Billionaire blog.

Came within an ace of shaking hands with several billion dollars this morning, but he wandered off to give his presentation. The billionaire in question is Sam Zell. Outside the commercial real estate world, few know him. Inside the industry, everyone does, since he's chairman of the separate companies that are the world's largest office and apartment landlords. In fact, he's my landlord, or rather Real Estate Media's landlord in Chicago, since we office in one of Equity Office Property’s buildings, the Civic Opera Building.

Zell was the star attraction, the big name on the marquee, for the three-quarter-day commercial real estate conference my company held today, which was called RealShare Chicago. He's a diminutive fellow, almost leprechaunish, nearly bald and with a distinctive set of wrinkles (he's in his early 60s). My boss interviewed him one-on-one on the dais for about 45 minutes, and I'm happy to report that it's clear that, whatever else he is, Zell's an interesting human being, and a highly articulate one too. This is good. I hate it when vast wealth is wasted on stupid people.

Which raises the seldom-examined subject of stereotypes of the rich. Stereotypes of the poor and other despised peoples are well examined and, in the 20th century at least, each generation exploded its parents' stereotypes to replace them with their own. The same process occurs in thinking about powerful and privileged groups, but it generates little attention or denunciation, since, after all, the rich seldom suffer because of a bad stereotype. But as a way of understanding human beings, stereotyping the rich is just as misleading as stereotyping the poor.

That said, there are plenty of wealthy stupid people. The ancient Greeks hit it on the head when they thought of the god of wealth, Plutus, as blind or blindfolded, distributing his bounty regardless of personal merit.

My own speaking gig, which was before Zell's appearance, went reasonably well. I don't do public speaking all that often, but as an adult I've never been afraid of it. Must be all that time I spent as a member of the National Forensic League in high school. Still, that doesn't mean I'll ever be anything more than a merely competent public speaker. I don't think ever pack 'em in with a neo-Cross of Gold speech.

The panel did their part. Had a banker, an office developer, a condo developer, an industrial landlord, and investment specialist, and an office space broker. I also had a hefty cordless mike. Almost felt like a billy club there in my hand. Probably it's technically possible to make them smaller, but I don't think they should be. It made a fine prop, giving me something to do with my hands.

I did a short intro, and asked a few questions. The panel talked, and I politely cut one or another of them off if they showed any signs of incipient logorrhea. Then I went into the audience, Donahue-style, and directed the audience’s questions to the panelists.

We got one laugh. A woman asked, "Do you think the city was wrong to close Meigs Field?"

Answer from one of the panelists: "I have to apply for permits. I'm not going to touch that question." Ha-ha-ha.

Well, you had to be there. And you have to know about Meigs Field. Some other time, perhaps.