BRW Rich 200

So I finally got around to buying my annual copy of the BRW Rich 200. I think it's terribly unfair that the cutoff has (AGAIN!) been raised, this year to $180M net worth. It was disappointing. I was THIS CLOSE to getting into the list which is within earshot of the list that is on the way to the BRW Sort Of On The Way To Being Somewhat Middle Class 200, which as you know is not far from the Rich 200.

Anyway I got a copy and sent an email out to my colleagues, see if any of them wanted to mentally crucify themselves by reading about the filthy rich. Especially when some on the list are probably less qualified than my Masters-level, CFA-suffering, Excel-accredited peers. Or, that we are more likely to be begging them for deals than they are to beg us to watch their TV network with stupid shows like this one. (Just on this note - wonder what Mr MacKenzie, as the new king of the idiot box, thinks about a show like this... somehow I don't think his Excel model shows a high IRR on it.)

Based on Mr SC's reply to my email invitation, he's already started to feel the pain before seeing the first page:

Me: "Copy of Rich 200 on my desk. Boozy lunch tomorrow will be the perfect opportunity to discuss the increasing gap between the have's and the have-far-too-much's."
Mr SC: "And the have-not-nearly-enough's."

There will be much lobbying for bonuses in the next three months.

PS I've only just caught up with Going Private's latest... I know, shame on me... and as always, EP's dug up some gems...

Number 1: everyone's been really hard on on this poor girl, but when you (presumably) work long hours and have lost all your friends (so sad), what else would you do with your money? Exactly - you too would buy a $3,500 bag and help the poor Chinese 14-year old girl earn her 35 cents. Don't hate her. Just laugh and move on to...

Number 2: "It made me say, 'You know what? This firm has shown a commitment to me. Let me in turn show some commitment to the firm.'" He pauses, a twinkle in his eye. "So this is a merger, if you will - Josh and KPMG." Oh dear God. The accountants think they're special.