Unless they weren't for sale. Private companies for example. It's all hypothetical to begin with. 1B is used as an example.
------------------------------------- People are taking examples too literally. Substitute profit with any number you wish. Substitute Mills Fleet Farm with any company you wish.
I only familiar with small businesses, the valuation that I am familiar with.
"Most businesses with under $1 million in revenue (which is most businesses) sell at a pitiful multiple of earnings when their owners decide it's time. Typically they get two or three times their pre-tax profit, if they're lucky.When you talk about billion-dollar profits. That is way above my pay grade."