9.36 billion US dollars!
This is the entirety of Kyle's current net worth!
A net worth of nearly 10 billion US dollars is enough to place Kyle in the top 100, or even the top 80, of the 1999 Global Rich List. Of course, if only considering the 1999 American Rich List, Kyle would definitely rank in the top 50.
It's not that Kyle isn't capable; it's just that the top-ranking billionaires are too much of a cheat!
In 1999, Microsoft's Bill Gates was incredibly impressive!
Driven by the internet boom, Microsoft's market value became the world's number one stock in May 1999, reaching 600 billion, close to its peak of 620 billion US dollars before the dot-com bubble burst!
This record remained unbroken for 13 years!
Subsequently, the dot-com bubble burst, and the market values of internet companies plummeted. Investors became more rational, and even Microsoft took over a decade to return to its peak.
It wasn't until 2012 that the rising Apple broke this 13-year-old record with a market value of 630 billion US dollars!
In 1999, Bill Gates topped the global rich list with a personal net worth of 103.4 billion US dollars!
His immense wealth was more than 60 billion US dollars higher than that of the world's second-richest person, Carlos Slim!
Facing this enormous cheat that was Bill Gates, what could Kyle possibly compare himself to now?
Similarly, in 1999 America, among the top 50 on the rich list, which major shareholder of companies like Cisco, AOL, Yahoo, and Amazon didn't have a net worth of over 10 billion US dollars, or close to it?
Kyle's current wealth indeed doesn't yet match theirs.
"So what?"
"I hold Google and LinkedIn. The future returns from just these two companies are enough to take me further!"
"Besides, being the world's richest person isn't my goal!"
"Centered around Golden Dawn Entertainment Group, building a media conglomerate capable of distributing films globally, complemented by a large number of tech and internet stocks, I will absolutely be able to control my life with ease and joy!"
For a moment,
Kyle felt a surge of heroic spirit.
"Mr. Page!"
Just then, his personal financial advisor, Anna, interrupted Kyle's reverie.
"Is something wrong?" Kyle frowned.
Anna said, "Mr. Page, as a financial advisor on your financial team, I'd like to ask if you have any other investment plans recently? You should know that you have 590 million US dollars in cash and 780 million US dollars in gold reserves in your personal account. Not investing such a huge sum of money, given the current rate of dollar depreciation, is definitely not a way to hedge against risk."
Kyle nodded.
He understood Anna's meaning!
In recent years, the US dollar's depreciation has indeed been quite rapid, and with the rise of the EU, and Asian countries, the US dollar can no longer be called "American gold." The international situation is constantly changing, and the continuous depreciation of the US dollar is irreversible!
The US dollar is not preserving its value!
"Mr. Page, I suggest you continue to increase your gold reserves, or invest in other tech stocks or internet stocks, to preserve your personal wealth," Anna advised.
Invest in tech stocks and internet stocks?
Immediately, Kyle shook his head.
Are you kidding me!
Even if Kyle wanted to preserve his wealth, he didn't want to invest in internet stocks at this stage. No one knew better than a transmigrator that there were less than 7 months until the dot-com bubble burst.
"Invest in internet stocks? I'm not crazy!" Kyle thought to himself.
In fact, having 590 million US dollars in his account surprised Kyle a bit!
Then Kyle looked at the detailed information and resolved his confusion.
Page Pictures has produced many box office hits in recent years and made a lot of money. Even if Kyle didn't withdraw this money, but used it all for overseas channel development and new film production costs, Kyle still served as a producer in many film productions.
Film producers receive a salary and also a share of the box office revenue!
In recent years, this income alone has accumulated to over 40 million US dollars!
Similarly, the variety shows like "America's Got Talent" and TV series like "Prison Break" produced by UPN and WB Television Networks, under the Golden Dawn TV Group, also earned Kyle a lot of money.
The 590 million US dollars in cash in his personal account came from these sources!
"Anna, I don't have any investment plans for now," Kyle said, shaking his head.
"Mr. Page, I respect your decision, but as your financial advisor, I still have to remind you that keeping cash in the bank will lead to a decrease in your personal wealth," Anna said.
Hearing this, Kyle quickly waved his hand.
Anna wasn't a transmigrator; of course, she didn't understand Kyle's plans!
"When the internet bubble bursts, I'll just short it. Won't that be great?" Kyle chuckled to himself.
Shorting requires a large amount of capital!
The 590 million US dollars in his personal account was enough to ensure Kyle could make a big move!
...The next day.
Kyle took a flight from Los Angeles to Seattle.
Amazon's headquarters are located in the Seattle area, and Bezos, as the host, naturally had to show some hospitality to Kyle.
"Don't worry, you absolutely won't have to pay for this meal. As the host, I'm paying!"
At a Michelin restaurant, Bezos acted particularly generous, showing no sign of his usual stinginess.
Kyle smiled, "I've traveled all this way; of course, you're treating. And since it's a natural courtesy, why are you acting so generous? Please explain?"
"Come on, buddy."
Bezos waved his hand dismissively, "Tell me, how much money have you made from the 8% Amazon stock you hold? I remember when we exchanged shares for ICQ, it was only worth about 100 million US dollars, but now the return you've received is 3 billion US dollars worth of stock. You've made a huge profit, buddy!"
Kyle showed a simple, honest smile.
Indeed, as Bezos said, Kyle had made a huge profit.
"Bezos, if you're jealous, you can buy back the shares from me. Given our friendship, I'll definitely agree," Kyle said with a smile.
"Huh?"
Bezos's expression changed, and he immediately looked at Kyle with a scrutinizing gaze.
"Are you serious?" Bezos questioned.
"Of course, I, Kyle, can open boxes, open red wine, open cars, and slack off, but I don't joke," Kyle said with a smile.
Bezos didn't quite grasp Kyle's true intention at the moment and just laughed it off.
Kyle continued, "I'm short on cash recently, and I really do plan to sell some Amazon stock. Even if I don't sell it to you, I believe there will be plenty of people willing to take it."
The dot-com bubble bursting was imminent!
Kyle intended to cash out a wave and land safely!
"Of course, I won't sell all the tech stocks I hold, but some company stocks absolutely must be sold."
Kyle could sell a portion of Amazon stock to cash out a large sum of money;
Then, after the dot-com bubble burst, when Amazon's stock price plummeted from 40 US dollars to 2 US dollars, he would buy it back at a super low price.
Cashing out at a high price, buying back at a low price!
This before-and-after operation would be enough for Kyle to make a fortune.
"The 2% of Yahoo stock must find a buyer, otherwise, once the crisis hits, I will definitely suffer heavy losses."
Yahoo was different from Amazon!
In the future, Amazon would at least be the company with the highest single-share value in the world, a giant company with a market capitalization exceeding one trillion US dollars. Holding its stock was definitely a sure-fire way to make a fortune;
Yahoo, however, was not!
After the dot-com bubble burst, Yahoo never recovered, its market value plummeted year after year, and holding its stock long-term was definitely not a good thing.
What a shrewd person Kyle was!
Kyle was happy about his nearly 10 billion US dollar net worth, but soon after, it was exposed by a media publication.