400 billion dollars. That is the amount of money that the Internet of Things could represent in 2024, according to some experts. It is also the estimated fortune of the richest person in history.
Forbes, the American magazine specialized in business and finance, regularly releases the rankings of the richest and most influential people in the world. One such ranking is that of the richest people in history. Some of those on the list, like Bill Gates, were expected. However, the list was still full of surprises, especially at the top.
The wealthiest man in history, according to Forbes, had $400 billion in today’s dollars (taking inflation into account). That is the estimated fortune of Mansa Moussa, the king of the Empire of Mali in the 14th century. His country was one of the greatest producers of gold at that time, which was in great demand. The country also had copper and salt mines.
King Moussa was Muslim, and when he made his pilgrimage to Mecca, he reportedly brought with him 60,000 men and 80 camels each carrying 150 kg of gold, which he used to build a mosque in each city he entered on a Friday. He also spent so much gold that its value dropped, causing inflation in these cities for 10 years.
Sources:
http://www.channelnews.fr/59078-59078
http://www.slateafrique.com/96637/milliardaire-lhomme-le-plus-riche-de-lhistoire-est-malien
http://www.24hgold.com/francais/actualite-or-argent-histoire-de-mansa-moussa-et-de-la-mine-d-or-de-wassoulor.aspx?contributor=Histoire+de+l%27Or&article=1070014372G10020
http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2012/10/17/le-classement-des-hommes-les-plus-riches-de-lhistoire_n_1974619.html
http://quoi.info/actualite-societe/lhomme-le-plus-riche-de-lhistoire-est-un-africain-1152964/
http://www.aps.dz/economie/33232-400-milliards-da-pour-la-cr%C3%A9ation-de-zones-d%E2%80%99activit%C3%A9s-et-l%E2%80%99am%C3%A9nagement-d%E2%80%99autres
Photo credit: Jacky77 via Pixabay, CC0 Public Domain License
