Well, not as rich, in real terms, as you might think. Which could explain the David Bain jumpers.

We in the media doesn't usually let inflation get in the way of a good story. The continually updated list of movie blockbusters doesn't look nearly so dynamic if calculated in constant 2007 dollars (forget Star Wars or Lord of the Rings, Gone With the Wind is still way out in front).

It's interesting to apply this principle to Forbes' annual rich list (out today) which, to its credit, Forbes' website did recently.

Forbes.com ranked the richest-ever Americans in constant 2006 US dollars, weighted against historic GDP at the peak point of each person's wealth: Dominated by old economy railway, oil, retail, real estate and banking moguls (often combining nearly all pursuits), the list looks like this:

1. John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937)
$305.3 billion

2. Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919)
$281.2 billion

3. Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877)
$168.4 billion

4. John Jacob Astor (1763-1848)
$110.1 billion

5. Stephen Girard (1750-1831)
$95.6 billion

6. Richard B. Mellon (1858-1933)
$82.3 billion

7. A.T. Stewart (1803-1876)
$80.8 billion

8. Frederick Weyerhauser (1834-1914)
$72.2 billion

9. Marshall Field (1834-1906)
$60.1 billion

10. Sam Walton (1918-1992)
$58.6 billion

11. Jay Gould (1836-1892)
$58.2 billion

12. Henry Ford (1863-1947)
$54.3 billion

13. Bill Gates (1955- )
$53.0 billion

Despite his foundation being a more generous donor to health research than all Western governments combined (according to The New Yorker), Microsoft's improving fortunes see Gates climb to $59 billion in the 2007 list, consolidating his place as the US' richest man (though he's now tied for the worldwide number one with Mexican cellphone and-much-else magnate Carlos Slim Helú).

Tech continues to dominate the Top 10.

America's Cup loser Larry Ellison is 3rd on $26 billion.

Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin tie for 5th on $18.5 billion.

And Michael Dell clocks in at number 7 on 17.2 billion.