Solomon's Wealth

  By all accounts , King Solomon was the wisest and wealthest man of his era , a master of proverbial love , and an insightful problem - solver .
  Solomon's name means peaceable , he ruled in 970 -930 B.C. Despite his famed sagacity , he was often discouraged and lead astray by others , he made a number of compromises , and eventually his heart grew cold to God . Such contradictions make it difficult for those seeking to study the reputed wisdom of Solomon .
  Solomon succeeded to the throne of Israel in an unprecedented manner : unlike Saul or David , he did not have the triumphant military war record or the charismatic personality to be anointed king . Instead he had the political pull of Bathsheba , his mother and David 's favorite wife . Although others were in line ahead of him for the throne , Solomon won the kingship through the influence that his mother and Nathan the prophet wielded over David . To solidify his hold on power , Solomon had his half - brother and potential usurper Adonijah killed , while he himself entered into many political marriages . Later , Solomon's faith would be eroded by the influence of the religions of his many foreign wives - among them were Hittites , Moabites , Edomites , Sidonians , ans Ammonites .
  Early in Solomon's reign , he received a vision of God while preforming a sacrifice . When God asked the young king what gift he wanted , Solomon asked for wisdom to " discern between good and evil " so that he might be a better ruler of God's people .The request so pleased God that he bestowed a blessing of wealth and prosperity on the king . The famous decision in which Solomon resolved a dispute over an infant served to demonstrate that God had granted Solomon's request . Two women claimed custody of the same small child , and the king determined which was the true mother by ordering the child cut in half and divided between the women . When one of them insisted on giving the child up in order to let it live , Solomon ruled that she must be the child's parent .
  Solomon established a strong centralized monarchy and an even tax system for his people . He divided the nation into 12 regions , each of which was responsible for provisioning the court for one month of the year . He established strong trading alliances with other nations that quickly made him fabulously wealthy . He also undertook extensive building projects , dedicating seven years to building the temple his father had dreamed of and almost twice that long to erecting his own palace . Foreign slaves were used in the building projects , but he also conscripted Israelite laborers .
  Between the heavy taxes and the enforced building projects , Solomon's accomplishments placed a crushing burden on his subjects .
  Solomon's other main interest was women . He reportedly had an astounding 700 wives and 300 concubines   . Many of the marriages were calculated to foster internal political alliances or international relations or to increase Solomon's world - famous wealth , and the great king's downfall is attributed to these pursuits . Although he clearly accomplished much in a material sense , he let go of the ways of God in pursuing these ends and brought the nation and himself to strife . To accommodate the demands of many of his foreign wives , Solomon freely allowed pagan worship in a variety of forms and so lost God's favor . In punishment , Solomon's peaceful reign was disrupted toward the end of his life by threats of violence from outside the nation . More importantly , the heavy burdens he placed on his people prompted the kingdom to be torn in two shortly after his death ; ten of Israel's tribes broke away to form the northern kingdom , while only two , Judah and Benjamin , remained loyal to the house of David .
  Solomon was a prolific writer and is credited with having authored some 3000 proverbs , 1000 songs and several books of the Bible . Some of his writings indicate that Solomon was keenly aware that the material accomplishments of his reign meant nothing next to the spiritual decay of his life . Despite all his women , wealth , and fame , his words sometimes convey a deep cynicism and lack of joy . In the book of Ecclesiastes , Solomon warns of focusing one's effects on self instead of on God . " I saw all the deeds that wind ; From his failures and pain , and with the wisdom of hindsight , he concluded , "Remember your creator in the days of your youth .... Fear God , and keep his commandments ; for that is the whole duty of everyone . For God will bring every deed into judgement , including every secret thing , whether good or evil ."

World's Riches Person

The world's richest person for a second year in a row, the Mexican telecom mogul is also the year's biggest gainer, having added $20.5 billion to his fortune and widened the gap between him and no. 2, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, to $18 billion. A 19% rise in the Mexican stock market, a stronger peso, and successful mining and real estate spinoffs from conglomerate Grupo Carso all contributed to the astonishing increase. He also merged his fixed-line telecom company into America Movil, Latin America's largest wireless carrier; the Slim family stake in that holding accounts for 62% of his net worth. He has other holdings in retailer Saks and the New York Times. Recently opened a new building for his Soumaya Museum, which houses his vast art collection. It is open to the public for free.

He's the first 'World's Richest' man from a developing nation
2009 was good to the super-rich in poorer nations: Brazil and Russia each doubled their billionaire counts; and China's new total (64 billionaires) ranks second only to the America. Slim, as an owner of more than 220 companies in telecommunications, banking, railways, and restaurants (to name a few), saw his fortune swell by $18.5 billion last year.


Slim was born in Mexico City, Mexico in 1940 to Maronite Christian parents Julián Slim Haddad and Linda Helú, both of Lebanese descent. His father, born Khalil Slim Haddad, immigrated to Mexico at the age of 14 in 1902 and changed his first name to Julián.As it was not uncommon for Lebanese children to be sent abroad before they reached the age of 15 to avoid being conscripted into the Ottoman army, four of Haddad's older brothers were already living in Mexico at the time of his arrival.
Carlos Slim's mother, Linda Helú, was born in Parral, Chihuahua, of Lebanese parents who had immigrated to Mexico in the late 19th century. Her parents upon immigrating to Mexico had founded one of the first Arabic language magazines for the Lebanese-Mexican community, using a printing press they had brought with them.
In 1911, Julián established a dry goods store, La Estrella del Oriente (The Star of the Orient). By 1921, he had purchased real estate in the flourishing commercial district of Mexico City. These enterprises became the source of considerable wealth.
In August 1926, Julián Slim and Linda Helú married. They had six children: Nour, Alma, Julián, José, Carlos and Linda. Julián senior, who had been influential in the Lebanese-Mexican business community, died in 1953.

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