re: Agree or Disagree?

quote:

---

You see, it appears that way for awhile, but only until Toothless Timmy has enough time to frick around with that money and get himself in a mess. As is usually the case, within 3-5 years, Toothless Timmy will be back living in Trailerville, and as a broke dick MF.

---

quote:

---

Sheldon Adelson, United States
Net worth: $26.5 billion

Age: 73

Son of a Boston cabdriver borrowed $200 at age 12 to start selling newspapers. Later did stints as a mortgage broker, investment advisor and financial consultant. The high school drop out and Broadway enthusiast studied voice in his teens, but it was another kind of stage that called him: trade shows, where he made his first fortune. Later gambled on casinos in Las Vegas, Macau and Singapore. Took his Las Vegas Sands public in December 2004. Says Adelson, ''I loved being the outsider.''

---

quote:

---

Li Ka-shing, Hong Kong
Net worth: $23 billion

Age: 79

Fled a turbulent China in 1940; settled in Hong Kong. At age 15, after the death of his father, was forced to leave school to work at a plastics factory. Later borrowed money to manufacture plastic flowers; eventually grew his Cheung Kong Industries into a conglomerate with stakes in supermarkets, property and cell phones. Old Hong Kong joke said that for every dollar spent in Hong Kong, five cents went to Li. Dubbed ''Superman,'' knighted by Queen Elizabeth. Despite enormous wealth, his secret wish is reportedly to be able to walk in the park without being recognized

---

quote:

---

Roman Abramovich, Russia
Net worth: $18.7 billion

Age: 40

Orphan by age four; grew up with uncle and grandmother. After military stint, dropped out of college to take part in controversial Russian oil-export deals. In 1995, teamed up with fellow Russian Boris Berezovsky to take over oil giant Sibneft for a reported $100 million; sold it to Russia's Gazprom for $13 billion a decade later. Passionate soccer fan owns U.K.'s Chelsea club; has many other toys, including jets, yachts and a home that reportedly cost $100 million. Recently made headlines for divorce from his second wife and speculation over how much of his fortune she'd get

---

quote:

---

Kirk Kerkorian, United States
Net worth: $15 billion

Age: 91

Son of Armenian immigrants dropped out of eighth grade and took up boxing. Amateur fighter threw punches under the name ''Rifle Right Kerkorian.'' Flew planes across the Atlantic during World War II. Made first bundle selling Tran International Airlines in the 1960s; invested proceeds in Las Vegas. Today his MGM Mirage owns more than half the hotel rooms on the Las Vegas Strip. Continues to jab at auto industry; after failing to orchestrate turnaround at ailing general Motors, sold off shares and later made unsuccessful bid for Chrysler arm of DaimlerChrysler.

---