A long ride on Apple's coattails scores Xiaomi a $45 billion valuation

There are plenty of tech companies out there that wish they were in Apple's position as one of the world's most valuable companies. Xiaomi -- the maker of the MiPad and MiPhone -- seems to have figured out how to quickly climb the value ladder, and it's actually easier than anyone could have imagined: Just blatantly copy Apple and fiercely deny it along the way.

With its latest round of funding coming in at over US$1 billion, Xiaomi is now valued at over $45 billion, and this is how they made it happen:

$45 billion...

$45 billion.

$45 BILLION dollars. Actual cash money.

That's billion with a "B" at the front.

Let this be a lesson to you, kids: You don't have to be creative to be rich.