Forbes 400 as a lesson in economics

John Tamny (former student) analyzes the Forbes 400. My favorite entries highlight the importance of managerial acumen

A constant complaint among workers at all levels is that management does a poor job. Carl Icahn (#18) agrees, and to fix the latter, he buys troubled companies in order to improve their administration, all the while agitating entrenched managers of companies he owns a percentage of to fix what's wrong or be fired. Google was mentioned earlier, and due to the foresight of venture capitalists John Doerr (#271) and Michael Moritz (#380), it had the funding to morph from a non-entity into the work-enhancing business that it is today.

And only 74 of the 400 inherited their wealth; 270 are self made.

...Min Kao (#64) and Gary Burrell (#114) for designing global-positioning systems.....Craig McCaw's (#135) cellular innovations.....Alfred Mann (#204) developed cochlear implants .....Stryker Corp. CEO John Brown (#380) makes artificial hips and limbs to help the bedridden stand.....Abraxis CEO Patrick Soon-Shiong (#117) presently has the patents for 30 different [cancer] treatments....