10 Rich guys/gals that never were…

I came across a very interesting article, that day on Forbes: the richest fictional guys ever and man, it was inspiring, to read the biographies of the likes of Lex Luthor and Bruce Wayne. Of course, I couldn't copy it down, specially since they made Santa Claus, the richest man on earth (after all a guy who lives 1600 years, is bound to be rich)…
but it did inspire me to come up with my own list from a wide variety of contemporary fiction. Below are the richest people in the world…who don't really exist.

10. Lara Croft
Heir, Van-Croft Industries
Holdings: $800 million
Assets: Technology
Hometown:
Lara Van-Croft, popularly known as the Tomb Raider, was suddenly left with a fortune after the unfortunate death of her father. An avid adventurer, Lara Croft has traveled all over the world in search of ancient tombs. Specializing in finding ancient artifacts and treasures, Ms. Croft has become a mini-celebrity herself in the archeological world. A dedicated rightist, she frequently ends up fighting against evil businessmen, who want to take over the world. Thus in the line of her work she sometimes ends up saving the world too. Already having five games and two movies under her belt, Ms. Croft is surely to gain more wealth unless she kills herself first by jumping off a cliff or something.

9. Dr. Benton Quest
Senior Scientist, Quest Virtual Labs
Holdings: $935 million
Assets: Telecommunications, Virtual Technology
Hometown: Maine, Florida
Perhaps the most brilliant scientist alive, Dr. Quest is the chief programmer and visionary behind the Quest World: a state-of-the-art virtual reality program. It is estimated that by the year 2020, the Quest World will completely replace the Internet as the main global telecom backbone. Currently it is being used by the US Military for training, reconnaissance, and weapon testing. In medicine, it is being used to conduct research on the human mind. In Universities, research labs and Media Centres all over the world, the Quest World is now the principal database, replacing the 30 year old Oracle Systems. Dr. Quest has made millions, selling the rights to his program, and continues to conduct research on it. Though not directly in charge of Quest Labs, he lives in Maine, Florida with his son Johnny Quest and actively pursues his lifelong obsessions- ancient civilization and culture.

9. Montogomery Burns
Owner, Springfield Nuclear Power Plant
Assets: $ 1.2 billion
Holdings: Nuclear Power Plant
Hometown: Springfield, USA
Mr. Burns would have been the richest man in the world…if it wasn't for Homer Simpson who lost his 1 trillion dollar note. An eccentric man, he seems to spend most of his time alone, doing basically nothing. His faithful assistant, Smithers, does all his work and in fact manages the whole business. Mr. Burns is known specially for his golfing, bargaining and bullying skills. Almost killed last year, by Maggie Simpson, Mr. Burns now devotes his time to buying up little tropical island nations from evil dictators.

8. Hiram Lodge
Principal Shareholder, Lodge Holdings
Assets: $1.1 billion
Holdings: Investment House, Banks and Insurance
Hometown: Riverdale, USA
Mr. Lodge has built up his fortunes, buying and selling real estate. Now, the owner of Lodge Banks, Lodge Insurance and Lodge Properties, he has created a formidable business empire for himself. Respected and revered by his peers and partners Mr. Lodge has controlled Lodge Holdings, his biggest firm successfully for over 30 years. A personal enemy of Archie Andrews, and anything to do with parties and loud music, Mr. Lodge is still a very softhearted man, donating to a variety of causes specially the development of Riverdale.

7.Richard Rich the Fifth
Owner, Rich Industries
Assets: $ 1.9 billion
Holdings: Everything that comes to mind!
Hometown: Richville, USA
Selling everything from diamonds, to hotels, to real estates to boats, Richard Rich the Fifth, or better known as Mr. Rich has everything. So why is he at number 7? Its because, he spends majority of his wealth doing stupid stuff like making a gold plane, a gold boat, a gold house, a gold safe!? And keeping a resident scientist (Dr. Keen Bean)- who makes almost about everything pointless known to man (like a jumping washing machine, or a super-strong burglar grabber …whatever that is). His son, Richie Rich, is reportedly the richest boy in the world- and paradoxically owns a dog which is perhaps the stupidest one alive.

6. Terry Benedict
Owner, Vega Casinos and Resorts
Assets: $5.3 billion
Although recently he had $160 million dollars stolen from him, by a mysterious gang of 11 thieves calling themselves- Ocean's Eleven, Terry Benedict remains firmly lodged at number 6. A brilliant and cunning tactician, he now owns five casinos and hotels in Las Vegas, the largest one being the MGM Grand, which earns him about $500 m per year in revenues. Also owning the Delta Plaza hotels, Sheraton NewLands, and Bellagio, Terry Benedict has made a mission of owning the entire city of Las Vegas, by the age of 40. Known for his keen insights and ruthlessness, Terry Benedict never lets anyone go- and has a reputation for ruining the lives of those who let him down…and it seems, the Oceans' Eleven are next on his hit-list.

5. The Corleone Family
Head: Michael Corleone
Holdings: Gambling, Liquor, Banking
Assets: $ 830 million
Hometown: New York
The last great Mafia Family from Sicily, the Corleones are in control of a business empire extending for over fifty years. Although majority of the family assets is legitimate, the initial wealth was built up from gambling, loan-sharks and boot-legging operations. The Corleone's once controlled New York- and this enabled them to maintain a steady flow of income, from business and extortion. However the family fortunes took a major blow after the death of the founder Vito Corleone and his eldest son, Santino Corleone. The family was left in the hands of the inexperienced Michael Corleone. However a major strategic shift to Las Vegas, re-established the family finances. Currently owning ten casinos all over Las Vegas- the Corleone family has also expanded their business to Nevada, South Caroline, Chicago and San Francisco. The recent acquisition of the banks of late Herman Roch- rocketed the family to number one in the Forbes Richest Family List. Michael Corleone has good links with the Vatican Bank- where he donates about millions each year. In return he gets preferred loan and saving schemes- which earns him a staggering $150 million in interest annually. In his late 60's Michael Corleone is now spending most of his time strengthening his already strong political connections.

4. Willie Wonka
Chairman and owner of Wonka's Chocolates
Total Assets: $5.6 billion
Holdings: Chocolate and Confectioneries
Age: 49
Nationality: British
Wilbur Wonka or better known as 'Willie' has been enthralling kids and adults alike with his fantastic brand of chocolates for over 20 years. Some call his chocolates the touch of god, because of its amazing taste and sheer variety. This is the man who bought out the edible bubble gum, sugar coated eggs, the TV-chocolate to name a few. His genius is more amazing due to the fact that he invents and creates all these chocolates himself. After a mighty labour struggle in the early 1980's- he expressed his utter disgrace at the British Labour Union, by firing all his workers. He then hired mysterious workers called "Ooompa Lampas" to help him run the factory, workers who have shown him an unusual degree of loyalty. To this day no humans are admitted into the factory. Willie Wonka, the man himself is single and almost never appears in public, but remains a major donor of numerous charities and children's organizations.

3. Norman Osborne
CEO, Osborne Industries
Assets: $7.2 billion
Holdings: Technology
Age: 44
Hometown: New York, USA
Scientific entrepreneur, Norman Osborne is having a tough year. After showing lower than expected profits, the stock-points of Osborne Industry are dipping for the first time in 20 years. It is even rumoured that he might be dislodged from the Industry board of directors. A genius in his own right, Norman Osborne specializes in innovating in fields too dangerous and controversial for the normal scientist. His Bio-technology Labs, earns him millions and continues to churn out ground breaking new products. Recently he claimed that he was working on a wonder drug, which can dramatically enhance human strength and endurance. Titled, 00 , this drug is expected to hit the market next year. Norman Osborne, however is said to suffer from multiple personality disorder-recently breaking up with his wife. His only son, Harry Osborne, now attends high school in New York. A good friend of Lex Luthor, Osborne supplies LuthorCorp with the majority of its subsidiary equipments.

2. Bruce Wayne
CEO, Wayne Enterprise
Holdings: $17 billion.
Assets: Inheritance, Insurance and Technology
Age: 30
Hometown: Gotham City, USA
Perhaps one of the most remarkable financial success stories ever, Bruce Wayne managed to convert the relatively small 300 million dollar Wayne Enterprise into a 17 billion dollar monster in the space of 12 years. The majority of his profits comes from his telecom firm, Wayne Telecoms which is perhaps the biggest one in the states. Losing his parents to a mugging incident at the age of 8, Wayne has lead a solitary and tormented life. Despite his incredible riches, he is still single, prefers to spend most of his time alone, and is rarely in his office. The sudden disappearances of Wayne, puzzles many of his staff- and he has been linked to the legendary Batman, as the protector of Gotham City. As a businessman, Wayne's charm, charisma and force of character has won him admiration from both his peers and business partners. He instills extreme loyalty from his workers which has made Wayne Enterprise the most efficient in the world. Despite that, analysts suggest that Wayne Enterprises show lower than expected profits. A personal friend of the Gotham City Police Inspector Wayne has donated millions to the police force, which has made Gotham one of the safest places to live in. He has also donated to various aid and children's organizations- perhaps as a reminiscent of his own childhood.

1. Lex Luthor
CEO, LuthorCorp
Assets: $32 billion
Holdings: Technology
Age: 33
Hometown: Metropolis, USA
Growing up in one of the richest families in the states, Lex Luthor's early childhood was tortured and humiliating. At the age of 8 he lost all his hair from a freak meteoroid accident and at the age of 9, he lost both his mother and his baby brother. His father Lionel Luthor more interested with corporate maneuvering than looking after a son, ignored Lex and he grew up as a rebel, getting into trouble more than often. Lex Luthor blames his father for his lost youth and that was one of the reasons for them growing apart. Indeed, the two had duels on more than one occasion, especially over the ownership of Luthor Fertilizer Plants in Smallville. Lex Luthor came into power in 2001, after raising homicide charges against his own father. After the imprisonment of Lionel Luthor, there was no looking back. LuthorCorp- stocks skyrocketed. Ruthless, smart and cunning Lex Luthor had quickly gobbled up up-and-coming industries like SummerHolt Labs. He ruthlessly pushed out competitors like the late Sir Henry and the TeBridge Family. An insane risk taker, he has invested millions in developing controversial drugs and weapons for the US Military. He doesn't stop on any moral grounds, a tactic that landed him in jail on more than one occasion. That doesn't stop LuthorCorp from becoming more powerful though. Already having assets three times greater than the total assets of NASA, Luthor is now claimed to be the most powerful and influential man in the whole of the States. Running for the US presidency next year, Luthor is a sure candidate to get the most powerful job in the world, unless Superman stops him again.

By Rezwan

The Negotiator

Suspense, drama, action, romance, and politics all come together in this literary gem by the heavyweight of political thrillers, Frederick Forsythe. Critically acclaimed as rivalling The Day of the Jackal in terms of mind-boggling twists, the Negotiator is a novel that will keep you sweating bullets till the very end.

In any other review, I'd probably tell you what the story revolves around, but with the Negotiator, it's a different case. There are plenty of plots and sub-plots that ultimately tie in together in the very end.

With the Free World's supply of oil drying up, the West must turn to the Middle East for its needs. John Cormack, president of the United States, and Mikhail Gorbachev, General Secretary of the CPSU, believe a mutual reduction in arms expenditure will free the resources that they need to buy their oil. Not everyone is so peace-minded, though. Two groups meet separately in a desperate conference. Their aim? To grab control over the Arab oil reserves. The only thing that stands between them and the oil is the Nantucket Treaty, and so a sinister plan is made.

The kidnapping of a young man attending Oxford University in England is the first step in this plan. Veteran hostage negotiator Quinn is asked to come out of retirement in Spain and bargain for the boy's life. While an ambitious senator campaigns against the Nantucket treaty and vice-president Michael Odell seeks to handle the crisis, Quinn and an attractive FBI agent named Sam Somerville attempt to reason with the kidnappers, unaware that a ransom is not their objective.
Now how is the kidnapping of a young student related to a plan to grab oil from the Arabs? You'll have to read it to find out.

Twist follows twist as love, courage, desperation, betrayal, and revenge takes the story from America to the Middle East, and then all over Europe. Forsythe's keen insight into global politics, particularly during the Post Cold-War era lends credibility to the story.

In short, The Negotiator is not a story to be missed.
By Sabrina F Ahmad