'Bjorgflur Gudmundsson

March net worth: $1.1 billion Current net worth: zero'

WOOW! I don't believe this.

"government seizure of Iceland's second largest bank wiped out the $1.1 billion fortune of Gudmundsson, the bank's chairman and biggest shareholder"

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=414491

So that's why you diversify :).

With $1.0 billion you could invest $10K into 100,000 startups or $100K in 10,000 startups. Surely you could change the world, leave a legacy, and simultaneously generate a profit on that kind of investment, no?

Why doesn't somebody do this?

$1.0 in "worth" does not mean $1B in cash. Also, the administration of 10,000 separate investment? How would you mentor the founders? Staff the boards? Would it be worth your time or your investment?

why is a guy who lost .6 billion, in a higher spot than a guy who lost 1.1 billion?

cause it's in alphabetical order

oh yeah. Thanks

also because it's just a preview of the list