Bill Alfond
Source of wealth: Shoes
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The scale of their wealth
Health
The price of life
Let's compare Bill Alfond's fortune with the healthcare spending of a massive country
Bill Alfond could fund the entire healthcare system of DR Congo, with a population of over 105,800,000 people, for approximately 1.5 years.
But even if we compare their fortune with that of a rich country
On the other end, Bill Alfond could cover the healthcare spending of Luxembourg, considered the most heavily funded healthcare system in the world, for 0.7 years.
Education
Buying the future
Let's also compare their fortune with education spending, first with a poor country
Bill Alfond could cover the total cost of Nigeria's education system, the most populous country in Africa with over 243,000,000 inhabitants, for 1.0 years.
And yes, we can also compare it with a rich country
But they couldn't just cover the cost of a poor country; Luxembourg is considered the country with the highest per capita investment in education in the world, and Bill Alfond could pay for it entirely for 1.4 years.
Research
The monopoly on progress
Coming full circle, we think it's also interesting to add another gigantic country
Bill Alfond could fully fund the state research budget of Pakistan, the fifth most populous country in the world with over 260,000,000 inhabitants, for 5.8 years.
And of course, the country that invests the most per capita worldwide
But even if we compare the total wealth of Bill Alfond with Israel, the country that invests the most per capita in research in the world, they could cover the total cost of the system for 0.1 years.
Gold
Everyday luxuries
Bill Alfond's fortune is equivalent to 24 tons of gold. It's hard to process, since we don't usually keep a handful of gold bars in our piggy banks.
A standard gold ring usually weighs between 4 and 7 grams. Let's say this one weighs 5 grams. It's usually 18 karats.
Based on today's gold price (excluding the jeweler's commission, shipping, or anything else), that ring would be worth $546.86.
Bill Alfond could buy 6,290,257 gold rings. That's a lot of fingers and way too many gifts!!
And if you're struggling to visualize that many rings, it would take 1 trucks to transport them. Although Bill Alfond will almost certainly have enough money left over to pay for the gas.
Biography
Bill Alfond is one of three living heirs who are billionaires thanks to Warren Buffett's purchase of the Dexter Shoe Company.
Bill's father, Harold Alfond, bought an old mill in Maine in 1958 and turned it into a shoemaker that sold millions of boots and casual shoes a year.
In 1993 Harold sold the company to Buffett for about $420 million in Berkshire Hathaway stock, now worth billions due to the rising share price.
Bill and his brother Ted are minority investors in Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool FC and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Bill's youngest sibling, Peter, died in July at age 65 from malaria, which he contracted during a trip to Africa.
Financial Assets
Monthly wealth history
Fortune comparison
Historical data not available for comparison