PEOPLE

CONTENTS:

• Forbes 400
• Business Week Online Top Entrepreneurs
• Puget Sound 40 Under 4

FORBES 400

Every year this IP Editor wonders whether it's useful to cover the Forbes 400 list of the Richest Americans. Is there any researcher out there who doesn't hit the Forbes Web site the instant the list is published? Is this news to anyone?

Then again, some of us who have been in the biz for a while might be ho-hum about this embarrassment of riches. Perhaps nobody on our database is lofty enough to make Forbes' cut (minimum net worth $550 million, down from $600 million last year). Perhaps we're wondering, "what's in it for me?"

Still, one could argue that this site, on the 20th anniversary of the renowned listing, is the first and best resource for the vast majority of advancement researchers. Even if no one in your database is listed, you'll get a feel for the "hot" wealthy people and trends, and you may even stumble across some new names (it's not all Gates, Buffet, Allen and the Waltons; there are 392 more names).

Also, the site has a great search feature. You can search by name, place of residence, net worth, age, marital status and industry, though I wonder about the usefulness of the marital status parameter (oooh! Ty Warner is single!). You can easily set up a tickler to be notified when Forbes has an update on a name (if you register).

Other nifty features include slide shows and stories on where the wealthy go on vacation, current scandals and more. To prove that even Forbes has a sense of humor, you will also find tips on ways to spend a billion dollars (diamonds on the soles of your shoes, anyone?) and a listing of the top fictional billionaires, from Santa Claus to Scrooge McDuck to Montgomery Burns.

If you're curious about the methods the Forbes researchers use to determine the net worth of their listees, it's available as a video clip. Click on How We Create the Forbes 400.

http://www.forbes.com/home/2002/09/13/rich400land.html

BUSINESS WEEK ONLINE TOP ENTREPRENEURS

Published last January, this article profiles seven entrepreneurs, from a teetotaling wine collector, to a biometrics tycoon to a Japanese leader in e-commerce.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/02_02/b3765054.htm

PUGET SOUND 40 UNDER 40

The increasingly ubiquitous regional "40 Under 40" listings are tremendous sources for new names - and aren't we always on the lookout for young up-and-comers?

This listing features in-depth personal stories about each of these whiz kids, including detailed career histories and personal background. Included are tidbits such as their favorite movies, personal heroes and the cars they drive.

http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2002/09/16/focus.html

Pam Patton