Nintendo Wii fuels Japan's richest man of 2008

Maddening sales of Wii have made former Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi the richest human being in Japan, says envy facilitator, Forbes Magazine, in its latest annual rankings.

$7.8 billion reasons to smile, thanks Wii! (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

$7.8 billion reasons to smile, thanks Wii! (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

According to the report, Yamauchi's wealth increased by a whopping 38 percent over last year, thanks to the soaring global sales of Nintendo Wii. The tycoon is now worth $7.8 billion, enough to put him at the number one spot, up from third last year.

Yamauchi, 80, retired from Nintendo in 2002, after being president for more than half a century. He remains a primary stock holder and minority owner.

Under his tenure, the shrewd businessman would save video games from financial ruin in 1985 with the release of the Nintendo Entertainment System, carry Nintendo to gaming dominance in the 90s, and ultimately concede his lead to Sony shortly after.

Comments [53]

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RandyFD

Daaaaaamn I had no clue Yamauchi was such a high-roller. Goes to show, make your system fun and the billions will follow you.

AANTHUNDER

showmethegames Posted at: 05/08/08 at 8:21 AM PST Niko is a PIMP
Yeah, he been whoring out Mario for years and Nintendo fanboys can't get enough! Even he would never in a million years thought he would be come a billionaire on the back of an Italian plumber named Mario.

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