Forbes 400 only lists Americans and those lists generally don't include people wealthy by the sole virtue of their government functions or closeness to the reigning family. But even when they do, industrialists still dominate.
I'm sure there's a lot of corruption going on at this level but it's just as much "owning the country" as it is "being extorted by the officials". Even in the first world (at least according to professor Lessig):
> “Our current tax system with all its complexities is in part designed to make it easier for candidates, in particular congressmen, to raise money to get back to congress,” Lessig said. “All sorts of special exceptions which expire after a limited period of time are just a reason to pick up the phone and call somebody and say ‘Your exception is about to expire, here’s a good reason for you to help us fight to get it to extend.’ And that gives them the opportunity to practice what is really a type of extortion – shaking the trees of money in the private sector into their campaign coffers so that they can run for congress again.”
I'm sure there's a lot of corruption going on at this level but it's just as much "owning the country" as it is "being extorted by the officials". Even in the first world (at least according to professor Lessig):
> “Our current tax system with all its complexities is in part designed to make it easier for candidates, in particular congressmen, to raise money to get back to congress,” Lessig said. “All sorts of special exceptions which expire after a limited period of time are just a reason to pick up the phone and call somebody and say ‘Your exception is about to expire, here’s a good reason for you to help us fight to get it to extend.’ And that gives them the opportunity to practice what is really a type of extortion – shaking the trees of money in the private sector into their campaign coffers so that they can run for congress again.”
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2012/01/02/lawrence-lessig-on-money-...