Chris Reynolds briefly becomes world's richest person after PayPal 'credits' him with $92 quadrillion

Chris Reynolds became one thousand times wealthier than the total combined GDP of the whole planet

The online money-transfer firm admitted yesterday that they credited Chris Reynolds, 56, of Pennsylvania, with the $92,233,720,368,547,800 briefly before correcting their error. (GETTY IMAGES)

A US man briefly became the world's richest person - with a wealth one thousand times greater than the GDP of the whole planet - after PayPal erroneously credited him with $92 quadrillion (£60 quadrillion).

The online money-transfer firm admitted that they credited Chris Reynolds, 56, of Pennsylvania, with $92,233,720,368,547,800 briefly before correcting their error.

The mistake briefly made Mr Reynolds the world's richest man on paper and also the world's only quadrillionaire.

Mr Reynolds' wealth easily eclipsed that of the current world's richest man Mexican telecom mogul Carlos Slim - who is worth a mere $67billion.

Paypal withdrew the money after realising their error but offered to make a donation to a charity of Mr Reynolds' choice.

Mr Reynolds told the Philadelphia Daily News the statement made him feel "like a million bucks", adding, "At first I thought that I owed quadrillions. It was quite a big surprise."

He also told the paper that being a "very responsible guy", the first thing he would do with the money would be "pay the national debt down first."