Thank you for the link. The top one is very informative. I still have to disagree with you on the matter of dynasty though. I have some experience with and consulting for family businesses and what George is doing would be considered a business killer. At his age he should be working behind the scenes to cement the power and position of his offspring. When he goes, and hopefully he goes soon, he is going to leave a big hole in the family business. Every business or political relationship he forms these days will soon be wasted. The relationship should have been formed by one of his sons. Every experience he learns from should have been used to educate one of his offspring. He is using his time for HIS benefit instead of for his family. I’m quite happy to see this. We don’t need anymore Soros playing on the world stage. That being said, I’m with you - I hope I’m long gone before I have to see something like a Soros dynasty taking hold.
I know what you’re saying.
But what is the family business? Isn’t it world domination, creation of change agents, One World-ism, redistribution of power via redistribution of citizens/residents?
Several of the scions are involved with the main and subsidiary NGOs already established in just these enterprises. One is an investment banker. One produces films. The brother controls ports and shipping. The sons are all young. Respectively, I’m sure they each have their own NGOs, all sit on every family BOD, one has a firm likely managing the family trusts/portfolios, which are separate from their personal, discretionary fortunes.
I know one family similarly liberal, wealthy and not as powerful or evil. As you say: when the third generation patriarch died, the family interests were broken up and distributed among the heirs of three brothers. Fourth generation is spread out all over the map geographically and interest-wise and wealth is seemingly no longer concentrated, but:fifth generation is allowing a 4th gen to manage the portfolio, only it is now more diverse. All sit on BODs, all manage NGOs, all have their own Foundations, all contribute to the same side of the political spectrum. They are now involved in business, finance,film and media,education, the military (retired general officer) and religion. Family firm advises and co-ordinates finances, even acting as owner of record for subsidiary real estate holdings of a large number of related individuals. There are a lot of them, so many internecine spats and competitions, but if you look closely, they interlock, co-ordinate and complement each other in many ways. Serial marriages results in spreading the influence network. Sure, many just suck on the vast active income, but, as they mature, they get serious and there is always a slot for them somewhere influential. Or for their children and grandchildren.
I’d say, not so fast writing off the Soros clan. It’s more like an iceberg and we only see the top protrusions. Many are still just enjoying their privilege. In twenty years, they will yearn for legacy and be in positions to slide in wherever they wish, through outright purchase, family connections or an expanded network. They will live long, healthy lives. Wealth and privilege does not mean dissolution or stupidity. A big enough sample insures some geniuses emerge.
I no longer am close to the family members I knew, but I occasionally check on their present status. I see a core without diminution of means or opportunity and, from what I can discern at a distance, their motives are still coordinated and parallel those of Clan Soros. There are many such families around the world, no longer confined to the original family business,with at least one financier and one innovator in each generation able to marshal the assets of the entire clan when necessary.
I shudder to think down the line another thirty years when it is possible the mere multi-billionaires are all trillionaires, intermarried and manage to throw up descendants who hark back to the ruthlessness of the patriarch(s), just waiting for a favorable confluence of events.
In the 21st century, I’m not convinced one family must control a single aspect of commerce. In fact, one could argue that in this instance, diversity actually is a strength, since the environment changes swiftly and distribution ensures some thrive, some survive, even if some fail.
Imagine a scenario where a Soros grandchild marries into one of the Euro royal families. Or a Rothschild, perhaps. Or both, one after the other. What is the inheritance of their children? What vast accumulations of power could result? The possible lives of these people are the stuff of dystopian fantasy romance novels. Not hard to imagine a vampire strain in the Soros line.