Forbes history
B.C. Forbes, a financial columnist for the Hearst papers, and his partner Walter Drey, the general manager of the Magazine of Wall Street,[1] founded Forbes magazine in 1917.[2] Forbes provided the money and the name and Drey provided the publishing expertise. The original name of the magazine was Forbes: Devoted to Doers and Doings.[1] Drey became vice-president of the BC Forbes Publishing Company,[3] while B.C. Forbes became editor-in-chief, a post he held until his death in 1954. B.C. Forbes was assisted in his later years by his two eldest sons, Bruce Charles Forbes (1916–1964) and Malcolm Stevenson Forbes (1917–1990).
Bruce Forbes took over on his father's death, and his strengths lay in streamlining operations and developing marketing.[2] During his tenure, 1954-1964, the magazine's circulation nearly doubled.[2] Although credit for increased circulation must also be given to the magazine's increased outspokenness on the part of investors.[2]
When Malcolm Forbes took over, he had a more hands-off approach on operations, but did provide two strategic initiatives that changed Forbes forever. He instituted a professional editorial staff, instead of the previous heavy reliance on freelancers, and he started the first of the rankings articles for which Forbes became famous.[4]
On Malcolm's death, his eldest son Malcolm Stevenson "Steve" Forbes Jr. (1947–) became President and Chief Executive of Forbes and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes magazine.[5] Between 1961 and 1999 the magazine was edited by James Michaels.[6] In 1993, under Michaels, Forbes was a finalist for the National Magazine Award.[7] In 2006, an investment group that includes rock star Bono bought a minority interest in the company.[8]
The popularity of Forbes magazine has extended to mainstream and Hip-Hop culture. 50 Cent has released the official remix to his hit single, "I Get Money" off his September 11, 2008 album, Curtis, entitled Forbes 1,2,3 (also known as the "Billion Dollar Remix"). The title of the song comes from the fact that Jay-Z, 50 Cent, and Diddy were listed as Forbes' Top 3 money-making Kings of Hip-Hop, respectively. The unfinished video for Forbes 1,2,3 can be seen as the intro to 50 Cent's single, "I Still Kill" featuring Akon, off his multi-platinum album Curtis.
Other publications of company
Apart from Forbes and its lifestyle supplement, ForbesLife, other titles are published, including Forbes Asia and eight local language editions. Steve Forbes and his magazine's writers offer investment advice on the weekly Fox TV show Forbes on Fox and on Forbes On Radio. Other company groups include Forbes Conference Group, Forbes Investment Advisory Group and Forbes Custom Media.
The company formerly published American Legacy magazine as a joint venture, although that magazine separated from Forbes as of May 14, 2007[9].
The company also formerly published American Heritage and Invention & Technology magazines. After failing to find a buyer, Forbes suspended publication of these two magazines as of May 14, 2007[10]. Those magazines have since been purchased by the American Heritage Publishing Company, and have resumed publication as of Spring 2008 [11].
Forbes.com (The official website of Forbes)
David Churbuck founded Forbes' Web site in 1996. The site uncovered Stephen Glass' journalistic fraud in The New Republic in 1998, an article that drew attention to internet journalism. The site, like the magazine, publishes many lists focusing on billionaires and their possessions, especially expensive homes, a critical aspect of the website's apparent popularity. [12] See a list of lists below.
Forbes.com employs the slogan "Home Page For The World's Business Leaders" and sometimes claims to be the world's most widely visited business web site.[13] The current president and chief executive officer is James J. Spanfeller; the current editor is Paul Maidment; the current managing editor is Carl Lavin,[14] who succeeded founding managing editor Michael Noer and Dan Bigman.[15]
According to Forbes.com, the Web site is among the most trusted resources for senior business executives, providing them the real-time reporting, uncompromising commentary, concise analysis, relevant tools and community they need to succeed at work, profit from investing and have fun with the rewards of winning.
Forbes.com also publishes subscription investment newsletters, a luxury-vehicles site, ForbesAutos edited by Matthew De Paula, and a luxury travel site, ForbesTraveler, edited by G. Barry Golson, the former executive editor of Playboy and TV Guide and former editor-in-chief of Yahoo! Internet Life, and an online guide to web sites, Best Of The Web.
Forbes.com is part of Forbes’ Digital, a division of Forbes Media LLC. Forbes.com and affiliated properties include:
Forbes.com (site)
ForbesTraveler.com (site)
Investopedia.com (site)
Realclearmarkets.com (site)
Realclearsports.com (site)
Realclearpolitics.com (site)
Clipmarks.com (site)
Together these sites reach more than 27 million business people each month.
ForbesAutos.com and ForbesTraveler.com (Official sites of company)
Launched in May 2005 by Forbes.com, ForbesAutos.com is a web site designed specifically for luxury car buyers and enthusiasts. The editorial content is written specifically for affluent consumers, with an emphasis on objectivity, comprehensive analysis and intelligent insight.
ForbesTraveler.com is designed for the affluent, discerning traveler. Launched in September 2006 by Forbes.com, ForbesTraveler is dedicated to inspiring, planning and booking the world’s most distinctive travel experiences.
Lists about Forbes
Forbes creates many lists under various topics, the most popular being perhaps the list of billionaires.
Companies
200 Best Small Companies
400 Best Big Companies
Forbes 500
Forbes Global 2000, a list of largest companies in the world taking into account market capitalization, revenue, income and assets (this is different basis for ranking than that used by the Fortune Global 500, which is based only on revenues).
Largest Private Companies
Peoples
In popular culture Forbes is perhaps best-known for its many periodic lists of net worth. As it often takes considerable detective work to determine the actual wealth of an individual, Forbes' figures are widely cited as nearly-definitive.
Executive Pay
Forbes 400, a list of the richest people in the United States
Midas List, an annual list of the top dealmakers in technology and life sciences
World's Richest People, a list of the richest people in the world
China Rich List, a list of the richest people in mainland China
India Rich List, list of the richest people in India
Forbes Fictional 15, a self-parodying list of the richest movie, TV and literary characters
The World's 100 Most Powerful Women
The Celebrity 100, an annual list of famous and financially influential celebrities (i.e., entertainers, musicians, producers, directors, and athletes)
The China Celebrity 100
Top-Earning Dead Celebrities, a list of deceased celebrities that continue their revenue from posthumous material
Cuba's Fidel Castro conflict
In 2005, Forbes listed Fidel Castro among the world's richest people, with an estimated net worth of $550 million USD. In the 2006 article "Fortunes Of Kings, Queens And Dictators", Forbes increased their estimate to $900 million USD.[16] The article notes that estimating net worth for government leaders is "more art than science", and points out that in the case of Castro the authors used a discounted cash flow method for several state-owned companies, and assumed a portion of that profit stream went to Castro.
Castro responded that he has a net worth of less than $1 USD, and challenged any one to prove that he has any money in overseas accounts.[17] Castro also stated that Forbes should place a bucket over their head.