THIRTEEN MILLIONS A YEAR.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 25 September 1912, Page 3

THIRTEEN MILLIONS A YEAR.

Some idea of the enormous wealth of "the richest man in the world" may be gathered from an announcement made in the "New York World."

Counsel who are conducting the litigation begun to determine the relationship between the Standard Oil Com-

pany and its former subsidiary compames have secured data, for computing the wealth of Mr. John D. Rockfe.ler, from which it appears that the Standard Oil magnate is now worth

£180,000,000. This estimate is only approximate, for the' value of Mr. Rockfeller's investments fluctuates daily, but it is understood to be as correct as can be calculated.

This enormous sum not only shows that Mr. Rockfeller is the richest man the world has ever known, but that it is probable his wealth is unsurpassed by that of any two living multi-million-air ;s, thus putting him in a class by himself. s Mr. Rockfeller's chief source

of income is Standard Oil stock, which gives him £8,000,000 a year. Hi s other holdings average ,£4,000,000 more, making- his usual income £12,000,000 a year, which works out at £230,769 a week, or nearly £23 a minute. In one year since the panic of 1907, Mr. Rockfeller's income reached the extraordinary total for twelve months of £27,500,000. But in average years his income does not rise above £12,000,000.

In 1865 Mr. Rockfeller possessed his first £1000, and ten years later it had increased to £1,000,000, and in 1890 he was worth £20,000,000. Since then his wealth has grown, at an unprecedented rate. Since the United States Supreme Court dissolved the Standard Oil Trust a year ago, Mr. Rockfeller's wealth has increased by £20,000,000, which represents the increase in the stock values of his holdings in subsidiary companies which have been compelled to separate from the parent corporation.

Mr. Rockfeller has given £35,000,000 to charity since his accumulations began, but his present ambition, which is to leave the bulk of his fortune intact for general philanthropic purposes, under the control of a board of trustees, will not be realised. Congress has refused to give him such a charter for his "Rockfeller Foundation" as he desires, through the fear that so enormous an income might be used to the public detriment, and he will be permitted to g-ive only £20,000,000 to the "Rockfeller Foundation." What he will do with the rest of his fortune is

understood to be the absorbing thought of his declining years.