Forbes’s own editors told Malcolm Forbes his rich list could not be done.
In 1982 Malcolm Forbes wanted to rank the 400 richest Americans, a number borrowed from Caroline Astor’s society ball of 1892. His editors ran a study and called it absolutely unfeasible, since the fortunes were private. He said he would hire outside staff and do it himself, and the editors gave in. The first list had 13 billionaires.
Forbes on Brandseum