This Is Each State's Wealthiest Billionaire
When we think of billionaires, we think of the likes of Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk. But the reality is that not all billionaires are as famous as these guys. Some of the wealthiest individuals in the country choose to live very private lives.
There are a lot of billionaires who most people don't really know about. Can you name the highest-ranking billionaire in your state? If you can't, that's okay. The good news is that we have centralized all of the information about these impressive people right here.
Florida: Thomas Peterffy
Estimated Net Worth: $15 billion
Who would have thought that this once-penniless refugee would soon become a market-making billionaire? Immigrating from Hungary at the age of 21, Thomas Peterffy started out as a computer programmer before moving on to an engineering firm.
He went on to the American Stock Exchange, founding Interactive Brokers soon after. The discount brokerage firm later developed the first handheld computer for floor traders back in 1983. Peterffy stepped down as CEO in 2019 and currently serves as the firm's chairman.
Colorado: Philip Anschutz
Estimated Net Worth: $11.6 billion
Philip Anschutz's Anschutz Entertainment Group is one of the largest industry players in the realm of music and sports. Its subsidiaries run Coachella, as well. Anschutz also happens to own two five-star resorts and a cruise ship line.
Apart from business interests in energy and real estate, AEG owns stakes in the Los Angeles Galaxy, the NHL’s Kings, and the Lakers. Not bad for a guy the New Yorker once called “The Man Who Owns L.A.”
Hawaii: Pierre Omidyar
Estimated Net Worth: $17 billion
Pierre Omidyar is the man behind eBay. As the son of Iranian parents, he immigrated from France to the U.S. when he was only six years old. He was always infatuated with computers. Omidyar even skipped a few gum classes to play with the school computer.
eBay was launched in 1995 and became the first bidding site to allow person-to-person transactions. Currently, the man owns 5% of eBay and 6% of PayPal. He is also involved in investigative journalism, launching the Honolulu Civil Beat in 2010.
Ohio: Les Wexner and family
Estimated Net Worth: $4.2 billion
This tycoon started his retail career simply working at the clothing store his parents owned. The store was actually named after him. He would later try to convince his parents to change the business model for the shop. When he couldn't, he took out a loan and opened one himself.
Thanks to popular brands like Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works, Wexner's empire grew. In 2020, he stepped down as CEO of L. Brands after public backlash because of the company's alleged toxic work culture and his ties with Jeffrey Epstein.
Iowa: Harry Stine
Estimated Net Worth: $5.5 billion
Harry Stine was once a humble boy who was just helping out his father with the farm. Because of his knowledge of soybean breeding, he would later launch Stine Seed, selling corn and soybean seeds. In the '90s, he hit the jackpot by striking licensing deals with large multinationals like Monsanto.
Stine Seed and its affiliates currently own upwards of 800 patents. They also operate as the fourth largest seed company in all of the United States. Yes, he has definitely come a long way.
Connecticut: Ray Dalio
Estimated Net Worth: $18 billion
Ray Dalio is arguably most famous for being the founder of Bridgewater Associates. What started out as a company out of his two-bedroom New York City apartment back in 1975 became the world's largest hedge firm.
Even at the age of 12, Dalio was already investing his money. He ended up buying shares of Northeast Airlines for $300, eventually tripling his investment. His Dalio Foundation has also gotten busy, as it has spent billions to support education, environmentalism, microfinance, and more.
Georgia: Jim Kennedy
Estimated Net Worth: $8.9 billion
Jim Kennedy is the heir to Cox Enterprises. He first joined the family business in his 20s before becoming its chairman. He was chairman of Cox Enterprises for about 20 years, too. Kennedy is credited for growing the company's revenues from $1.8 billion to a staggering $21 billion.
Once upon a time, Kennedy was simply the "New Kid" in the Cox Newspapers newsroom. He was also a competitive cyclist at one point in his life. Kennedy spearheaded Atlanta's Olympic bid in 1996, as well.
Illinois: Ken Griffin
Estimated Net Worth: $12.8 billion
Back in the '80s, 19-year-old Ken Griffin was already making trades from his Harvard dormitory. He was using a satellite dish at the time just to get real-time quotes on stocks. Later on, he founded what would soon be known as the biggest multinational hedge fund firm Citadel LLC.
In 2001, Citadel Securities was established, which has now become one of Wall Street’s biggest market-making firms. Griffin also made history for purchasing the most expensive home in U.S. history. This was a $238-million New York City penthouse overlooking central park.
Oklahoma: David Green and family
Estimated Net Worth: $7.8 billion
This wealthy son of a pastor credits his Biblical principles for the success of his billion-dollar business. David Green is the man behind the popular arts-and-crafts chain Hobby Lobby. He founded it in 1970 and still serves as the chain's CEO to this day.
Green actually first made his money by just building picture frames in his garage. He has been a significant financial supporter of various Evangelical causes in the United States. The Museum of the Bible was Green's passion project, one that took $500 million to construct.
Indiana: Carl Cook
Estimated Net Worth: $10.2 billion
Carl Cook is one of those billionaires who has sort of lived outside of the spotlight. He studied at Purdue and took an MBA from the University of Iowa. He took over his parents’ medical device company Cook Group back in 2011 after his father passed away.
Cook’s parents founded the Bloomington-based company in a spare bedroom at their home. They were only manufacturing needles, wire guides, and catheters at the time. Nowadays, Cook Medical has over 16,000 products across 13 hospital service lines around the world.
District of Columbia: Donald Trump
Estimated Net Worth: $2.1 billion
Out of all the things former President Donald Trump has been known to boast about, he might be most proud of being the first billionaire president of America. Trump was the president of his family's real estate development company before entering politics.
The Trump Organization is well-known for its luxurious major development projects. Trump also used to be quite the television personality, even appearing on The Apprentice for 14 years. His eldest sons, Donald Jr., and Eric, ran the family business while he was in office.
South Dakota: T. Denny Sanford
Estimated Net Worth: $2 billion
After graduating from high school, T. Denny Sanford was actually sent to juvenile detention. A judge made him choose between serving his sentence and enrolling in college. He chose the latter, of course. Sanford eventually graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1958.
He founded First Premier Bank later on. The bank specializes in low-limit credit cards for high-risk borrowers and is one of the biggest issuers of Mastercards in the world. Sanford has also donated more than $1 billion to various charities, including his own non-profit Sanford Health.
Maine: Susan Alfond
Estimated Net Worth: $1.5 billion
In what was the single worst deal that Warren Buffet has ever admitted to taking, Harold Alfond sold his Dexter Shoe Company Buffett's holding company, Berkshire Hathaway, in 1993. The family, in exchange, received a sum of $433 million in Berkshire stock.
When Susan's father passed, she and her siblings inherited his massive fortune. Dexter Shoe Company eventually went out of business back in 2001. Fortunately, the family cashed in just before the collapse. Poor Warren Buffet though.
Arkansas: Jim Walton
Estimated Net Worth: $54.2 billion
Jim Walton was one of the heirs to Walmart. Collectively, Walton and his siblings own about half of Walmart’s stock. He is also the chairman of Arvest Bank Group. Walton is said to have an estimated 44% stake in the oldest bank in Arkansas.
This makes him the wealthiest member of his entire family. He served as a board member of Walmart for roughly a decade before his son Steuart replaced him back in 2016.
Kansas: Charles Koch
Estimated Net Worth: $48.2 billion
Charles Koch has been co-owner, chairman, and chief executive officer of Koch Industries since 1967. Together with his late brother Dave, they turned a modest oil firm into a $110-billion corporation. Koch Industries is the largest privately held company in the United States.
Charles owns a 42% stake in the company. The brothers actually inherited the company after an ugly court battle. Charles has also been an advocate for criminal justice reform and has been known to criticize corporate welfare and mass incarceration in the U.S.
Nebraska: Warren Buffett
Estimated Net Worth: $71 billion
At the age of 11, Warren Buffet was already buying stocks. The so-called “Oracle of Omaha” used to sell chewing gum and cartons during his childhood. Today, he is recognized as the chairman and CEO of renowned holding company Berkshire Hathaway. The company owns more than 60 businesses.
This includes Dairy Queen to Duracell. Buffet also owns considerable shares in Coca-Cola and Apple. He is a highly regarded philanthropist, as well. Buffet pledges to donate more than 99% of his fortune to charity during his lifetime or at the time of his passing.
South Carolina: Anita Zucker
Estimated Net Worth: $1.7 billion
Industrialist and inventor Jerry Zucker happily married his high school sweetheart Anita back in the day. When he passed back in 2008, he left their chemical manufacturing businesses to her. As the CEO of The InterTech Group, Anita Zucker helped the business reach revenues of more than $3 billion.
The group even owns its own aerospace engineering firm and has extensive real estate holdings. Throughout her career, Anita has been widely praised for her donations to education and health programs. Kudos to her.
Louisiana: Gayle Benson
Estimated Net Worth: $3.2 billion
Tom Benson was once the owner of two of the biggest sports teams in the United States, the NFL’s Saints and NBA’s Pelicans. When he passed, it was his wife, businesswoman Gayle Benson, who took over his assets.
Of course, it was not easy. She went through a long and tedious legal battle with her husband's family for ownership. She came out on top though. Today, she is the only woman to own both an NFL and NBA franchise.
Washington: Jeff Bezos
Estimated Net Worth: $161.4 billion
Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Jeff Bezos are all jockeying for position as the world's richest. But in Washington, Jeff Bezos stands out on top. As the founder and CEO of Amazon, Bezos heads the largest online sales company in the world.
Its origins trace back to a Seattle garage back in 1994. Amazon was originally a bookstore before expanding. It currently sells everything from furniture to food and more. The corporation also has a streaming service and its own television studio and publishing arm.
Maryland: Mitchell Rales
Estimated Net Worth: $4.9 billion
Instead of working for his father’s real estate firm, Mitchell Rales decided to forge his own path back in 1979. Rales and his brother then co-founded Equity Group Holdings. They invested in vinyl siding manufacturers, auto shop suppliers, and more.
When the company changed its name to Danaher, more acquisitions followed. Danaher owns 24 subsidiaries, including microscope maker Leica and color wizard Pantone. Rales is an avid art collection, as well. He and his wife, Emily Wei Rales, collect post-World War II artwork and more.
Massachusetts: Abigail Johnson
Estimated Net Worth: $15.4 billion
Abigail Johnson is the billionaire businesswoman who serves as the CEO and chairman of Fidelity Investments. She even ranked seventh on Forbes’ list of the world’s most powerful women back in 2019. As a young woman, Johnson worked for her family's company until college.
She joined them full-time in the late '80s and eventually ended up at the helm in 2014. Johnson owns an estimated 24.5% stake of the mutual fund firm. Fidelity Investments manages nearly $2.7 trillion in assets.
Arizona: Ernest Garcia II
Estimated Net Worth: $8.3 billion
Ernest Garcia II literally started his business out of a garage. In 1991, Garcia purchased bankrupt car rental service Ugly Duckling and merged it with his own finance company. The company was later rebranded as DriveTime Automotive Group.
It specialized in selling and financing cars to people with bad credit. Garcia's family runs the automotive business. In 2012, Garcia's son, Ernest III, founded Carvana. According to Forbes, DriveTime is now the fourth-largest used car retailer in America.
Michigan: Hank and Doug Meijer
Estimated Net Worth: $10 billion
What started as a Dutch immigrant barber's dream has now become a billion-dollar chain. During the Great Depression, Hendrik Meijer opened a small grocery store together with his 14-year-old son. Hank and Doug Meijer are the grandsons of the original founder.
They took over the business back in 1990. Meijer Inc. became one of the biggest supermarket chains in the U.S. The chain has reached $17.8 billion in sales and has over 230 locations to its name. It is also credited for pioneering the one-stop supercenter in the U.S.
Minnesota: Glen Taylor
Estimated Net Worth: $3.2 billion
When the owner of Carlson Wedding Service was set to retire, an employee named Glen Taylor offered to purchase the Mankato print shop for $2 million. At the time, the deal was to be paid off in ten years. Suffice to say, Taylor paid it early.
During that period, he quickly transformed the company into Taylor Corp., a multinational printing, marketing, and communications company. Today, it has now more than $2 billion in annual revenue. Taylor is also a former member of the Minnesota Senate.
Pennsylvania: Victoria Mars
Estimated Net Worth: $7 billion
Candy queen Victoria Mars is a Mars heiress who had previously served as the company’s chairman. She has an estimated 8% stake in Mars Incorporated. Her great grandfather founded the world-renowned confectioner in 1911.
It is the company behind treats such as Mars bars and M&M’s. The company also produces Uncle Ben's rice and pet food, which covers Pedigree and Whiskas. Mars practically has its hands everywhere. Victoria is an advocate for environmental causes, including the Galapagos Conservancy.
California: Mark Zuckerberg
Estimated Net Worth: $88.2 billion
There isn't much that we don't know about Mark Zuckerberg, especially after the film The Social Network. He is famously the co-founder of social media giant Facebook. Zuckerberg started the website in his Harvard dorm back in 2003.
It was then known as FaceMash, serving as a directory for Harvard students. Facebook has also brought in notable startups like Instagram and Whatsapp under the brand. The company is actually looking to venture into virtual reality with the purchase of Oculus VR.
Mississippi: James and Thomas Duff
Estimated Net Worth: $1.4 billion each
If we all could just be billionaires with our brothers. That would be neat. James and Thomas Duff started off merely replacing the tread on old tires at their father’s commercial car dealership. Working early at Southern Tire Mart was a great way to learn about business.
Later on, after inheriting it, the once-failing business became a lucrative empire. The brothers also co-founded the holding company Duff Capital Investors in 2007. They have acquired various companies over the years, as well.
Missouri: Pauline Macmillan Keinath
Estimated Net Worth: $5.9 billion
Pauline Macmillan Keinath's Great-grandfather was the founder of agribusiness Cargill. The company began as a single grain warehouse in Iowa. Now, it happens to be the largest food company in the entire world.
Pauline is widely believed to be its biggest shareholder, with an estimated 12% stake. She never served as the CEO of the family business though. The last family member to do so was Pauline's late brother Whitney MacMillan, who retired in 1995.
Montana: Dennis Washington
Estimated Net Worth: $6.2 billion
Yes, Dennis Washington was once a shoeshiner way back when. These days, people know him to be a billionaire industrialist. He began a construction business with a single bulldozer and a $30,000 loan. This led to the creation of Washington Companies.
The corporation is involved in rail and marine transportation, aviation, and mining. Sone of its latest acquisitions are a copper mine, a regional railroad, and luxury yachts. Safe to say, Washington is living the life.
Idaho: Frank Vandersloot
Estimated Net Worth: $3.7 billion
In this ranch-to-riches story, a young Frank Vandersloot was convinced by his then-brother-in-law to take the helm of a failing startup company. Vandersloot eventually rebranded Oil of Melaleuca and founded Melaleuca in 1985.
The corporation is known for marketing environmentally friendly nutritional supplements and cleaning products. It generates an average of over $2 billion a year. Apart from the company, Vandersloot owns approximately 117,500 acres of land across Idaho, Utah, and Montana. He also manages an Angus cattle operation.
Kentucky: Tamara Gustavson
Estimated Net Worth: $4.6 billion
This is another heiress who has chosen to remain quiet. Still, her wealth is anything but. Tamara Gustavson owns 11% of her father’s company Public Storage. This is the largest individual share of anyone in the company.
Not to mention, she serves as a board member. Prior to this, she was actually the vice-president of the self-storage service. She left in 2003 to focus on raising her children. These days, she lives on her father's racehorse breeding farm Spendthrift Farm.
Nevada: Sheldon Adelson
Estimated Net Worth: $30.3 billion
As the founder, chairman, and CEO of Las Vegas Sands, Sheldon Adelson is one of the biggest casino moguls in U.S. history. His $14 billion enterprises own The Venetian and The Palazzo. The corporation also owns the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.
Aside from the gambling business, Adelson has been a major supporter of the Republican party. He even made a $5-million contribution to Donald Trump and various Jewish causes. Sadly, Sheldon Adelson passed away in January 2021.
Wyoming: John Mars
Estimated Net Worth: $28 billion
Another Mars makes the list. This comes as no surprise, considering the magnitude of the family's enterprises. John Mars owns an estimated third of the family business. He and his brother, the late Forrest Jr., took over the Mars empire in 1969.
Many credit John for helping the company shift toward automated services. The billionaire is notoriously elusive, as well. John was also awarded an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle back in 2015.
Oregon: Phil Knight and family
Estimated Net Worth: $39.2 billion
Sneakerheads know Phil Knight as the man who formed one of the biggest footwear brands in the world. He, along with his former track coach, are key architects of Nike. These days, the brand makes an annual revenue of $39 billion.
Nike also sponsors a wide range of world-famous athletes and sports franchises. As its chairman, Knight has donated millions to his alma mater, the University of Oregon, for which he used to run track for. That's what you get when you name your company after the goddess of victory.
Rhode Island: Jonathan Nelson
Estimated Net Worth: $1.8 billion
Partly because of his low profile and demeanor, Jonathan Nelson is dubbed the “stealth mogul.” It is a fitting nickname, to say the least. Nelson is the founder of Providence Equity Partners. The global private equity firm manages funds with $40.7 billion in commitments.
Nelson has invested in more than 160 companies. Outside of work, the quiet investor serves on the boards of the Newport Festival Foundation and his alma mater Brown University.
Texas: Alice Walton
Estimated Net Worth: $54 billion
Alice Walton is a Walmart heiress who happens to be just as wealthy as her brother. But instead of focusing on the family business, she shifted her attention toward curating art. Nevertheless, Walton still worked for the company briefly before entering the finance industry.
She worked for Arvest Bank and founded the short-lived investment bank Llama Company. In 2011, Walton opened the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas. Most of the pieces in the collection are largely funded by the Walton inheritance.
New York: Michael Bloomberg
Estimated Net Worth: $60.1 billion
As former New York City mayor, Michael Bloomberg pursued socially liberal and fiscally moderate policies. But before that, he was known as the co-founder of Bloomberg LP. To this day, he still owns about 88% of the finance, software, and media business.
Bloomberg entered the 2020 presidential race and spent close to a billion just for his campaign. Apart from his business and politics, Bloomberg has donated more than $5 billion to causes like climate change and gun control.
Utah: Gail Miller
Estimated Net Worth: $1.7 billion
It might be unthinkable now but the wealthiest person in Utah started off buying a single Toyota dealership with her husband. Larry and Gail Miller purchased the shop in 1979. It was the first of many for the couple.
Eventually, the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies owned a whopping 65 dealerships. The corporation offers financing and insurance. Following Larry H. Miller’s passing in 2009, Gail Miller assumed 100% ownership of their businesses. She is also the owner of the NBA franchise Utah Jazz.
West Virginia: Jim Justice II
Estimated Net Worth: $1.2 billion
The richest man in West Virginia also happens to be its governor. Jim Justice II was known for switching political parties one time too many. He first registered as a Republican and ran as a Democrat, only to switch back again to Republican after a little over six months in office.
Justice had inherited a coal business from his father. He eventually founded a farming corporation, creating a business empire with more than 94 companies. Justice also owns the historic Greenbrier Hotel.
Wisconsin: John Menard Jr.
Estimated Net Worth: $19.5 billion
John Menard Jr. is the founder and owner of the home improvement chain Menards. The store has regularly competed with retail giants like Home Depot and Lowe’s for years. Menard currently owns more than 300 stores.
He is also known for his strict managerial style. Even his top executives are asked to punch into a daily time clock. Menard Jr. is also a former INDYCAR racing team owner. His son, Paul Menard, is a former NASCAR Cup Series driver.
North Carolina: James Goodnight
Estimated Net Worth: $8.7 billion
James Goodnight's love for machines led him to the creation of the analytics software firm SAS in 1976. He co-founded the company together with John Sall and other faculty members of North Carolina State University.
The businessman and developer started by working on NASA’s Apollo program before founding SAS to analyze agricultural data. Goodnight and Sall have partnered for other ventures, as well. They opened the private school Cary Academy, a country club, and a hotel.
Virginia: Jacqueline Mars
Estimated Net Worth: $28 billion
You can never have too many Mars heirs and heiresses. As a sister to John Mars, Jacqueline also enjoys an estimated third of the family candy company. She worked for the family business for about two decades and even served on the board until 2016.
Her son, Stephen, currently serves as the corporation's chairman. Aside from her business resume, Mars is a patron of the arts, even serving on the board of the Smithsonian Institution. She is also an advocate of women's education.
Tennessee: Thomas Frist Jr. and family
Estimated Net Worth: $9.6 billion
Before helping his father found HCA Healthcare in 1968, Thomas Frist Jr. served as a United States Air Force flight surgeon. These days, HCA Healthcare owns and operates roughly 185 hospitals and 1,800 sites in both the U.S. and the U.K.
While he no longer holds an executive position for the corporation, his sons still serve on the board. Frist was inducted into the Tennessee Healthcare Hall of Fame back in 2003. He also remains chairman of the board for the Frist Foundation.
New Jersey: John Overdeck
Estimated Net Worth: $6.1 billion
John Overdeck sure capitalized on being a former child math prodigy. He eventually co-founded the New York City-based hedge fund business Two Sigma Investments. The company uses different technological methods for its trading schemes, including machine learning and artificial intelligence.
He also serves as its co-chairman. Overdeck previously worked for both Amazon and investment firm D. E. Shaw & Co. before the business. He has been lauded as one of the most generous philanthropists for children’s education programs.
North Dakota: Gary Tharaldson
Estimated Net Worth: $1 billion
Gary Tharaldson operates hundreds of hotels in the country through his Tharaldson Companies. He founded the company back in 1982. That was the year the corporation made its first purchase with the acquisition of a Super 8 Motel in Valley City, North Dakota.
He has also been heavily involved with the University of Mary in Bismarck for years. Tharaldson even lent his name to the University's "Gary Tharaldson School of Business." He served on the University's Board of Trustees for a short stint.
Honorable Mentions — Alabama: Jimmy Rane
Estimated Net Worth: $950 million
The Auburn University alum might not be a billionaire now, but we just might see him crack the list very, very soon. Lumber magnate Jimmy Rane is the founder and CEO of Great Southern Wood Preserving.
The corporation specializes in making decks, fences, and other treated lumber products. Rane is Alabama's wealthiest person, but he still chooses to live in his hometown of Abbeville. He is also known for his cowboy alter-ego, "the Yella Fella," appearing in the company's television commercials.
Honorable Mentions — Delaware: Robert Gore and Elizabeth Snyder
Estimated Net Worth: $750 million
With each of them residing in Newark and Wilmington, Robert Gore and Elizabeth Snyder are tied for being the wealthiest person in the state of Delaware. Considering that they live in one of the country's least populous states, they are unlikely to be challenged anytime soon.
The brother-and-sister duo share in the Gore-Tex fortune founded by their parents. Being a chemical engineer, Robert is credited for inventing the waterproof material used in Gore-Tex apparel.
Honorable Mentions — New Mexico: Mack C. Chase
Estimated Net Worth: $700 million
New Mexico is another state that doesn't have billionaires just yet. Nevertheless, Mack C. Chase takes the title of the wealthiest person in the New Mexico area. The oil and gas tycoon began working in the industry at just 14 years old.
He eventually started his own oil-drilling business in 1968. Mack Energy Corporation has now expanded its operations to different states, including Texas and more. Chase is also a noted philanthropist. He was immortalized by his hometown of Artesia with a bronze statue at the intersection of 6th and W Main St. downtown.
Honorable Mentions — Vermont: John Abele
Estimated Net Worth: $630 million
John Abele may be retired right now, but he still has a small stake in Boston Scientific. Abele first worked at a light-fixture company in the Midwest before returning to New England and co-founding the medical corporation.
He was actually once a billionaire but has since donated much of his wealth to nonprofit organizations. Abele is a member of the USA Science and Engineering Festival's Advisory Board, as well. In addition, he served as the chairman of FIRST Robotics from 2002 to 2010.