Warren Buffet once again World's Richest Man

In the slide show last week, Warren Buffett appears eating Dairy Queen ice cream (which he owns). Veronica knew of Buffett but made a comment about his image that reflects what I was sort of after with the slide show--multiple interpretations of culture. Remember interpretative ethnography? See Chapter 2 of Kottak.

Just read an article about Bill Gates no longer being the richest man in the world. In the article Buffett is revealed as a BIG MAN:

In October, Buffett issued a challenge to members of the Forbes 400 richest Americans list, saying he would donate $1 million to charity if the collective group (or a significant number of them) would admit they pay less taxes, as a percentage of income, than their secretaries.

Days after issuing the challenge, Buffett appeared before Congress to encourage it to keep the estate tax. Armed with a few Forbes 400 issues, he told the hearing that "dynastic wealth, the enemy of a meritocracy, is on the rise."

Kottak defines big man Figure often found among tribal horticulturalists and pastoralists. The big man occupies no office but creates his reputation through entrepreneurship and generosity to others. Neither his wealth nor his position passes to his heirs. p. 114 (5th ed.)