Which is why, despite buying what turned out to be inflated tech stocks that proceeded to plummet, Alwaleed can plausibly claim that his net worth is unchanged from a year ago.

FORBES: An optimist in Riyadh

Buyers of securities on the open market can't claim a theft loss "even if the market values of the securities were inflated by insiders' fraud, " it flatly asserts.

FORBES: Insult to Injury

The Independent newspaper recently cast doubt on this claim, reporting that figures of 70, 000 people tuning into her online concerts were inflated as part of a publicity campaign.

BBC: NEWS | Entertainment | Thom curtails Crazy chart reign