All the Money in the World

How the Forbes 400 Make - and Spend - Their Fortunes

By: Peter W. Bernstein

Narrated by: Marc Cashman

Published to coincide with the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Forbes 400, All the Money in the World, the work of a team of prominent editors and business writers, goes behind the celebrated list to paint a vivid and revealing portrait of the wealthiest Americans of the past quarter century. Abundantly anecdotal, with insights gleaned from original research, interviews with Forbes 400 members, and never-before-compiled data, it is filled with illuminating "infographics". This book shows how the superrich succeed, how fortunes are made in various industries, and how, once made, they are saved, enhanced, and sometimes squandered.

From Wall Street to the West Coast, from blue-collar billionaires to blue-blood fortunes, from the Google guys to hedge fund honchos, All the Money in the World gives us the lowdown on, among other things: the all-time richest Americans, who made and lost the most money in the past 25 years, the fields and industries that have produced the greatest wealth, the biggest risk takers, the most competitive players, the most wasteful family feuds, the trophy wives, the most conspicuous consumers, the biggest art collectors, the most and least generous philanthropists.

Produced in collaboration with Forbes magazine, All the Money in the World is a vastly entertaining, behind-the-scenes look at today's Big Rich, a subject of enduring fascination to all Americans.

©2007 Peter W. Bernstein (P)2007 Books on Tape

Interesting Coffee Fodder, Although Quite Looooong

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Mind-blowing how billions can be made and lost. Definitely stretched my context for the money that's available in this world.

Also found myself a little saddened when hearing how certain trust-fund babies (and wives, ex-wives, family members, etc) live their entire lives in and out of court squabbling over big-time money in the event of a magnate's death.

Although the big money would be great, is that really any way to live life? Never certain that your money is yours because someone may come and sue you for it? Having difficultly focusing on your business, work, family, friends, etc, because there's non-stop warfare and countless lawsuits spanning decades over the family warchest? Where's the peace of mind that you actually get to enjoy the money and sleep tight and night? Ugh. Saddening.

Plus, is that really what humans are on this earth to do, is fight in court non-stop? I hope not. Sad, but true that this kind of thing happens all the time, including right now in some courtroom.

Lamenting all of this makes it seem like the book is only a downer. Not true. I really dug other parts of the book, including the exploration on what helped the billionaires make their money in the first place. Fascinating!

Plus the discussion of the Buffet family, and Warren's COLOSSAL donation to the Gates Foundation... WOW WOW WOW.

I recommend this as a high Tier-2 business / marketing / money / self-help kind of book. Not a Tier 1 book like "Good to Great" (Jim Collins) or any of the classics like "How to Win Friends and Influence People" (Dale Carnegie). But a solid choice if you listen / read many books in this genre and are looking to round out your education / context further.

What about Marc Cashman’s performance did you like?

His narration allowed me to not notice his narration... I could focus on the content.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not a chance... it's a monster.