Tube City Almanac

November 16, 2009

We're the Ones Who Are Sorry, Charlie

Category: Cartoons, Commentary/Editorial || By Jason Togyer

Jason Togyer cartoon for Tube City Almanac (c) 2009


Here's a fun fact that I learned while researching today's cartoon: The founder and CEO of Dish Network, Charlie Ergen, is ranked No. 87 on Forbes magazine's list of the richest people in the world.

Forbes pegs his net worth at $9.5 billion.

To put that into perspective:
  • If you had 9.5 billion one-dollar bills, they would make a stack 9.5 billion dollar-bills high.

  • If Fuzzy's in Glassport laid 9.5 billion foot-long hoagies end to end, they would form a sandwich 9.5 billion feet long.

  • If 9.5 billion people attended a West Mifflin-Thomas Jefferson football game and they all went to the bathroom at half-time, the lines would be unreal.

Anyway, the magazine estimates Ergen's annual salary over the past five years at $1.44 million. That actually isn't that large when it comes to executive pay packets. For instance, the CEO of Alcoa made $7.25 million last year.

But for comparison's sake, the median family income in the city is about $25,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, so one Charlie Ergen is worth about 57 of you.

Here's another fun fact I learned. Four times per year, Ergen answers questions live via satellite on a show that Dish Network calls "Charlie Chat":
"Charlie Chat" stars Charlie Ergen, DISH Network founder and CEO, and co-founder Jim DeFranco, Senior Executive Vice-President. Charlie and Jim discuss new developments in DISH Network's programming selection and products, answer viewer questions, have exciting prize giveaways and host a special celebrity guest during most shows.

The next "Charlie Chat" is scheduled for 9 p.m. Dec. 14, and they're already taking questions. I've submitted my question to "Charlie Chat" --- why don't you do the same?







Feedback on “We're the Ones Who Are Sorry, Charlie”

Right on Jason! I salute you for digging deep into the Dish Network story – I concur with your request to “Charlie” for a donation to the Hospital fund however you may remember the Starkist ad campaign of “Sorry Charlie” – you may get a response of Sorry from Charlie! Keep up the good work – the rich get rich and the poor get nothing but false promises from the politicoes!
Donn Nemchick - November 17, 2009



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