Filthy rich in the dirty South
September 27, 2007 at 1:27 pm by Scott Henry in NewsWell, you can quit waiting. Forbes has just published its annual list of the 400 wealthiest Americans, and you aren’t on it. However, five other Atlantans did make the cut; none is a big surprise and all are predictably white.
First up, as always, is willowish octogenarian Anne Cox Chambers, whose inherited media empire includes the AJC, WSB radio and TV and scores of other newspapers and broadcasters, a cable TV company and auto sales. While her wealth remains steady — $12.6 billion — her rank on the list has slipped from a high of No. 12 a few years back to No. 24 this year, one spot above New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Following the death of the other Cox sister, Barbara Cox Anthony, in May, we’d wondered what would become of her money. The introduction of her son and Cox Co. Chairman and CEO James Kennedy, 59, to the Forbes list at No. 50 has effectively answered that question. He and his sister, Australian cattle rancher Blair Parry-Okeden, each now boast $6.3 billion.
Then come the Home Depot guys, Bernie Marcus, No. 239 with $2 billion, and Arthur Blank, No. 317 with $1.5 billion. And rounding out the top five at No. 380 with a paltry $1.3 billion is evangelical Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy.
September 27th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
“…all are predictably white.”
Wow… was that really necessary?
September 27th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
I guess the cow billboards are working.
September 27th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Spnd Mor Monee
September 27th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
I’ve often wondered if billionaires get a little jittery when they slip from No. 12 to 24 on the Forbe’s Rich List. Kind of how I get a little anxious when my my wallet slims from $17 to $7.
How do you cut expenses when you’ve got that kind of loot? No live symphony following you around your daily routine to provide you with a soundtrack? Do you personally slay one less rare tiger with an ancient ruler’s sword every day?
What are the sacrifices, people?!?!?
September 27th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
I’m with dpb here. What’s with the ‘predictably white’ comment? Sorry if I missed it, but I didn’t get the memo that said ‘non-whites’ weren’t eligible for the list. C’mon, you guys are better than that.
September 28th, 2007 at 7:33 am
Re-check your memos, John. Also absent from the pile is anyone saying non-white people aren’t eligible. Scott simply noticed aloud that there are no black people on the list.
I haven’t given the full 400 a thorough look, but I’m guessing Oprah is the only black person on the list. It’s overwhelmingly white and male.
September 28th, 2007 at 10:32 am
>It’s overwhelmingly white and male.
So?
September 28th, 2007 at 10:52 am
Re: “So?”
So…here’s a reminder that being white and male in the US gives a person an advantage in achieving financial wealth, and that minorities and women are disproportionately represented among the ranks of the wealthy.
Just something to think about. It doesn’t mean white men are bad or greedy. Change takes a long time. But ignoring the existing inequalities, and the possible prejudices underlying them, won’t help.
September 28th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
>But ignoring the existing inequalities, and the possible prejudices underlying them, won’t help.
I’m all ears!
September 28th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Great, Andi. That’s like reading an NBA roster and noting that the folks on it are “predictably tall.” What’s the point?
September 28th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
re the “all white” nonsense.. it just proves America’s total obsession with race. For the greatest nation on earth, who has given the world so much, you have one particularly terrible affliction. The day may come when educated Americans can look at their fellow citizens and not notice their race. But I doubt it. Like all of us you are prisoners of your own history. When I visited the wonderful city of Atlanta a day did not pass when the subject of race did not come up in some way.
Psst. A person’s race doesn’t matter. What is it about that you don’t understand?
September 28th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
A side-note, why do people I don’t know insist on shortening my name to Andi?
September 28th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Sorry, Andisheh, I’d seen it many times and assumed it was accepted parlance. No offense intended, my bad.
September 28th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
I’m not offended and no apologies necessary. I was just thinking aloud. I’ve been called a lot worse than Andi.
September 28th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
Cool, it was just silly slang. Still, the reference in the post was unnecessary at best, “ESPN Town Hall Meeting”-worthy at worst.
September 29th, 2007 at 9:25 am
What about “Andrew,” Andi? Is that acceptable?
September 29th, 2007 at 10:12 am
Rock on ACC. She’ll live to be a zillion. I saw her swimming laps at the family Lake Rabun compound this summer. Very nice crawl. Funny lookin’ old-timey bathing cap. Inheriting money requires vigorous expercise to manage all that media excess. I’d take her on in a pool sprint for just one measley radio station, but she’d out-crawl me easy.
September 29th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
I always thought “Andover” would make a very nice WASP name for you, Andisheh. “Andover Smith.” I’ll go ahead and rush order those business cards so they’ll be on your desk on Monday.
October 1st, 2007 at 12:00 am
…when Business Week ran a story about the top US billionaire philanthropists, and listed Anne Cox Chambers as the second cheapest billionaire for giving to charity?