By Steve Rhodes
“Bill Gates retained his spot atop the Forbes 400 richest Americans, a list that is becoming decidedly more wealthy,” Reuters reports.
“The annual Forbes 400 wealthiest Americans list showed that total wealth climbed 19 percent in the last year to $2.02 trillion, up from $1.7 trillion, with an average net worth per individual of $5 billion, up from $ 4.2 billion in 2012. It now takes $1.3 billion in assets just to get on the list.”
It’s not just the rich getting richer, it’s the richest.
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Fifteen Chicagoans made the list, led by Ken Griffin at No. 103. Griffin’s net worth is estimated to be $4.4 billion.
The highest ranking Illinoisan, Ken Griffin, 44, came in at 103rd with a net worth of $4.4 billion.
Griffin is hedge fund manager who once said the ultrawealthy “have an insufficient influence” on our political system.
He’s also a huge Rahm Emanuel supporter despite being a staunch conservative because they share a lot of interests.
Also:
* Six Pritzkers made the list.
* Sam Zell came in at No. 101 with a net worth of $4 billion. He left the Tribune Company bankrupt.
* Ty Warner came in at No. 209 with a net worth of $2.6 billion. That’s a lot of Beanie Babies.
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Rahm Announces Mystery School, Then Disappears
“Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Sunday announced a new neighborhood elementary school will be built on the Far Southeast Side to alleviate overcrowding,” the Sun-Times reports.
“But aside from that, few details were offered. And some parents of students at Gallistel Elementary Language Academy, where the announcement was made, were left fuming at the news.”
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“Emanuel didn’t take questions Sunday – he left without speaking to reporters or community members who raised their hands,” the Tribune reports.
He’s been doing a lot of that lately, though he can always find time to fly to New York to do Letterman.
Wicker Murder
This dude was arrested on the front stoop of the building I live in. The gun was found in our yard.
Just last week ABC filmed a TV show scene on that same stoop.
Financial Meltdown
“Mayor Rahm Emanuel has lost another top-level financial aide – at a very awkward time,” Greg Hinz reports for Crain’s.
“In what, at a minimum, is a case of exquisitely bad luck for the mayor, Andrew Sheils, the first deputy in the Department of Finance and the acting comptroller, on Sept. 12 quietly left city government to take a private-sector job with a Florida health care provider.
“Mr. Sheils got the post of acting comptroller in late July, when then-Comptroller Amer Ahmad abruptly resigned, saying he wanted to move back to Ohio and spend more time with his family. Just weeks later, Mr. Ahmad was indicted in an alleged kickback scheme involving his former job as deputy Ohio state treasurer.”
Riot Fest Plus
The Replacements headlined a pretty amazing bill in Humboldt Park this weekend. We have the highlights.
The Bears Are Actually Entertaining
Good riddance, Lovie!
Konerko Is Dunn
Just another struggling slugger traipsing back to the dugout.
Theo Is Full Of Crap, Source Says
Plagiarizing Andy MacPhail.
How To Book A Train From Chicago To LA
Choose a line, tip your waiters.
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The Beachwood Tip Line: Your move, chief.
Posted on September 16, 2013