Methodology

The Real-Time Trillionaires is a satirical project. The figures displayed on this site are simulatedand generated algorithmically in your browser. They are not sourced from financial filings, market data providers, or any individual's actual holdings, and they should not be relied upon for any purpose.

How the number moves

Our flagship ticker begins at a fixed baseline of $1.1 trillion. Every two to four seconds, a small pseudo-random adjustment — between ten thousand and one and a half million dollars — is added to or subtracted from the running total. This produces the live "market" feel you see on the homepage. There is no underlying portfolio, exchange feed, or valuation model. It is theater.

Who qualifies

To appear on the list, a person must possess a net worth of at least one trillion United States dollars. At the time of writing, our research desk has identified exactly one qualifying individual. The remaining positions are held open in the event that the club ever expands.

Corrections

Because every number here is fictional, we are delighted to report that our error rate is both total and irrelevant. If you believe you belong on this list, you almost certainly do not.