Bill Gates’s Wealth

At last count, Bill Gates had an estimated net worth of $42 billion dollars ($42,000,000,000.000). He has earned since his birth an average of $32.31 per heartbeat, and this is escalating. He recently donated $200 million to place computers in libraries across the country. This is 1/210 of his wealth. Here are some other things he could do:
- Pay NBA MVP Michael Jordan’s salary for 1,394 years.
- Give every man, woman and child on the face of the Earth $7.46.
- Pay every California Lottery prize for the next 34 years.
- Fund 158 Mars Pathfinder missions.
- Fund the US Department of Education for 19 years.
- Pay tuition for the residents of Seattle and Tacoma to go to the University of Washington for four years.
- Fund the US presence in the Persian Gulf for 11 months.
- Fund the US peacekeeping forces in Bosnia for 157 years.
- Buy 233,346,297 copies of Microsoft Windows 95.
- Buy 1,680,000,000 copies of his own book, buy more with his royalties from those sales, continuing the cycle and easily the best selling author of all time.
- Make Hanson the most successful musicians of all time by buying 3,529,411,765 copies of “Middle of Nowhere.”
- If he wanted to challenge George Lucas (worth only $2 billion), he could make 227 sequels to “Waterworld,” or 35,000 sequels to “Sling Blade.”
- At the median donation for spending a night in the White House, he could stay in the Lincoln Bedroom for 46,300 years.
- If he wanted to go on a killing spree in Los Angeles County, at the rate that Simpson was charged, he could kill 3,360 people and pay all his attorney fees and punitive damages.
- At the rate of 1/2 ounce per $27 million, he could pay Mike Tyson to eat 1/5 of Evander Holyfield.
- He could fly from Seattle to Paris and back on Air France 45,258,621 times.
- If he wanted to go to a local baseball game, he could buy Seattle Mariners season tickets, all of them, for 411 years, and with his spare change could buy the team and the Kingdome.
- At Denny’s, he could buy a “Grand Slam Slugger Breakfast” for 9,150,326,797 people.
- If he couldn’t get service, he could buy every man, woman and child in China a Big Mac Extra Value Meal, as long as no one “Super Sizes.”
- If they preferred, he could buy 17 billion packages of Top Ramen noodles.
- He must like coffee, and could buy over 6 billion pounds of French roast at his local Starbuck’s.
- Speaking of a cup of coffee, he could support one of those Sally Struther’s foreign kids for 113,341,969 years.
- Perhaps what he need to spend money on most is a new pair of glasses and some hair conditioner.

What do you think? We would appreciate if you could add a comment on this post…

LIAM Calls For Higher Tax Relief For Medical Insurance - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 (Bernama) - The Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM) has called on the government to consider increasing the current RM3,000 tax relief for child education and medical insurance to RM6,000.

According to the association, the current RM3,000 tax relief is not sufficient for a family to plan for their children's education needs and healthcare requirements.

"With the rising costs of education and medical treatment, Malaysians should be encouraged to take up financial planning," it said in a statement Tuesday.

LIAM said the combined tax relief of RM6,000 for life insurance/takaful premiums and contribution to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) was inadequate.

The association proposed that a separate tax relief be given solely for life insurance premiums.

LIAM also proposed that private pension schemes be established by the government to enable the working population to plan for their retirement.

"The aim is to assist Malaysians to achieve financial independence after retirement. Relying on EPF savings alone is insufficient as retirees would have to ensure their life-time savings could last another 20 to 30 years," the association said.

"There is also a large group of self-employed (about 25 percent of the working population ) who may not have any retirement savings," it added.

Another proposal by LIAM called on the government to review the tax structure of life insurance business by removing the eight percent tax paid by policyholders.

"This is to make life insurance a competitive savings/protection plan compared to unit trusts and bank deposits which are generally tax-free," the association said.

-- BERNAMA

Implement National Health Insurance Carefully, Says Chua

KUALA LUMPUR -- The National Health Insurance Scheme, as proposed in the Ninth Malaysia Plan, has to be implemented carefully to ensure it is accepted by people at all levels of society, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek told the Dewan Rakyat Thursday. He said while the scheme was proposed with a noble intention to offset the high medical cost borne by the government and the people, the ministry was aware of the implications and obstacles from financing of the scheme. "Planning for the scheme will take into account studies commissioned by the government, inputs and feedback from various parties, including from the public and private sectors and non-governmental organisations. "The government is also studying various models, including experiences of foreign countries," he said in his written reply to Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (BN-Labuan). The scheme, whose implementation mechanism and date have not been finalised, would provide the people better access to medical treatment and help check spiralling medical costs, he said. "The scheme will also provide more flexibility and freedom in opting for the preferred healthcare either in the public or private sector," he said. While the national insurance scheme was compulsory for all Malaysian citizens and permanent residents, the people would not be prevented from buying private health, accident or life insurance, he said. The government would ensure nobody was deprived access to quality, efficient and comprehensive healthcare, he added.

25 October 2007, By BERNAMA

Insurance offers protection, savings

18 July 2007, By New Straits Times
KUALA LUMPUR: Less than 40 per cent of Malaysians have insurance protection. Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal said this was because many did not realise that insurance not only provided protection but was also a form of savings. "This savings element can be used to meet future financial demands such as for education and family needs," he said at the launch of the National Insurance Association of Malaysia’s whole life insurance policy "Bijak Malaysia". The policy offers insurance coverage up to the age of 88 years against death as well as total and permanent disability due to natural and accidental causes. It will be sold by nine banks: Alliance, AmBank, CIMB, EON, Hong Leong, Maybank, OCBC, RHB and United Overseas. NIAM chairman Sonny Tan said: "Bijak Malaysia will be offered by the banks. "This is in line with the government’s effort to improve the insurance penetration rate through banks." Bijak Malaysia’s policy offers four plans with RM100, RM200, RM300 and RM500 monthly premiums. Tan said: "Usually, insurance policies have a fixed sum assured but in this case, our premiums are fixed." Since its soft launch in mid- June, total premium revenue for Bijak Malaysia was more than RM1.5 million from 2,000 policyholders. The two popular plans were the RM100 and RM200 plans. NIAM Bancassurance committee chairman Koh Heng Kong said they expected an annual premium revenue of RM50 million. The entry age for the policy is from 30 days to 53 years and policyholders will stop paying premiums after 55. On top of receiving the full sum assured upon maturity, there is a guaranteed cash payout every three years at five per cent of the sum.

Henry Butcher unveils new website

In conjunction with Henry Butcher Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s 20th anniversary, the real estate agent company has unveiled a new look for its website – www.henrybutcher.com.my.
Jul 9, 2007

In conjunction with Henry Butcher Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s 20th anniversary, the real estate agent company has unveiled a new look for its website –
www.henrybutcher.com.my.

According to director Long Tian Chek, the new website is easier to use, more informative and boasts a more polished feel.

Visitors to the website are also able to read up on updated news on various topics such as property reviews, articles and market snippets as well as media releases, exhibitions and seminars related to the real estate and property industry, in addition to upcoming auctions listings.

“The website will be constantly updated to keep you informed of our services, track records and contacts,” he added.