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© St. Petersburg Times, published March 4, 2002
Worth magazine feels sorry for Bill Morean.
In its March issue, the publication identifies Morean, chairman of Jabil Circuit Inc., as the richest person in St. Petersburg. But how in the heck is he supposed to enjoy his millions in a place like this?
"It's hard to spend $925-million or so in Tampa Bay," the article says, noting in a snippy aside that the area didn't even get its first Neiman Marcus until last fall.
Sure, Morean has a waterfront home in Tierra Verde, which Worth describes as "nice but hardly exclusive." (Note to city: Raise the drawbridge and leave it up.)
The profile also says that he has a ranch north of town and a personal jet. But even that is leased back to Jabil for some extra cash.
In an apparent effort to figure out what in the world Morean sees in such low-brow surroundings, the magazine says the unlikely billionaire is a college dropout who once worked as a bush pilot in Alaska.
Compared with Anchorage, maybe this place looks plush.