TIME magazine Saudi-owned?

[MissouriTeacher]

I don't know if you guys have ever seen this website, but despite the rather clunky design, I think it's got some great analysis.

http://www.moderateindependent.com/

Check out the front page update about "fictional bounce polls." It says that Time magazine is owned by the Saudis.

Interestingly enough, these guys predicted yesterday that polls would come out showing Bush with ridiculous leads just like the polls in 2000 showing Bush over Gore by large margins. (see here: http://www.moderateindependent.com/v2i24inevitable.htm)

I try to stay pretty level-headed most of the time, but this sort of covert propaganda doesn't sound entirely unbelieveable. Especially when you figure the Bush family has CIA connections.

[Ducks In A Row]

1. it would make sense, now that we know the poll is fixed.

[MissouriTeacher]

2. I'm Googling...

and I can't find anything about Time magazine being owned by Saudis.

Even still, I think their prediction was pretty impressive.

[Dookus]

3. No

Time Warner is a publicly-traded company, and therefore probably has millions of owners. Ted Turner and Steven Case are the major shareholders.

9% of the stock is owned by "insiders". 71% is owned by institutional and mutual funds.

I'm sure there are Saudi's who shares, but I wouldn't say they "own" the company.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/mh?s=TWX

[MissouriTeacher]

4. Thanks for the clarification

By the way, isn't the CEO of Time Warner a Kerry supporter?

Or maybe he's one that gives to both parties.

[Zan_of_Texas]

5. Surprising, isn't it.

Wealthy Saudi prince at one point a few years ago had $10 billion sunk into Citibank. Basically rescued it at one point.

Had half a billion in AOL Time Warner a few years ago, when I was paying attention to him. Plus a major investment in News Corp.

Prince Alwaleed is his name.

Here is my research from 2001. If someone wants to update it, feel free.


Royal Woe - Rebuff of gift, souring investments land Saudi prince in foreign place

http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-biz-saudi102801.story?coll=ny%2Dbusiness%2Dheadlines


By James Toedtman
Chief Economic Correspondent

October 28, 2001

HAS THE SIXTH WEALTHIEST man in the world, often hailed as the best and brightest of Saudi Arabia's royal family, lost his touch?

Long admired for his financial savvy and discipline as a "buy-and- hold" speculator, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Ab Al Saud, who parlayed a family inheritance of $15,000 and a house into a $20 billion empire, has stumbled.

Recently his offer of a $10 million check for the victims of New York's World Trade Center attacks was rebuffed unceremoniously by New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani after the prince linked the attacks to U.S. policy in the Middle East.

<SNIP>
Major Investments

In April and May of 2000, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal made some significant investments. Here is how they had fared as of last week

Company Investment % Change

Compaq $400 million -63 percent

Kodak $100 million -43 percent

EBay $50 million -24 percent

Priceline.com $50 million -92 percent

Amazon.com $50 million -85 percent

Procter & Gamble $50 million 19 percent

PepsiCo $50 million 24 percent

Walt Disney $50 million -56 percent

WorldCom $200 million -69 percent

Princely Possessions

The financial holdings of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal include the following:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Percentage of company owned

Hotels and Entertainment Holdings

Four Seasons Hotel, London 100%

George V Hotel, Paris 100%

Plaza Hotels, New York 42%

Movenpick Hotels and Resorts 30%

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts 27%

Planet Hollywood 20%

Disneyland 13%

Banks and Financial Services

CAL Merchant Bank 14%

Nigeria United Bank 13.7%

Citigroup 3.9%

Saudi American Bank 10%

Communications Companies

ART (Arab Radio and Television) N/A

Teledesic 16%

Senegalese Telecommunication Co. 10%

News Corp. 7.5%

Other Companies

Daewoo Corp. 18%

The Savola Group 18%

Donna Karen International 7%

Hyundai 7%

Saks Fifth Ave. 6%

Saatchi & Saatchi 6%

Apple Computer 5%

Motorola 1%

N/A - percentage not available
Copyright © 2002, Newsday, Inc.

<><><><><><><><><>

[MissouriTeacher]

6. Wow.

I guess this is the kind of stuff Moore was referring to in F 9/11 when he talked about what a large part of the US economy is owned by the Saudis.

[Zan_of_Texas]

7. AOL is now Time Warner TWX

According to Yahoo, the biggest insider individuals who own stock, are now:

R. E. Turner
Stephen Case
Reuben Mark
Richard D. Parsons

But, anyone who wants to google Alwaleed and AOL or AOL Time Warner -- go for it.

Alwaleed is an interesting guy -- gets almost no press here, but he is filthy filthy rich, and has been a major investor in US markets.