Wealth has always been a measure of influence throughout history. Some of the most powerful individuals have accumulated wealth beyond imagination.
Today, names like Elon Musk and Bill Gates are considered among the wealthiest people, but their combined fortune pales in comparison to that of one of China’s emperors.
Known as Empress Wu, Wu Zetian was not only China’s first and only female emperor but also the richest woman to have ever lived.
According to an SCMPI report, during the Tang Dynasty (624-705 AD), China dominated nearly 23% of the global economy, making her fortune equivalent to 14,907 billion dollars (more than 41 trillion Pakistani rupees).
In comparison, Elon Musk’s wealth is estimated at 407 billion dollars, and Bill Gates’ fortune is valued at 107 billion dollars. This means that, combined, their wealth is still 14,300 billion dollars less than Empress Wu’s.
