When the U.S. economy was riding high for most of the 20th century, it would have been impossible to imagine a foreign city--especially one in a Communist country--with more of the planet's very richest than New York, home of old-money Wall Street. But that indeed is the case. Today Moscow is the city with the most billionaire residents in the world.
The Russian capital boasts 79 billionaires, a stunning increase of 21 in just one year. That more than edges out No. 2 New York, with 59 billionaires, and No. 3 London with 41. Other cities in the top 15 include such rising stars as Mumbai, Taipei, Sao Paolo and Istanbul. Los Angeles manages a tie for No. 8.
The combined fortunes of Moscow's billionaire population top $375 billion, more privately amassed wealth than in any other city in the world.
Despite New York's relegation to second place, the city remains a favored locale of billionaires, whose collective net worth is $221 billion. The Big Apple boasts some of the most expensive ZIP codes in the U.S., due in part to the real estate prices paid by billionaires in this city. Indeed, many Moscow residents own secondary homes in New York, including fertilizer and coal magnate Andrey Melnichenko, whose wife recently closed on a $12.2 million penthouse apartment. Even the world's richest man, Carlos Slim (home: Mexico City), snatched up a $44 million mansion on Central Park last year.
Cities with the most billionaires – 2011
Starbucks & speculators: Is manipulation of the coffee market a good or bad thing?
Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) has stopped buying coffee? Wha--aat?
Before you panic, girlfriend, let us assure you that no one is here to take away your double-caff, extra hot, no foam, skinny cappuccino.
Recent media reports are saying that the friendly neighbourhood java joint has ceased buying coffee until prices drop. Back in January, Starbucks reported that the high prices were going to cut into the company's profitability, but it wouldn't pass the costs onto North American customers just yet.
Last week, John Culver, president of Starbucks Coffee International was reported as saying, "We do believe, however, that prices are going to fall again. For this year, we have locked our coffee costs but we watch the market closely."
Locking in coffee costs does not mean a coffee lockdown. This does not - we repeat - does not mean that Starbucks won't be buying any more coffee to serve you this year. What it means is that Starbucks has ensured a stable price for their beans, fixing a price with their suppliers for the duration of 2011.
Top 5 Habits of the Happiest Couples
Good Housekeeping blogger Andrea Frazer shares the secrets of happy couples.
1. Reach Out
In the words of an old commercial, "Reach out and touch someone..." But not just anyone. Your spouse! They'll be sure to thank you for it. And while you might not be having sex with the pool man or the cashier in the grocery store (or maybe you are, but that's a different blog post) there's no reason you can't break through that wall we all put up with a friendly, "Thanks. Hey, how is your day going?"
Related: 18 Clues He's Still Crazy About You
2. Make Friends
If you're like me, you'll find that when you let other people into your world, you don't put so much pressure on your spouse to be Mr. Everything.
Related: The Five Girlfriends Every Woman Needs
3. Be Thankful
Yes, it's a bit cliché, but it works. I wrote a poem recently expressing just how thankful I am for the little things Rex does to keep this household running. I have continued writing in my journal also. When I see on paper just how much Rex brings to the table, I'm far less cranky at the way he clicks his fork against his teeth while eating my pesto salad. Or the way he leaves shoes all over the floor just waiting for me to trip and break my neck. Okay, now I'm getting mad. So I'll end it with a "Thank you, Rex, for trusting me to write about us and never once — not once — giving me a hard time about talking about you getting hard...all the time." Moving on.
Five reasons to add healthy watercress to your salad
Hippocrates - who once said "let food be thy medicine" - was known to feed watercress to his patients. With more than 15 essential vitamins and minerals, it is no surprise that the ancient Greeks ensured their soldiers enjoyed watercress before battle. If you compare watercress to other foods by weight, it contains more vitamin C than citrus, more iron than spinach, and more calcium than milk.
Five more reasons to eat watercress
1. Watercress is high in antioxidants: Daily environmental stressors wreak havoc on our cells by causing damage at the most fundamental levels. Watercress helps to prevent this kind of damage to the DNA through its antioxidant protection.
2. Watercress may help prevent cancer: Watercress contains a compound called phenethyl isothiocyanate, which studies have shown could be a powerful preventative agent against esophageal and lung cancers.
Seven ways to wreck a used car sale
If you don't sabotage yourself, it's a great time to be selling your used car.Prices for used cars, as measured by the Manheim Index, a gauge for wholesale used-car values, have been at or near all-time highs since the last quarter of 2010, and consumers are looking to cut costs by buying gently used cars over new ones.
More from Bankrate:
• Tackling a costly car loan
• Smartphone apps for drivers
• 5 DIY car maintenance tipsA 2011 Consumer Reports survey found 65 per cent of respondents said they were more likely to consider a late-model used car than they were a few years ago.
Still, it's possible to bungle your way into a bad price for your used car. Looking at seller advertisements, you'd never know people were trying to sell one of their most valuable possessions. If private auto sellers could win prizes for grainiest photo or most imaginative price, the competition would be fierce.
If you'd rather get top dollar for your car than serve as a punch line for prospective car buyers, take a minute to check out these common, used-car sales mistakes and how you can avoid them.
Sell your car to a dealer
It's hard to beat it for convenience, but selling or trading your car at a dealership is a good way to lose out on $1,000 or more, says Melanie Kovach, senior director of private seller sales for AutoTrader.com, a website that hosts used-car classifieds.
'Charlie's Angels': The Original Cast
If you missed "Charlie's Angels" the first time around in the 1970s, watch out for the reboot on ABC coming next season. With TV series like "Bones" and "The Closer" — or even past dramas like "Alias" — a strong, pretty woman lead is pretty standard fare for TV viewers these days. But cast your mind back to 1976: The TV drama starring three women as detectives was an entirely new concept. The original was produced by none other than Aaron Spelling ("Beverly Hills, 90210"). The Angels were three stunning women detectives with a millionaire, mysterious boss who was heard only on speakerphone and who worked through his assistant, Bosley. The small-screen versions of the original cast made icons of the flip-haired, bell-bottom-jean-wearing women with judo skills who toted handguns, not handbags.
Rebooted 'Pirates' sets overseas box office record (AP)
NEW YORK - The reengineered "Pirates of the Caribbean" sequel "On Stranger Tides" found its smoothest sailing overseas, where it took in a record $256.3 million at the international box office, according to studio estimates Sunday.
That surpasses the previous record foreign opening of the sixth "Harry Potter" film, 2009's "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," which earned $236 million internationally.
Walt Disney co. said "On Stranger Tides," the fourth "Pirates" installment, earned $90.1 million domestically. Its combined worldwide total is $346.4 million, the fourth largest global opening ever.
The new 3-D film jettisons co-stars Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom, but brings back Johnny Depp as Capt. Jack Sparrow. "Chicago" director Rob Marshall took the helm from Gore Verbinski, who directed the trilogy. Penelope Cruz and Ian McShane introduce new characters.
It was a risky reboot considering the popularity of the previous "Pirates" films. The last, 2007's "At World's End," opened with $114.7 million.