The Rich by William Davis

There are 'rich lists' on both sides of the Atlantic, but they tell us very little about the lives of people with vast fortunes. What makes them different - are they really a breed apart? What does it take to amass great wealth, where does it come from, and what does it mean to those who have it? How do they use their money? And how do they feel about the rest of us? William Davis draws on half a century's experience in financial journalism to present a detailed portrait of the super-rich. Divided into chapters on different areas of life - the media, sport, technology, finance and so on - the book takes a penetrating look at the ambitions, methods, pleasures and ego trips of the richest people in the world. What is their power - and what are their fears? Many have inherited their wealth. Others have made billions through their own efforts - entrepreneurs like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Richard Branson and Roman Abramovitch. Showbiz has also made some people very rich, such as Elton John, Paul McCartney or Andrew Lloyd Webber, as has the media and sport with people like Rupert Murdoch or Tiger Woods. The Rich is strongly international, lively and iconoclastic, and laced with quotes and anecdotes. Superbly well-informed, it provides thought-provoking insight into a world that few people do not find fascinating.