WORLDWIDE THE RICH LOST 20 PERCENT OF THEIR WEALTH IN 2008

The rich of the world are not likely to look back at 2008 as a terrific year. Indeed, during this period of economic uncertainty and shaky markets, the world' rich saw their total wealth dwindle by almost 20 percent, according to a Merrill Lynch study cited by Reuters.

"The total value of the wealth of people with net assets of more than $1 million, excluding their main home and consumables, dropped to $32.8 trillion -- below 2005 levels," the 13th annual world wealth report revealed.

Also, the report cited a decline of nearly 15 percent in the number of people with more than $1 million in assets -- and about a 25 percent drop in the number of people who could lay claim to fortunes in excess of $30 million