There's making it big

There's making it big. Then there's making the Forbes 400. From Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to Steve Jobs and Nike's Phil Knight, our annual list of the richest people in America is home to icons of technology, investing and industry, with a entry level of $1 billion to make it on the list. It's an elite group, but it's hardly permanent.

Thanks to death and declining fortune, this year 34 members of the 2009 edition were off the list. And over time business cycles and the radical reshaping of the economy lead to even more tectonic shifts. In 1982 the total net worth of the Forbes 400 was $127 billion, with energy fortunes representing 21.6% of the total. This year the total net worth of the list was $1.4 trillion, and finance and investments led the way, responsible for 25.5%.

So who's waiting in the wings? Based on our research, we see 15 people as likely candidates to breach the billion-dollar barrier in the coming years. Call it the Forbes 400 Farm Team. On it are some of the biggest names in entertainment, sports' most branded athletes and businessmen on the brink of making it very big. This elite group of tech moguls, hedge-funders, athletes and entertainers is hovering under billionaire status with a strong chance of breaking into the Forbes 400 ranks this decade, including some well-known names such as Jay-Z, Jerry Seinfeld, Tiger Woods and James Cameron.

Jerry Seinfeld, with an estimated net worth of $800 million, is a very likely bet. His TV show about nothing has earned $2.7 billion in 12 years and could take in $200 million more a year, thanks to syndication payments. Seinfeld has spent some of his portion buying up New York real estate and has a four-car garage (in Manhattan!) for his fleet of vintage motors. The cash-rich star may need another hit: The Marriage Ref wasn't it.

Another likely candidate is producer Jerry Bruckheimer, worth $850 million. The Hollywood producer's blockbuster franchises, like Pirates of the Caribbean and National Treasure, have generated $9 billion at the global box office, with more to come. TV hits include the CSI franchise, Without a Trace and Amazing Race. Director James Cameron moved a lot closer with the release of Avatar, which earned $2.7 billion at the box office and is the bestselling Blu-ray disc of all time. His older films, including Titanic, have earned a combined $3 billion. We estimate his current net worth at $650 million.

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With $450 million and a career trajectory aimed right at the sky, we expect Jay-Z could make the list one day as well. Jay-Z has elevated hip-hop to rock arenas, packing ballparks with Eminem this summer. If he keeps selling out monster shows, money will rain down on all his ventures: the Roc Nation label, a back catalog (ownership reverts to him in 2014), Rocawear clothing royalties, a stake in the New Jersey Nets. He'll score nicely if a suitor buys Carol's Daughter, a hot beauty care line backed by Jay-Z and other celebs. He and wife Beyonce Knowles may already be music's first billion-dollar couple.

From sports we see two very familiar names: Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan, each worth $500 million, as likely list members one day soon. Jordan, the former Chicago Bulls wonder, earned $90 million in salary during his playing career. Most of his fortune now derives from endorsement deals with his biggest sponsor, Nike ( NKE - News); he raised his stake in the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats to 80% this year.

Woods' fortune took a beating his year. His agents, the tax man and recently divorced wife Elin Nordegren have all gotten pieces of his $130 million in career prize money and $900 million in revenue from endorsements, appearance fees and golf course design business since 1996. But he will make it to 10 figures if he starts winning again and sponsors return.

The fastest-rising member of this year's 400 was 26-year-old Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who's net worth sprung from $2 billion last year to $6.9 billion this year. Other social media mavens will likely follow his path in the years ahead. Sean Parker, cofounder of Napster ( NAPS - News) and Plaxo, was the Silicon Valley veteran who joined Facebook in 2004 as its founding president and helped it navigate initial funding. He left in 2005 for venture capital but still has a 4% stake, pushing his net worth to $920 million.

Right behind him at $850 million is Mark Pincus, the love-him-or-hate-him leader of Internet's most popular gaming site, Zynga, named for his late bulldog. Pincus' fourth startup, it grosses some $500 million from virtual goods and promotions with 7-Eleven, Target ( TGT - News) and MTV. "FarmVille," "FrontierVille" and "Zynga Poker" are its most popular games, and it's worth an estimated $5 billion right now.

Then there's Reid Hoffman. A former executive at Apple ( AAPL - News) and PayPal, Hoffman cofounded LinkedIn in 2003; networking site started making money three years later and now has 75 million users; about half its members are outside the U.S. Tiger Global Management bought 1% of the firm in July, valuing it at $2 billion. Hoffman's estimated worth: $340 million.

SEAN PARKER

©Ralph Orlowski/Getty Images for Burda Media

Facebook

Estimated net worth: $920 million

Cofounder of Napster and Plaxo, Parker was the Silicon Valley veteran who joined Facebook in 2004 as its founding president and helped it navigate initial funding. He left in 2005 for venture capital but still has a 4% stake. Justin Timberlake plays Parker in the upcoming film "The Social Network."

MARK PINCUS

©ZUMA Press/Newscom

Zynga

Estimated net worth: $850 million

Love-him-or-hate-him leader of Internet's most popular gaming site, Zynga, named for his late bulldog. Pincus' fourth startup, it grosses some $500 million from virtual goods and promotions with 7-Eleven, Target, MTV. "FarmVille," "FrontierVille" and "Zynga Poker" are its most popular games.

JERRY BRUCKHEIMER

©Phil McCarten/UPI/Newscom

Movies, TV

Estimated net worth: $850 million

The Hollywood producer's blockbuster franchises, like "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "National Treasure", have generated $9 billion at the global box office, with more to come. TV hits include the "CSI" franchise, "Without a Trace" and "Amazing Race."

JERRY SEINFELD

©Carlo Allegri/Reuters

Television

Estimated net worth: $800 million

His TV show about nothing has earned $2.7 billion in 12 years and could take in $200 million more a year, thanks to syndication payments. Seinfeld has spent some of his portion buying up New York real estate and has a four-car garage (in Manhattan!) for his fleet of vintage motors. The cash-rich star may need another hit: "The Marriage Ref" wasn't it.

ERIC LEFKOFSKY

Groupon

Estimated net worth: $750 million

Chicago investor is cofounder and 30% owner of the fastest-growing company ever, Web phenom Groupon, which updates its online audience about deep discounts on products and services. His venture fund, Lightbank, has stakes in 11 companies, including two now public ones: Innerworkings and Echo Global Logistics. As for being outed as an almost-billionaire: "It's a good thing and a bad thing."

WILLIAM ACKMAN

©Allen Fredrickson/Reuters

Hedge Fund

Estimated net worth: $700 million

Ackman may get control of Manhattan's giant apartment complex Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village. His Pershing Square Capital Management, with a partner, picked up $300 million of its junior debt and launched a foreclosure proceeding, but they may get beaten out by more senior creditors. A judge is set to rule soon. Whatever happens, the hedge fund tycoon has raised his profile.

DENNIS GILLINGS

©Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP/Getty Images

Quintiles

Estimated net worth: $700 million

Gillings founded privately held Quintiles, to which the drug industry outsources clinical trials. With $2.8 billion in annual revenue, it is the largest and most influential company in its field.

RAY R. IRANI

©Joe Pugliese

Occidental Petroleum

Estimated net worth: $700 million

Angrier shareholders will cheer when Irani, the third-highest-paid U.S. CEO of the past decade, sets a future retirement date this fall. He'll still get paid like a prince for years. Irani's $600 million in Oxy shares could benefit from a potential 1-billion-barrel find near Bakersfield, Calif., and high oil prices.

Social Network - Top 10 bintang Youtube jana $,$$$,$$$.$$

LONDON - Satu kaji selidik firma penyelidikan TubeMogul baru-baru ini menyiarkan senarai bintang-bintang YouTube yang menerima pendapatan ratusan ribu dolar selepas video mereka disiarkan di laman itu di Internet, lapor sebuah akhbar semalam.

Nama-nama bintang YouTube itu tidak pernah dikenali dalam kalangan ramai penduduk di dunia.

Namun, firma TubeMogul mendakwa sekurang-kurangnya 10 orang penghibur di YouTube termasuk penulis dan penerbit dibayar ratusan ribu ringgit pada tahun lalu menerusi pengiklanan yang dibawa masuk daripada jutaan penonton yang menonton video blog mereka.

Berada di kedudukan nombor satu ialah seorang pelawak satira, Shane Dawson yang berusia 22 tahun berasal dari California, Amerika Syarikat (AS).

Dawson memuat naik petikan-petikan pendek satira yang memberinya pendapatan sebanyak AS$315,000 (RM990,517) dalam tempoh 12 bulan lalu. Videonya ditonton 431,787,450 kali.

Menduduki tempat kedua ialah video The Annoying Orange dengan pendapatan yang dijana mencecah AS$288,000 (RM905,615).Video itu telah ditonton sebanyak 349,753,047 kali. 

Berada di tempat ketiga ialah Philip DeFranco yang menyiarkan video berkisar tentang politik dan gosip.

Pendapatan yang diperolehnya sebanyak AS$181,000 (RM569,342) apabila videonya ditonton sebanyak 248,735,032 kali.

Video komedi Ryan Higa yang tinggal di Hawaii dan berketurunan Jepun-AS ditonton lebih 206,979,909 dan memperoleh pendapatan sebanyak AS$151,000 (RM474,970) sekali gus menduduki tempat keempat.

Berada di tempat kelima ialah video Fred yang dihasilkan oleh Lukas Cruikshank dari Columbus, Nebraska.

Video mengenai menguruskan kemarahan itu menjana pendapatan AS$146,000 (RM459,462) dan ditonton sebanyak 200,656,150 kali. 

Menduduki tempat keenam ialah video seorang bekas juruhebah radio, Shay Carl yang telah menerbitkan lebih 100 filem.

Dia menjana pendapatan sebanyak AS$140,000 (RM440,579) dan videonya ditonton sebanyak 192,309,247 kali.

Berada di tangga ketujuh ialah video dari kumpulan duet Mediocre Films yang mula menghasilkan komedi pendek sejak tahun 2006. Dengan tontonan sebanyak 159,030,703 kali, video itu memperoleh pendapatan sehingga AS$116,000 (RM365,053). 

Video Smosh yang memperoleh pendapatan sebanyak AS$113,000 (RM355,610) dan ditonton 154,936,876 kali menduduki tempat kelapan.

Dalam video itu, dua lelaki, Ian Hecox dan Anthony Padilla berduet bagi menyanyikan lagu tema Pokemon.

Menduduki tempat kesembilan ialah video berita The Young Turks yang menjana pendapatan sebanyak AS$112,000 (RM352,463) dan ditonton sebanyak 153,807,362 kali.

Tempat kesepuluh penghibur YouTube diduduki oleh Natalie Tran yang merupakan pelajar berketurunan Vietnam-Australia.

Video Tran berkaitan dilema sosial dan cara untuk memiliki perut yang cantik menjana pendapatan AS$101,000 (RM318,110) dan ditonton sebanyak 138,871,829 kali. - Agensi

Ketagihan Facebook - Nak bagi makan untuk 'kambing' atau suami dulu ?

"Sayang, abang balik. Lapar ni, boleh siapkan makan?" Tanya Ali kepada isteri yang sedang berada di bilik.

"Kejap, bang. Sayang tengah bagi 'kambing' makan ni." Jawab Aminah,sambil terus melayan ternakan virtual dalam facebook, permainan yang digilai ramai orang,

"Kambing bodoh tu bagi makan, suami lapar kena tunggu pulak?" Leter suami yang setiap hari menahan sabar dengan sikap isteri yg melekat dengan facebook.

Sejam kemudian aminah pergi ke dapur. Didapatinya pinggan bekas makan suami dalam sinki dan sebuah kuali di atas dapur. Suami, seperti biasa, menggoreng sendiri telur untuk dijadikan lauk kerana tidak dapat menahan lapar menunggu hidangan isteri.

"Mama, tolong Amar buat karangan ni. " Rayu Amar kepada ibunya, Aminah malam itu.

"Amar buat dulu. Kejap lagi mama datang." Jawab ibunya. Aminah masih meneruskan hobi melayan kawan-kawan lama dalam facebook.

Dua jam kemudian, selepas Aminah menutup komputer didapatinya Amar sudah tertidur  atas buku tulis dengan pensel di tangan.Karangannya tidak habis ditulis. Terlalu lama menunggu mama yang tidak kunjung datang membantu.

Aminah adalah salah seorang dari jutaan manusia yang menjadi mangsa ketagihan facebook. Kes ketagihan facebook semakin parah dalam masyarakat barat dan kini menyusupi masyarakat Malaysia yang menyerang bukan saja anak-anak muda malah warga emas yang menghabiskan masa berjam-jam menulis dan menjawab status kawan-kawan.

Facebook dijadikan pelarian dari masalah dan tanpa disedari ia menyedut berjam-jam masa produktif yang sepatutnya digunakan untuk melunaskan amanah dan tanggungjawab. Bagi pelajar masa yangg sepatutnya untuk membuat kerja sekolah, membuat assignment, membaca buku terbuang begitu saja kerana merasakan semua itu membebankan dan beralih kepada facebook untuk melegakan perasaan.Masa untuk membaca buku bertukar kepada masa membaca facebook. Waktu beribadah pun boleh turut terjejas kerana tarikan facebook.

Hari ini tidak lagi perkara luar biasa melihat suasana di rumah orang bandar jam 8 malam yang biasanya keluarga berkumpul dan bergurau senda di ruang keluarga sambil menonton tv kini masing-masing menghadapi facebook di tempat masing-masing. Ibu dan ayah dg laptop masing-masing di bilik. Anak-anak di bilik mereka atau di ruang tamu dan masing-masing punya laptop sendiri.Tiada bunyi, tiada suara kecuali bunyi keyboard dan suara bibik sedang mencuci pinggan di dapur.

Adalah masih dikira baik kalau mereka masih berkomunikasi sesama sendiri???

Yang malangnya setiap orang sedang berfacebook dengan kawan-kawan masing dan ahli keluarga tidak termasuk dalam senarai yang di 'add' sebagai 'friends' dan tiada 'mutual friends' di kalangan ahli keluarga.

Ciri-ciri ketagihan facebook:

1. Tidak dapat berenggang dgn internet

2.Terus mencapai facebook sebaik saja bangun dari tidur, sampai di pejabat atau sampai di rumah.

3. Sentiasa terbayang apa yg ada dalam facebook semasa offline,

4. Sentiasa terbayang untuk menulis sesuatu dalam facebook semasa offline

5. Lebih selesa melayari facebook dari keluar rumah atau menonton tv

6. Masa dihabiskan lebih setengah jam setiap kali melayari facebook.

7. Melayari facebook lebih 3 kali sehari sekadar berbual kosong.

8. Facebook dijadikan tempat meluahkan perasaan.

9. sentiasa mengharapkan ramai orang memberi komen.

10. Rasa gelisah yang amat sangat apabila berada lama di tempat yang tiada internet.

Facebook amat berguna untuk merapatkan hubungan persahabatan dan keluarga, mencari teman-teman lama atau siapa saja yg ingin dihubungi sekiranya tidak dapat dihubungi dengan telefon. Adakalanya pada waktu-waktu kritikal facebook amat diperlukan untuk menghubungi seseorang.

Mat rempit dan kaki lepak dikaitkan dengan masalah anak2 generasi Y. Tetapi anak-anak generasi Z rasanya lebih selamat dari gejala rempit kerana mereka lebih suka duduk di rumah melayari internet menghubungi rakan-rakan dalam dunia maya. Malangnya mereka sukar berinteraksi secara alam realiti.

Sesuatu yang baik itu boleh digunakan untuk keburukan jika kita mahu.Sesuatu yang buruk itu boleh juga digunakan untuk kebaikan sekiranya kita mahu. Hanya akal yang terpimpin dengan prinsip agama saja yang mampu menjadikan setiap sesuatu itu menjadi berharga untuk dirinya,orang lain dan alam seluruhnya.

credit : blog iium

P/s : apa kata korang?.....