America’s Road To Wealth

  Chapter 278 Angels' Paradise Island

   Time waits for no one.

  The 2001 calendar was quickly flipped to the seventh month.

   New York in July is sunny, which in a sense is the most beautiful time of the year.

  On the first Tuesday in July.

  The New York Post, a subsidiary of News Corporation, published a piece of news about Abel Smith.

  The headline of the news is "America's No. 1 Real Estate Buyer."

  In this piece of news, the "New York Post" reported that Abel was buying real estate and land all over the United States.

  According to reports, Abel bought a third of the 300 Malibu mansions in one sweep.

  Of course, this does not mean that there are only these three hundred houses in Malibu.

  Malibu Beach has a large area. If you include the urban area, there are at least tens of thousands of houses worth millions.

  This is a deliberate rhetorical device of the New York Post.

   It’s just that Abel just bought 100 sets, so they only used the quantifier of 300 sets.

  If Abe bought 50 sets, it is estimated that the New York Post will use 150 sets.

   This is the reporting style of the "New York Post", which likes to use various words that are not surprising and endless, which greatly stimulates readers' reading pleasure.

  The report also claimed that Abel not only quietly bought 100 million-dollar mansions.

   Among them, 12 sets are located in Paradise Bay, known as "Billionaire's Beach", with a total value of 350 million US dollars.

  The reason why it is surprising is that these 12 mansions are located next to each other on a beach.

   That is to say, he not only bought the mansion, but also the whole beach.

   Let half of the entire Malibu Paradise Bay become his private beach.

In the words of one Malibu real estate manager in the report, “There are only so many front row seats. If you take the best quality property in the best location, it’s inherently a good investment. The opportunity that Bo Smith saw. Does anyone not believe in the investment vision of Financial Moses? So rich people in the United States, take out your credit cards and checks, Malibu Beach is the next Beverly Hills.”

  This does not include Abel’s shopping in major cities in the United States, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Miami and other cities.

   Frantic sweeps like the dollars in his hands are waste paper.

   In addition, he also invested heavily in office buildings, buying the Woolworth Building in New York and a fifty-story building in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

  This is not counting Smith Capital, the Smith Building currently in use.

  In addition to these, the "New York Post" also claimed that Abel was frantically buying downtown commercial real estate in major cities across the United States.

   The "New York Post" didn't know, this is Abel preparing for the future Pacific Mall.

  The newspaper claims that Abel is a sole proprietorship of "New Start Real Estate Company".

   It only took half a year to become one of the top ten real estate companies in the United States under Abel's large investment regardless of cost.

  In terms of the value of pure real estate, New Start Real Estate is more likely to rank among the top three in the US real estate industry.

   At the end of the article, a reporter from the New York Post claimed that Abe Smith was definitely "the most avid luxury home buyer in America."

  This report increased the sales of the "New York Post" by more than ten percentage points that day.

   Fortunately, Americans have seen too much of this kind of news.

  Similar news has appeared countless times after the new lamp beads of Abel Smith's lighthouse appeared.

  This kind of news is actually the same as the news about Abel’s acquisition of well-known companies such as MGM and DreamWorks.

  It is to be shocked by Abel Smith's wealth, and then what to do or what to do.

   Outside of these shocking fortune news.

  What often appears on Abe Smith, there are usually two other kinds of news.

  One is scarlet news.

   That is, Abel Smith was rumored to be having an affair with so-and-so again, and was photographed.

   And these photos seem to be intimate and ambiguous, but there is not a single intimate photo.

   There are no photos of kissing, at most they are hugging together.

   Actually these photos have already been reviewed.

   After the paparazzi storm earlier this year.

   The only ones who can take intimate photos of Abel and women again are the privileged reporters with his permission.

  The photos taken by these reporters have to be reviewed by Abel's team.

  The photos that have been reviewed, the content inside, of course, can be seen by ordinary Americans.

  This kind of content, in addition to allowing Americans to talk about Abel Smith's romance and love affairs.

   Doesn't do any harm to Abel's personality.

  In addition to Scarlet News and Fortune News.

   There is another kind of news that appeared on Abel.

  The news in this area, after ordinary Americans see it.

   It will make them immune to the first two news that happened to Abel.

   Let them read the Scarlet News and Fortune News.

  The reason why he has always been able to maintain a very good popularity and sense of light with Abe Smith.

  The third type of news related to Abel Smith

   is news related to his charity.

   Almost every other week or half a month, you can see reports on the news.

   Report on what charitable fund Abel has donated and how much money he has donated.

   Or report how much tax Abe Smith paid to the IRS this month.

   Or Abel Smith, which American region government, school, or relevant administrative department should he submit to?

   Or simply people in a certain area donated some buildings or facilities.

   Almost once a week.

  This kind of behavior that has never appeared in the European and American world, more like Brother Su than Brother Su.

   It has made ordinary Americans a little numb.

   This kind of news occasionally appears several times, and ordinary people see it and think it may be true.

   appears many times, and ordinary people will suspect that it is fake.

   appeared countless times, and no one has ever come out to crack down on fakes. , no one came out and said it was fake.

   Then everyone will guess that this should be true.

   There is a large number of such news support.

  The scarlet news and wealth news that appeared on Abel were not so glaring.

  At the same time, from time to time, many beneficiaries of Abel’s favor came forward to speak out in person, and were even interviewed on TV.

   These are often reported.

  Let Americans know that these are true, at least most of them are true.

   Such a set of combined punches came down.

  The average American would think so. The more super rich people like Abel in the United States, the better.

   So this New York Post story, like the rest of Abel's wealth news.

  Many Americans like to watch it, but after watching it, it will not arouse the hatred or other bad emotions of ordinary people like other news about rich people showing off their wealth.

  This is the benefit of human design brought about by the charity invested with real money.

  Of course, the public opinion support and promotion of the new lamp beads by the relevant departments also contributed a lot.

  Especially when the one who lives in the white house is little Laura's uncle.

  The promotion and momentum in this area are simply spared no effort.

  Compared with Buffett and others before, I don’t know how many times stronger.

  This is probably the American version of "There are people in the DPRK and China who are easy to handle".

   Soon the first Saturday in July will come.

  In the Merrill Lynch headquarters.

  David Komansky has a bad news.

   That is Smith Capital's $50 billion private placement subscription, which is officially full!

   Already 50 billion funds have been remitted to the account designated by Smith Capital.

  The subscription contract has been formally signed.

  Smith Capital has also announced to the public.

  The private placement was a perfect success.

  It took a total of seven days to recruit a total of 125 investors. On average, each investor contributes US$400 million.

  The total subscription intention, the subscription amount of the signed subscription letter of intent, even exceeded 100 billion US dollars.

"How is this going?"

  In the office, David Komansky confronted Charlie Sharf with a black face.

   "What about our 1.5 billion dollar quota?" David Komansky shouted loudly.

  Charlie Schaff felt a little wronged, he said tactfully:

   "Sir, it's obvious that someone got there first. Someone signed a contract with Smith Capital in advance and established the contractual relationship in advance."

  David Komansky certainly knows this.

   It's just that he didn't expect Smith Capital to raise funds this time so fast.

   Merrill Lynch who wants to wait and see is coming soon. Before he could react, all the shares had been taken away.

  Charlie Schaff actually wanted to say that he had reminded Mr. CEO many times as early as five days ago.

   It’s David Komansky who keeps saying take it easy, watch it again.

   Observing and observing, the share that originally belonged to Merrill Lynch was observed and disappeared.

  Private equity fund investors can go back on their words before signing a formal contract after signing the subscription letter of intent.

  When you go back on your word, you can at most compensate the fine specified in the letter of intent.

   Generally not a lot, depending on the amount of funds, it is generally about 0.1% of the subscription amount.

   Now it’s all right, Merrill Lynch doesn’t need to pay the 0.1%.

  But it has missed the seventh private placement of Smith Capital.

   David Komansky forced himself to calm down.

  He asked Charlie Schaff: "Can you identify specific investors?"

   "Of course." Charlie Schaff said, "Smith Capital has a public list. Among the 125 funders, except for 35 are institutional users. The others are all individual funds."

   In other words, except for the successful subscription of thirty-five Wall Street financial companies.

  The rest are purchased by companies outside the industry, or by wealthy individuals.

   "90 subscribers? Such a large amount of funds, at least 100 million US dollars per person?"

  Charlie Scharf shook his head: "I don't know about that."

  David Komansky could only sigh, "Then let's stop here. I will explain to the board of directors."

  Charlie Schaff also sighed, wondering if he would be used as a scapegoat this time.

  In fact, not only Merrill Lynch failed to subscribe because of careful "observation".

   There are many institutions on Wall Street, but they are all the same as Merrill Lynch.

  These Wall Street giants did not expect so many rich people to recognize Smith Capital.

   Or recognize Abel Smith's investment ability and dare to invest so much money in him.

  This time, many institutions on Wall Street who failed to subscribe successfully have already made a mistake.

  But also because of this incident, Wall Street realized another thing.

   That is the name Abel Smith, which has been recognized by a large number of wealthy Americans outside of Wall Street!

  With this level of recognition, Smith Capital’s private placement in the future will also go smoothly this time.

  Many institutions that could not grab a share this time are already gearing up.

  As long as the seventh private placement of Smith Capital can also make a lot of profits.

  The next private placement of Smith Capital, we must grab a share no matter what.

   Time continues to move forward.

   In mid-July, the exact time is July 15th.

   This day is the shareholders meeting of News Corp.

  The headquarters of News Corporation is actually in Adelaide, Australia.

   Haven't quite moved to America, where Rupert Murdoch made his fortune.

  But News Corporation's operating center is no longer Australia, but the United States.

  Even the Murdoch family has been stationed in the United States all year round.

  News Corporation's shareholders meeting this year will naturally not let the distinguished shareholders go to Adelaide.

  This shareholders meeting, Rupert Murdoch announced that it will be held in New York.

  The venue is at the headquarters of Fox Television, a subsidiary of News Corporation.

   is a skyscraper in lower Manhattan in which News Corp. occupies five floors.

   Abel originally owned 5% of News Corp.'s shares.

  2% is obtained from the desert stock god, and 3% is obtained from Wall Street.

   Later, in order to acquire Pixar Animation, he traded 3% of it to Jobs.

   He himself now only has 2% of News Corp shares left.

   Only 2% of the shares are enough for him to attend today's shareholders meeting.

   That is, if you want to mix a director position, this share may not be enough.

   At least about 5%.

  Of course, with his fame and status, if he insists, News Corp. will probably give it to him.

   For this News Corporation shareholders meeting.

   Originally, Abel didn’t want to go, so what can he do with 2% of the shares?

   In addition to being more valuable, it can't do anything.

   Only later he saw a news item on TV.

  The beautiful scenery in the news made his heart move immediately.

   In terms of time, it happened to coincide with this shareholders meeting.

  He came here himself.

  At the entrance of the building where the News Corporation is located, Abel met an acquaintance at the door.

   It's this acquaintance, and he's actually not much to deal with.

   It was Jobs.

   It is normal for Jobs to appear here. All the shares in his hands were bought from Abel.

  3% of the shares, plus Jobs' fame.

   is enough for him to get a board seat in News Corporation.

   "Hey, Steven." Although he was not happy with this barbarian, the other party was very straightforward in the Pixar deal after all.

  Abel still waved at him: "I didn't lie to you, did I? News Corp's stock is more valuable than MGM!"

   When Abel was making a deal with Jobs, Jobs initially wanted a stake in MGM.

  Abel refused, or the asking price was too high.

  Jobs was upset, and Abel threw back the News Corporation stock.

   At that time, the market value of News Corporation was about 45 billion US dollars.

   A few months have passed, and now it has risen to a market value of about 50 billion US dollars.

  Jobs, who got a 3% stake in News Corporation, from this point of view, undoubtedly made a profit.

   It may be the reason why Jobs actually smiled at Abel today, and took the initiative to walk over to News Corp. with Abel.

   "Steven, do you want to be a director of News Corporation? If so, I will definitely vote for you later." Abel smiled and said to Gang Jing.

   Unexpectedly, Jobs nodded, "Are you sure? If you are really willing to help me, then I will be very grateful to you."

   "Do you really want to be a director of News Corporation?" Abel was curious.

  He was just talking casually just now.

  In Abel’s mind, shouldn’t Jobs put all his energy into saving Apple during this period?

   "No mistake. I mean it." Jobs said:

   "I am different from you. You are the boss of the media group. If I can become a director of News Corporation, it will help Apple to some extent."

  When he said this, Abel felt that there was some truth to it.

  Apple is miserable right now, but a new product is coming soon.

   It seems to be the iPod that made Apple turn around successfully.

   At this time, if we can get the help of the media group, let the iPod obtain certain media resources.

   Presumably it will have a good promotion effect on the launch of new products.

  Being a director of News Corporation at this time has a certain possibility of obtaining these resources.

   Even if it costs money, as one of the major shareholders, it will spend a little less than outsiders.

   After that negotiation with Jobs.

  In fact, it has begun to gradually absorb Apple's stock, that is, Abel, who has made little movement.

  He simply decided to help Jobs.

   "Let's put it this way. You owe me a favor, and I will support you as one of the new board members later." Abel patted Jobs on the shoulder and said.

  The latter nodded directly.

   In the ensuing shareholder meeting, Abel said little, but his presence was conspicuous.

  As Jobs said, Abel is the chairman of Smith Media.

  Smith Media has undoubtedly become one of News Corporation's biggest competitors.

  The chairman of today's biggest competitor sits at News Corporation's shareholder meeting

   No matter how you say it, it's not appropriate.

   But there is no way for everyone to expel him, his identity and wealth are here.

   And Abel has been very quiet, very gentle.

   During the entire shareholder meeting, they just supported Jobs as the new director.

  At other times, Abel can be said to be harmless throughout.

   But even so, Rupert Murdoch, who owns 30% of News Corporation's shares, can't tolerate him a bit.

  Because of Abel's existence, the shareholder meeting just now did not dare to involve any secrets inside News Corporation.

   This also made this shareholder meeting end quickly.

   Except for electing new board members, basically nothing can be done.

  After the end, Rupert Murdoch approached Abel.

  This is actually exactly what Abel wanted.

  Abel came here this time because he wanted to find Murdoch.

  In Rupert Murdoch's private office, the Aussie received Abel with the utmost sincerity and courtesy.

   "Mr. Smith, with all due respect. With Smith Media already established. You are no longer suitable as a shareholder of News Corporation."

  When there were only two people left and some entourages, Rupert Murdoch was not too tactful, and the Aussie put forward his meaning directly.

   "Ah, what a coincidence." Abel's response was like this, "I think so too."

   Rupert Murdoch was taken aback, the Aussie didn't expect Abel to be so talkative.

   "Rupert." Abel cut to the chase and called Murdoch by name directly, "How about letting you take over the News Corporation shares I own?"

  2%, $1 billion.

  Rupert Murdoch was thinking quickly, wondering if he should take these shares.

   "But there is a premise." Abel continued to smile and said, "I want to use these shares to exchange something with you."

   Abel said so, but Rupert Murdoch was relieved.

  If Abel doesn't mention any conditions and chooses to sell the shares directly.

  Murdoch may still be suspicious.

   Now that conditions are added, Murdoch feels that the credibility will be much higher.

   "What conditions?" Rupert Murdoch asked calmly.

   "Lanai, Hawaii."

  Abel said directly: "Sell it to me. According to the current market price. The excess stock, then exchange it for cash and give it to me. Well, other stocks of equivalent value are also fine, but I must approve it."

   "You want Lanai Island?" Murdoch asked, "Apart from pineapples, there are only seabirds on that island. Are you sure? Its price is not cheap."

   "I'm sure." Abel smiled and said, "I even came here today because I came to this island. Because I want to find a good place for vacation for the models in my modeling agency!"

  Lanai, Hawaii.

   It is the new back garden prepared by Abel for his Elizabeth angels, a paradise island that belongs exclusively to him and them!

  (end of this chapter)