WORLD'S RICHEST MAN.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 127, 30 May 1916, Page 3

WORLD'S RICHEST MAN.

The distinction undoubtedly belongs to the Czar of Russia, of whom it has been said that he has so much money that nobody can count it. And it is a fact that the wealth that is his as controller of the Russian Church, and as ruler of all the Russians, including that of the members of his extremely wealthy family., would certainly be too great to count, including as it does all the wealth of Russia, which is estimated at £7,000,000,000* The Cs-ar's personal worth, according to one statistical genius, works cut at £IIO,OOO a day, and should Russia get down to its last cent—or rather kopek—in the Royal exchequer, Nicholas, single-handed, could keep the entire Russian army in the field for several weeks. Most of the Czar's wealth is derived from landed possessions, of which he has nearly 150,000,000 acres, threequarters of which is rich timber and yielding big rentals. The other quarter is mining land. Siberia's mines ar e owned by the Czar, while his jewellery and art works are of fabulous worth. The Czar's State income is about £2.000.000, out cf which, however, he has to provide for the expenses of his household, which includes the upkeep of more than a hundred palaces, to say nothing of the Russian Court, with its 30,000 servants. 230 automobiles, 5,000 thoroughbred horses, and an army of several thousand soldiers and detectives.