Celebrity Billionaires Shape Our Tastes
Cited: ABC News
Did you know that there are 1,011 billionaires in the world? You may even recognize some of them because of media exposure if not overexposure. Those recognize are deemed the “celebrity billionaires” because they are more than just rich, they are also famous and among the most well-known people on the planet. In fact these “celebrity billionaires” influence us all in what we wear, watch, read and even invest in. Take a look at Steve Jobs or Mark Zuckerberg.
Others may be wealthier or more influential atop the worlds of technology, media, fashion and finance, but these 10 not only reap billions from their holdings but also shape our tastes–what we wear, watch, read, invest in and, increasingly, how we communicate with each other.
On this last point no one trumps teen titan turned household name Mark Zuckerberg. With the exploding interest in Facebook, the former Harvard student is now a billionaire (net worth $4 billion) and one of the most recognizable people among millions of social-media obsessed Americans, who have put his company at the center of their daily lives.
Expect his profile to grow now that Hollywood has taken interest. David Fincher ( Seven, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) is directing a film starring Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake about the early days at the company.
The founder and media favorite Steve Jobs (net worth $5.5 billion) is even more influential and well-known. While fellow technology titans like Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison ($28 billion) and Michael Dell ($13.5 billion) may be worth far more, Jobs is unquestionably the face of Silicon Valley. A lifetime creating groundbreaking consumer technology products is part of the reason, but he’s also the best showman in the business. Earlier this year he somehow turned the release of a tablet computer free of any radical computing advances into a media event that garnered front-page headlines around the world.
For those who are influenced by what the rich wear . . . Whether you need a cocktail dress, prom dresses or any other formal evening dress in plus size, misses or petite sizes you can find them online. You don’t have to spend a fortune on formal wear or designer dresses to look great for your special occasion. You can find dresses for homecoming that come directly from the designer to you online.
This kind of bewitching star power is ripe for parody. A comedy series inspired by a fictional Steve Jobs blog and follow-up book written by former Forbes staffer Dan Lyons is being developed for pay cable channel Epix.
Oprah Winfrey doesn’t need any more media hype–and may actually profit from less. Over the last 25 years Winfrey turned her syndicated talk show into America’s town square and built a $2.4 billion fortune along the way. The upcoming season will be the last for Winfrey’s eponymous talk show, an announcement that brought the Queen of All Media to tears late last year. While spin-offs from Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil and Rachael Ray will continue, Winfrey has her eyes set on something bigger: the Oprah Winfrey Network, a cable network jointly owned by poised to bow in January 2011.
Let’s not forget another similar story with universal appeal, Steven Spielberg ($3 billion). He is Hollywood’s preeminent storyteller and has been for two generations. He is the man behind the library of seminal films that include Jaws, Raiders of the lost Ark, ET, Jurassic Park and Schindler’s list. Recently he has released a fourth installment of Indiana Jones that grossed $786 million globally. Now he is about to start a new film company with $1.5 billion with India’s Reliance ADA Group and there is still more fame and fortune to come.
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My Take: For me, the only one of these billionaires that has any influence over me is Steven Spielberg. He makes excellent movies that are actually enjoyable when seen more than once. As for influencing what I would wear, I am not going to wear artful dodger jeans just because one of the billionaires did. That even includes Mek jeans and funny T-shirts! Besides, I doubt that anybody will catch a billionaire wearing a rude T shirt because it might tarnish their image.
Actually, anyone who is that influenced by someone who is rich and/or famous has very low self-esteem. They should try thinking for themselves instead of trying to imitate others. Billionaires are usually more interested in promotional products for their companies. You’ll often see a businessman in a casual situation handing out imprinted pens or promotional T-shirts to promote their companies.
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Other Resources
Celebrity Smoke
Today, you rarely see a celebrity smoking in public. If you do, they are probably using e cigarettes contain only water, liquid nicotine and flavoring. There is absolutely no tar, no carcinogens, and no carbon monoxide and know particulates. An e cigarette is electronic, that means that it does not burn like a regular cigarette. It produces a vapor mist that is completely satisfying to the smoker in every way that a conventional cigarettte is. It also means that the e-cig is healthier!
Tags: Dresses for Homecoming, E-Cig, Imprinted Pens