The list, posted Wednesday on the online-only English-language Inspire website magazine, included billionaires such as co-founder of Microsoft Bill Gates, investor Warren Buffet, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former chairman of the US Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke.

AQAP claimed that the deaths of those selected would bring instability to the economy of the United States and prevent what it termed a US 'revival.' According to the website, those selected would be removed from the list if they withdrew their money from the US economy and invested it in other countries.