According to a recent list released by FORBES magazine, there are 355 fewer Billionaires in the world than there were just last year. Considering recent economic times this really isn’t a surprise; however, one man seems to have defied the odds in this economic crisis – Cirque du Soleil’s Guy Laliberté. From an article from reportonbusiness.com, Canada’s Globe and Mail business site:
- Typical of this crazy year, the only Canadian billionaire who augmented his net worth runs a circus. Guy Laliberté, owner of Cirque du Soleil, soared to the 261st spot globally – from No. 707 in 2008 – on the strength of a fortune of $2.5-billion, up from $1.7-billion.
That puts Mr. Laliberté in fifth place among Canadians, ahead of such perennial entries as Jimmy Pattison, now worth an estimated $2.1-billion, down more than 60 per cent from last year’s $5.5-billion. Mr. Laliberté also beats Research In Motion Inc.’s duo of Mike Lazaridis ($1.8-billion, down 50 per cent) and Jim Balsillie ($1.7-billion).
{ SOURCE: Forbes, Globe and Mail }
