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The list of most wealthy historical figures is based on calculations by Forbes.[1] It is updated annually to reflect inflation. Most of the people on the list are from the Industrial Age, although there are a few Information Age people on the list, and some members are in the Ancient Times. However, their wealth is hard to estimate and the ancient historical figures are scarce in numbers on the lists.
The ranking process is done by percentage of the total GDP of the nation they lived in at the time they were alive. Whether or not their fortune was inherited, the list records the people at the time of their greatest net worth, not by their current net worth, or their net worth when they died. The list doesn't significantly change from year to year unless there is a new person who qualifies to be on the list or someone surpasses their previous peak amount. However, this can only really happen to those who are still alive. There is on occasion, an undiscovered billionaire from Ancient times, Middle ages and the Industrial age that wasn’t placed on the list before, or one of the billionaires already on the list has been found to have a higher peak net worth than previously thought. If this is proven, or a new billionaire is found, then the figure or net worth should be placed on the next list.
However, if the country of where the member originally lived in is now deduced or defunct, then the inflated net worth has to be averaged by the World GDP, rather than the country's. Because of this, the World GDP may be higher or lower than the other countries GDP, and not being tied to the same standard. This is really the only time of where a member's net worth can be changed above it standard after he or she dies, therefore reducing or exceeding their rank on the list. (e.g. Nicholas II of Russia)
Lists by years: 2006-
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Current top 10 members
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