The World's Richest Leaders

[PLATO]

Originally posted by Lazarus and the Gimp
That QE2 valuation is laughable. Her private art collection alone must be worth near that figure.

I couldn't agree more! Not just her art collection, but the real estate that she personally owns is probably worth 4 or 5 times that amount.

I think that if a true accounting of her personal wealth was done, she would make King Fahd choke.

[Paul Hanson]

The Sunday Times Rich List regularly values Queen Lizzy at around the £2 billion mark, IIRC.

[DuncanK]

Should QE2 be considered a leader though?

[KrazyHorse]

She's the nominal head of state of the UK, Canada, Australia, NZ, etc and no legislation is considered passed until she or a representative has signed it.

Her actual power is, of course, much less than this implies.

[Wernazuma III]

Sure, Saddam had to be on there...

Having Arafat on there is ridiculous, Fidel Castro even more. I've always hated that capitalist a$s with his fat cigar who bleeds his people dry while living in luxury himself...
Why are almost only rulers "we don't like" up there in the list? I'm sure there's some other rulers between the Queen and the imaginary rich Fidel Castro.
I'd like to see where Bush stands in the list...

What a bullsh*t.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I'd like to see where Bush stands in the list...

Bush isn't that uber rich. His father may be, but the current President really isn't.

[KrazyHorse]

He'll have to wait until daddy dies for that...

[PLATO]

Originally posted by Frogger
She's the nominal head of state of the UK, Canada, Australia, NZ, etc and no legislation is considered passed until she or a representative has signed it.

Her actual power is, of course, much less than this implies.

Frogger, I was under the impression that she actually had very real power but just didn't use it. For example her asent to every law is required. She has only once to my knowledge failed to give it, but that law did not become law.

Also, wasn't it under her order that the Austrailian Parliment was dissolved in the late 1960's ??

In addition, isn't her approval required before UK military can go to war?

I don't know if all this is fact or not, but it is my understanding of things.

She is not only incredibly wealthy, she is powerful as well.

[Provost Harrison]

I believe General Suharto was worth a small fortune before he was deposed, well into the billions of dollars...

[Wernazuma III]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

I'd like to see where Bush stands in the list...

Bush isn't that uber rich. His father may be, but the current President really isn't.

I'm sure he beats Fidel Castro though. And I forgot, it was Enron who had the money

[Kontiki]

If you're talking about former leaders, look no further than Mobutu. He was (is?) reportedly worth a few billion at least.

[KrazyHorse]

Frogger, I was under the impression that she actually had very real power but just didn't use it. For example her asent to every law is required. She has only once to my knowledge failed to give it, but that law did not become law

Which law did she fail to give assent to? The last time the Queen or her representative (the Governor General) tried to do that here was in 1837.

And the Queen may not dissolve Parliament unless it fails to decide on a government. The last time a monarch dissolved Parliament against its wishes he got his head chopped off...

[Felch]

Originally posted by Wernazuma III
I'm sure he beats Fidel Castro though. And I forgot, it was Enron who had the money

Your opinion is worth about as much as that of Forbes.

[KrazyHorse]

And if you'll notice, I mentioned that her signature or the signature of her representative was a formal requirement of the passage of all laws...but this power, as far as I'm concerned is nominal only. She cannot exercise it.

[Wernazuma III]

Originally posted by Felch X
Your opinion is worth about as much as that of Forbes.

It's about as much backed up. Yet I don't release it as confirmed evidence.