The Global Millionaire's Club is Booming

More People Around the World Become Wealthy

Photo by Shutterstock.
By Alison Griswold

http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2014/10/21/global_millionaires_credit_suisse_wealth_report_finds_they_re_growing_faster.html

1)  How do we know what is true in this story?  In what ways is self-reported income and unreliable measure?  Reliable?  Should everyone have the chance to become a millionaire?  

2)  Why might a student in India think differently about this article than a worker in the U.S.?  In what ways would you think about this differently if your parents were wealthier?  Less wealthy?  Whose perspective is left out?

3)  In what ways is this connected to food?  To what degree is this connected to sports?

4)  How might this article be written differently if it was reported in Ukraine?  How might we increase wealth access to under-represented areas?    

5)  To what degree is the assumption that people should want to become a millionaire promoted in this article?  What are the short-term outcomes of this news?

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can chart global wealth by country over time and make predictions for the future.

2)  Students can write a descriptive account of what they would do if they became a millionaire.

AoK:  Human Sciences

WoK:  Imagination

App Maker Fired by Partner's Parents

App Maker Fired by Partner's Parents

(Photo via Complaint)
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ellenhuet/2014/11/18/yik-yak-lawsuit-frat-bro/

By Ellen Huet and Ryan Mac

1)  How much money should the partner receive?  What evidence would be most useful in helping decide the amount?  Should people this age be responsible for so much money?

2)  Who might have different perspectives on this issue?  Bill Gates?  Fraternity brothers?  The fired founder's parents?  

3)  How is this like Facebook's beginning story?  Apple?  McDonald's?    

4)  How would this be different 5 years ago?  10 years in the future?  What if they weren't fraternity brothers?

5)  To what extent should one's parents influence business decisions?  In what ways have social media apps replaced traditional media?  

Extension Activities

1)  Students report on the beginning stories of famous companies and draw connections between them.

2)  Students can create a policy for future tech startups on how to avoid these situations.

3)  Students can predict Yik Yak's success based on trends in social media apps.  

Facts About Billionaires

The “Typical” Billionaire Has $3.1 Billion and Other Fun Facts About the World’s Wealthy Elite

Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2014/09/24/facts_about_billionaires_data_from_the_2014_wealth_x_and_ubs_billionaire.html

By:  Alison Griswold

1)  How do we know how many billionaires there are?  What evidence would help us determine why the average age of a billionaire has gone up?  How have historical trends of wealth changed in America?  How do you know?

2)  Who might have a more favorable opinion of billionaires:  a student in southwest Missouri or a student in New Delhi, India?  Who might have a less favorable opinion of billionaires:  An employee of Warren Buffet or your father?

3)  In what ways is being a billionaire like getting an A on a test? How is different?  How is wealth connected to philanthropy?  Is it only for the wealthy?  

4)  What would a list from 10 years ago look like?  1000? What would happen if there were no barriers to wealth accumulation (if there exist any at all)?  What would happen if wealth was capped at $999,999,999?

5)  How is this relevant to you?  How is it relevant to a stockholder in Berkshire Hathaway?

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can research the ways in which the richest person from each decade of the 20th century made their money and find commonalities and differences.

2)  Students can explore gender/racial/ethnic/generational issues of wealth accumulation and predict the next woman/African/Chinese/millenial billionaire.

3)  Students can create a list of ways to spend a billion dollars in a fixed amount of time effect the most change.

Father's Birthday Gift Makes 19-Year-Old a Multimillionaire

Chicago teenager hits lottery jackpot on her 19th birthday

Photo: Eyewitness News
http://abc7chicago.com/news/chicago-woman-wins-$4m-lotto-on-19th-birthday/364288/

By:  Rosa Prince

1)  Should teenagers be millionaires?  How can I find a trusted source on the number of millionaires in the U.S.?  Do teenagers who earn their money appreciate it more than those who inherit it?  How do you know?  What happens to taxed income from lottery winnings?      

2)  Would I feel different about this story if it were about me?  About my cousin?  About someone who supports Republican/Democratic candidates for office?  How might an IRS agent and her father agree on her winning?

3)  Is this similar to inheritance?  How is it different?  How is the lottery like genetics?  Why might mathematicians be better at gambling?  Worse?  

4)  What would happen if she was one year younger?  20 years older?  What would you think if she was taxed 90% on her winnings?  2%?  What would happen if lotteries were outlawed in the U.S.?  

5)  What might the impact of this issue be on the winner?  Her family?  Her community?  What "lottery" have you won?    

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can study the history of the lottery and map the winners of the some of the largest jackpots.
2)  Students can track the rate of returns on different investment strategies with projected lottery winnings.
3)  Students can create a "Bucket List" if they win a similar amount and present their plans.