+ The following is an excerpted from globeandmail.com: The rich really do own the world.

A piece of the pie

By taking into consideration total assets minus total debts, the first-ever study of global wealth distribution finds that a net worth of $2,161 (U.S.) is enough to belong to the top half of the world’s wealth, but to be a member of the top 10 per cent requires at least $61,000 and membership of the top 1 per cent requires more than $500,000 per adult.

Where the wealthy live

Percentage breakdown of the world’s wealthiest 1%

United States: 37%

Germany: 4%

Italy: 4%

France: 5%

Britain: 6%

Japan: 27%

Netherlands: 2%

Canada: 2%

Spain: 1%

Switzerland: 1%

Taiwan: 1%

Rest of world: 10%

What the rich own

1% of richest adults

own

40% of total global wealth

2% of richest adults

own

51% of total global wealth

5% of richest adults

Own

71% of total global wealth

10% of richest adults

Own

85% of total global wealth

SOURCE: UNU-WIDER RICHARD JOHNSON/THE GLOBE AND MAIL