As always the Rich 100 researchers put many hours of work into estimating the net worth of Canada’s wealthy. Canadian Business’s Rich 100 research team for the 2008-09 list was made up of Alex Mlynek, Phil Froats, Kate Carraway, Megan Harman and Jane Bao. Sources of information included proxy statements, insider trading reports and tips from some Rich 100 members. We began with a list of some 150 potential candidates, who typically had to be worth at least $200 million before we gave them serious consideration. From there, estimated net worth was measured using the following criteria:

1. Membersof the Rich 100 had to be Canadian citizens.
2. Wevalued assets held as of Nov. 3, 2008.
3. Weincluded financial transactions that occurred between Oct. 13, 2007 andNov. 3, 2008, and we included the value of dividends and distributionsreceived during that time period.
4. Publiclytraded securities were valued at the market close on Nov. 3, 2008. Thiswas the date used for exchange rates applied to foreign investments aswell.
5. Privatelyowned companies were valued using a multiple of cash flows, earnings orsales. If these figures weren’t available, we looked to industry expertsfor their estimates, or we compared private companies to similar publiccompanies. Debt, whether know or estimated, was subtracted from the value.
6. Realestate values were based on estimates per square foot, less debt.
7. Wherecompanies or shares/units were sold, we applied appropriate capital gainstaxes.
8. Whereassets were held by families or trusts we focused on who controlled thewealth.
9. Weintentionally used conservative estimates of private investments. It’svirtually impossible to determine the full extent of these holdings forevery member. It’s safe to assume the Rich 100 are worth more than thestated amount.
10. Sometimeswe relied on estimates provided by the Rich 100 candidates themselves,although we attempted to independently verify their information.
11. Occasionally,new information comes to light that can affect our estimate of anindividual’s wealth.