THE MOMENT I WAKE UP…
Imagine you are waking up today as Gina Rinehart.
Graphic via Sydney Morning Herald.
Your first thought is: I’m alive! It’s a beautiful day.
Your second thought is: I am the richest woman on earth. I am worth $27 billion ( and counting). Yesterday I earned $52 million. In the last minute, just thinking about all this, I earned $36,ooo. By the time I get to lunch, I’ll be $8 million richer.
Your third thought is…
*Home page photograph via Adelaide Now.
53 Responses to this article
-
Galactic Woman May 23, 2012
My third thought is: What loopholes can I find today to avoid paying tax. I want to crack the $20bill before the end of the financial year.
-
Nic May 23, 2012
My third thought is…..
I’m bored.
-
The Huntress May 23, 2012
I need a diet coke…because I do every morning.
My next thought is how can I help people today – because I think that most days (not all, because I am a bit selfish)
If I had that kind of wealth when I wake up tomorrow I would be throwing my support behind Medecins Sans Frontieres. Huge cash injections could improve global health on such a massive scale. That kind of money could eradicate polio. Prevent hunger. Treat malaria. Educate millions to slow the spread of HIV.
Healthcare is my passion and the only way I can help others now is through my profession and my time. If I could give money to improve global healthcare, I would give it in a heartbeat.
-
Dianne Blacklock May 23, 2012
I wonder what the rich people are doing today … Wait …
-
Michelle May 23, 2012
she probably thinks about getting out of bed for a shower; always a bit of a struggle that decision!
However on a more serious note: I hope Gina and Clive begin thinking through the consequences of establishing shipping ports right in the path of our beautiful Great Barrier Reef.
I also hope both magnates start getting fair about the housing issues they’re creating right across northern Australia. Rental prices and house values are so inflated that it is pushing the locals into impoverishment (unless they actually work in the mines of course and already own their own home).
To be *that* wealthy isn’t bad in and of itself but I certainly have more respect for Bill and Melissa Gates and how they use their privilege to help rather than hoard.
-
Tessa May 23, 2012
My heart breaks just a little bit more when the numbness of sleep wears off and I remember that my children are at war with me, how do I get through another day being that person?
How can I fill the gaping hole in my life that should be filled with family? Money? How much will it take ? -
susan May 23, 2012
but am i happy….
-
Chris May 23, 2012
And how can I bring more cheap labour from Asia into my mining projects so I can destroy the economies of regional Aussie towns and communities but make even more money for meeeeeeeeee! Hideous woman.
-
Cb May 23, 2012
OMG but all that can’t buy the love and respect of my children and without that I’m nothing….. Tragic!
-
Galactic Woman May 23, 2012
I refuse to get out of bed for less than $50 mill per day. (Linda Evangelista, eat your heart out!)
-
J May 23, 2012
I can do whatever I WANT!
-
Pete May 23, 2012
Should get out of bed I guess. People who oppose me aren’t going to ruthlessly destroy themselves.
-
Kath May 24, 2012
I don’t know how I’m ever going to afford the Mining Tax!
-
Sarah May 24, 2012
Now I will donate the vast majority of my wealth to end poverty and starvation in third world countries. My children can go and earn their own way in life.
-
Colin May 24, 2012
I could give each Australian $1,000,000 and still have more cash than I’ll ever need.
-
MrsP2011 May 24, 2012
My son calculated that last night also. Staggering.
-
-
Rachael May 24, 2012
What can I do to change the culture of inequality in the world today? How can I give back to the world that has given me so much – to mother earth and to the other souls I share this precious planet with? How can I leave a legacy that will set a new standard of hope for people everywhere?
Wouldn’t that be fantastic? Why don’t the rich ever actually think like this? It’s insane!!!
-
Sarah May 24, 2012
“Hmm…note to self: find my soul…Ask the butler search for it in attic, should be near where the children’s hearts are used for dart practice. If soul can’t be found, buy one.”
-
Alice Shaw May 24, 2012
My third thought is.. is it worth it when only one of my kids still speaks to me?
-
Carolyn May 24, 2012
How can I use this wealth to benefit the place from where it was extracted and to make a difference in the lives of others ?
-
JoanneH May 24, 2012
I wonder why that woman who is writing an autobiography about me said on TV that I am not known for my philanthropy?
-
sam16 May 24, 2012
Mirror mirror on the wall,who is the richest of them all…..oppps obviously I dont have mirrors in my mansions.
-
Susan May 24, 2012
You know what… I’m very happy……. and my retail therapy today could involve a great trip to Vinnies…
-
Rosie May 24, 2012
Nobody likes me, everybody hates me.
Think I’ll go and eat…Seems pretty obvious to get this rich you have to alienate your family and scare your employees, politicians and peers alike.
Congratulations on being the richest woman in the world, Gina. Now put it to good use by ending poverty in Australia and possibly a few other whole countries in the process. It is your duty. -
Fran May 24, 2012
This women with all her wealth, cannot even give her children their inheritance from their grandfather.
If she shared her wealth to help people help themselves to a better more productive life maybe she would be looked upon favourable instead of the greedy selfish power & money hungry person she is today. Oprah, Ellen etc use their wealth and position to do so much good to help ordinary and underprivileged make their life better.
Give it a go Gina you might just find the piece of mind you are looking for and be happy for all your wealth -
JoanneH May 24, 2012
The next time we meet I’ll expect the Queen to curtsey to me.
-
Allikat May 24, 2012
How can i use my billions to make life more equitable for women world wide who need a helping hand?
-
Jay Sanders May 24, 2012
Maybe Gina needs to see this from True Activist FB:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=243124709125950&set=a.162734817164940.27911.129370207168068&type=1&theater -
Lilly May 24, 2012
How can I make 19 billion more?
I dont think you get that rich by thinking the things I would be thinking ……. like what’s for breakfast, I need some Laboutins, Italy is nice at this time of year, must feed several large nations, buy the Greek Islands, give it away to family, friends…..yep, Gina is driven and clearly brilliant at what she does. I sincerely hope the achievement makes her happy and proud. I am sure her father would have been proud anyway. Nonetheless I am extremely curious about how she lives her life though. She could have and do anything she wants, legal battles aside.
-
Elianda lee May 24, 2012
to be honest if Gina is not sharing her wealth with the POOR, then she really will never be RICH….
WITH GREAT WEALTH COMES SHARING. I DO BElieve she must be helping some of the POOR otherwise she better get A HEART TRANSPLANT, for the missing one…..
For the real HAPPINESS OF A BEATING HEART IS WHEN IT FEELS FOR SOMEONE ELSE, WITH L O V E. -
LORRAINE COLLOPY May 24, 2012
Now maybe I can destroy Julia perhaps I will have to buy The Labor Party as Wil suggested, do you think Clive and I look alike??certainly our chins are similar!!!
-
Judith Rubbish May 24, 2012
My third thought is….it’s about time I shared. Perhaps my first act of kindness could be toward the traditional owners of this land, who love and literally live this soil in a way I may never understand. Next, I could read, take heed and really respond to all of these people, who would make big changes, heartfelt and life saving changes if they had the incomprehensible and despicable amount of money that I do.
-
MrsP2011 May 24, 2012
I don’t care that Gina Rinehart is now the richest woman in the world. I don’t care about all that money. And I doubt very much whether she is lolling around in bed in the morning thinking “Now will I take the jet and fly to Italy today for a bit of shopping?” Actually, I think it would be fair to say she is probably out of bed around 5.30am in the morning. I do care however about what mining is doing to this country, particularly here in Queensland. Michelle is spot on. Reasonable rental accommodation is almost now non-existent in The Whitsunday area (Airlie Beach etc) with miners paying exorbitant rents – because they can, which leaves the person on ordinary wages looking for rental accommodation, in a very difficult position. Yes, that’s right. Miners are travelling 3 hours 54 mins a total of
310.3 km from their rental property in Airlie Beach to Moranbah. On average that’s once every 7 days or so. Go figure. Now to the the Great Barrier Reef which is on my front door step. Just today we have the State Government (Jeff Seeney) encouraging mining big time because it’s Queensland’s life blood and at the same time, dissing the concerns about the damage to the Great Barrier Reef and the increased marine traffic up and down the east coast. On the other side, the Federal Government (Tony Burke) putting on it’s tough stance of “well, we’ll see about that”. Really Tony? Your track record thus far with regard to your portfolio has been appalling. Anyone with commonsense will figure out that mining is not going to be the be all and end all of our economy. We already have that many big holes around the country that the resources from mining are only likely to last another 40 years. What then? We’ve let our manufacturing businesses go, tourism is in trouble, as are our sugar industries and farming. I doubt very much whether the Big 3, Rinehart, Forrest and Palmer, or government for that matter, even really care or have paid much attention to what happens after mining. “Visionary” never seems to come into it just as long as the money is rolling in. We can’t live like that. It is not sustainable. Now Gina, with all that money, perhaps you and your 2 mates could turn your attention to providing solutions for the problems outlined here. After all, what’s a billion dollars or so between friends. -
Colin May 24, 2012
Oops, I think I was so staggered by the billions, I got the maths wrong!
-
liza May 24, 2012
I am going to invest billions of $$ into beyond Zero and build myself a Solar /Thermal Plant which will compete with Spain and Saudi Arabia in the production of electricity for thousands of people without stuffing up my planet.
-
Terri May 25, 2012
Very surprised at the tone of some of the above. Do you know Gina? Amazing how we choose to believe all the media feeds us. Comments about her weight and dispute with her family are unnecessary and mean, especially given they are from other women. Charity begins at home, don’t see much charity here.
-
Susan May 25, 2012
I agree Terri. And she does work damn hard. She’s managed to not only maintain her inheritance but increase it. And you don’t do that without a lot of savvy and a lot of hard work. I’d say she wakes up and thinks about the schedule she has for the day, which is probably chock-a-block with meetings. I’d say her days were long and exhausting. Good luck to her. And who knows how much she gives to charity? Get over yourselves and don’t judge a life you’ve never lived.
-
Mez May 25, 2012
Absolutely agree, Terri and Susan. Gina Is one of the hardest working women in the country. She lives modestly and is a private person. Because she isn’t out there promoting herself doesn’t mean that she doesn’t contribute to charities and the good of the Nation.
Such narrow minded, petty comments above are exactly what Wayne Swan would be proud of.
-
-
mary May 25, 2012
Many people in the world especially third world countries are the hardest working people in the world and that work leads to a shortened life full of hardship. We in the first world live on their backs. Save your sympathy for them ladies! It is not who she is but what she represents and the inequality she perpetuates that lose her any charity from others. There is only one pie and the more Gina has the less everyone else can have.
-
MrsP2011 May 25, 2012
Well, money speaks – loudly in Gina Rineharts case. I’ve just seen a report on ABC 24 that the government has given Gina Rinehart the go ahead to bring in 1700 workers from overseas on special visas to work at the Roy Hill mine project. What a bloody disgrace. Every day we wake up to see Aussies are losing their jobs and this woman is bringing in people from overseas? It beggars belief that she is getting away with this. Gobsmacking.
-
maggie May 25, 2012
I wonder what the kids are up to today!!!!!!!!!!
-
Judith Rubbish May 25, 2012
I am with Mary on this, and the majority of contributers. No, we don’t know GR personally, but for any one person to have SO much when so many other hardworking people have SO little is what is so disturbing. And to Mez, she came out of her private life to give her personal opinion about the mining tax, go figure!!!!
-
Royce May 27, 2012
I hope for her sake she can ‘loop’ back to the first thought.
I don’t think there would be a great deal of meaning to anything else.
Anything requiring effort or thought, could be looked after by someone else.
Maybe the quest to become the richest person on earth might be something to keep her going?
It must be hard to work out who are your real friends, specially when you kids don’t even like you.
Hmmmm
-
hoolee May 27, 2012
I remember when the kids were little and we used to cuddle in bed in the mornings…. those were the best days of my life…
-
Sammy September 5, 2012
My third thought is… how can I screw my kids out of more money? I’m clearly not making enough money!
-
Sammy September 5, 2012
My third thought is… it’s time I started doing crack
