Capitalization of largest banks 1999-2009

A correspondent sent me this graphic from the Financial Times, which lets you see the 20 largest banks in the world by capitalization, and how the list changed over the last 10 years.

The first figure below shows the rankings in 1999 -- mostly US banks, with some Japanese, Swiss and UK firms as well. Guess who dominates the rankings today (second figure)?

Guess how much top executives at Citi were paid over the last decade to run the bank into the ground? Robert Rubin, where are you? See earlier post Clawbacks, fake alpha and tail risk.