The Rich

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From the Roman Republic to Roman Abramovich, a tiny number of the super-rich have held sway over the economics and politics of their eras. How they made their money -- by skill, luck or ruthless determination -- becomes irrelevant once they've reached the top. From the Pope's banker, Cosimo de' Medici, to the robber baron Andrew Carnegie, the origins of fortunes are quickly forgotten as their owners fund the building of churches and libraries and become patrons of arts and learning. Eager to be accepted by the establishment, billionaires often use these philanthropic gestures to attain status and enhance their public image. This 'reputation laundering' is more powerful and prevalent today than it has ever been. The objects of desire may have changed, but the rules have stayed the same. For the slaves, concubines, gold and castles of the past, read today's private jets, holiday islands and football clubs. Does the start of the twenty-first century mark a turning point or does history show us that the richest 0.01 per cent will always triumph? With extraordinary tales of Norman knights, Malian kings and Spanish conquistadores through to present-day sheikhs, internet giants, oligarchs and bankers, this is the compelling story of the rise and rise of the very wealthy around the world over the past two thousand years.