Bloomberg Has Many, Many Billions

2008_07_bloombergmcduck.jpgYesterday, it was reported that Mayor Michael Bloomberg would buy back 20% of his company, Bloomberg L.P., from Merrill Lynch for $4.5 billion. That figure finally gave the media more of an idea of his wealth.

Forbes had estimated Bloomberg's wealth in the neighborhood of $5.2 billion, but now that he'll own closer to 80-90% of Bloomberg L.P, the number is at least ten billion more. The Sun suggests it's "about $20 billion", while the NY Times is more conservative, offering $16.2 billion as a possible net worth.

At a press conference today, a reporter asked him, "will the children of New York City will look at you differently now because you’re worth more than we initially thought?" and Bloomberg answered with his man of the people shtick, "I have no idea what you thought I was worth. I get paid a dollar a year. I have my senior’s MetroCard for the subway every day. All I can tell you is that I went to public schools, and I was taught that if you worked hard, then the great American dream is open to you. And sadly, that’s not true for too many kids in our schools."

And while Bloomberg has professed to be looking forward to devoting time to his post-mayoral life to philanthropy, the Sun reports his wealth could help him do something crazy, like buy the NY Times.

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Comments (11) [rss]

How much many more is many, many, billions? I can settle for many billions. Even just billions would do.

Nice use of that Scrooge McDuck paperweight I always wanted for my Christmas but never received.

I think she wanted to strike home the point that Bloomberg is indeed, very rich.

Ugh, he shouldn't waste his time with the times. He should continue building up Bloomberg.

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at least Bloomberg doesn't take the full mayor's salary. he takes 2¢ and gives the rest back to nyc.

#4 -- I meant for myself, settling for billions that is, not criticizing the caption.

KEEP THE BLOOM ON THE BURG

Here was a Caesar! When comes such another?
--Marc Antony

The city's grateful business tycoons
Demand another such--
A second Bloomberg who can be
Counted on in a clutch.

Our mayor's always shown himself
Completely at his ease
In dealing with the real estate
Moguls' many pleas.

But why another? Michael Bloomberg's
The perfect corporate investor--
Let's crown him New York's Mayor for Life
(With Donald Trump court jester).

I think he should make a will that leaves $1000 to every resident in NYC.

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As someone worth less than 0.001 billion, the difference between Bloomberg having $5B and $20B is basically insignificant, because either way it's way WAY more than I'm likely to ever have.

That would make the Mayor of New York the Richest Man in New York. When has that ever happened? To celebrate, all New Yorkers should throw all their loose change in the streets so Hizzoner will never have to touch the dirty ground again.

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