The scale of their wealth
Health
The price of life
Let's compare Michael S. Smith's fortune with the healthcare spending of a massive country
Michael S. Smith could fund the entire healthcare system of DR Congo, with a population of over 105,800,000 people, for approximately 1.4 years.
But even if we compare their fortune with that of a rich country
On the other end, Michael S. Smith could cover the healthcare spending of Luxembourg, considered the most heavily funded healthcare system in the world, for 0.6 years.
Education
Buying the future
Let's also compare their fortune with education spending, first with a poor country
Michael S. Smith could cover the total cost of Nigeria's education system, the most populous country in Africa with over 243,000,000 inhabitants, for 0.9 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 Michael S. Smith could pay for it entirely for 1.2 years.
Research
The monopoly on progress
Coming full circle, we think it's also interesting to add another gigantic country
Michael S. Smith could fully fund the state research budget of Pakistan, the fifth most populous country in the world with over 260,000,000 inhabitants, for 5.1 years.
And of course, the country that invests the most per capita worldwide
But even if we compare the total wealth of Michael S. Smith 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
Michael S. Smith's fortune is equivalent to 21 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.
Michael S. Smith could buy 5,485,898 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 Michael S. Smith will almost certainly have enough money left over to pay for the gas.
Biography
Smith raised more than $15 billion in debt to build three giant plants at Freeport, Texas to chill and export 15 million tons per year of liquefied natural gas -- equivalent to 2 billion cubic feet per day.
He made his first fortune with oil and gas company Basin Exploration, which he sold in 2001 for $428 million.
Enjoys homes in Miami Beach, Malibu and the Hamptons.
Freeport LNG was originally envisioned as an LNG import terminal; when the shale gas boom arrived, Smith turned his strategy 180 degrees.
Financial Assets
Financial assets information not available.
Monthly wealth history
Fortune comparison
Historical data not available for comparison