The world got rich by inventing cheap steel, electric lights, marine insurance, reinforced concrete, coffee shops, saw mills, newspapers, automatic looms, cheap paper, modern universities, the transistor, cheap porcelain, corporations, rolling mills, liberation for women, railways.

FORBES: Yes, Gawker, 'The Good Rich' Do Exist

Pine, the most commonly farmed tree in the U.S., reaches pulp stage in 10 to 14 years, is ready for saw mills near age 20, and by age 25 to 27 is fully mature and usable for framing lumber, plywood and telephone poles.

WSJ: Wealthy Investors Discover Timberland

Last year alone saw the breakups of Britney Spears and Kevin Federline, Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, and Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe.

FORBES

"Based on the specs that I saw in 2010, I was very concerned, and I expressed my concerns, " Mills said Friday.

NPR: America's Cup Fatality Raises Safety Questions