[Leary]

Let's put it this way. According to Maddison,

https://www.rug.nl/ggdc/historicaldevelopment/maddison/relea...

The entire world's GDP in 1700 was $371 Billion (1990 International Dollars). That would mean the VOC's value then was ~10x the global GDP, which I find hard to believe.

Or if that doesn't convince you, consider the world population in 1700 was 700 million people. That would mean the Dutch Indies Company's value per person is $10,000!

[LolWolf]

10,000! is quite a large number, to be fair.

Kidding aside, I agree: I'm also quite dubious of this article's claim on the East India company being worth as much as was computed.