
4. The Rothschilds
This family owns industries in financial services, real estate, mining, wine production, and energy all across the globe. They were the trendsetters in providing capital for infrastructure projects.
Owing to their low profile and private business activities, this family draws the attention of both financial historians and conspiracy theorists alike.
5. The House of Saud
Since the 18th century, the Al Saud family has ruled Saudi Arabia with full control over the country’s oil reserves. While the fall of the House of Saud is predicted almost every year by different sources, the family still appears on different lists of the richest families in the world.