Texas cash
Forbes released today its 36th Annual Forbes 400 Ranking of the Richest Americans. The billionaires on the 2017 Forbes 400 list have a record-breaking, combined total net worth of $2.7 trillion, up from $2.4 trillion in 2016.
As usual, plenty of folks from the Lone Star State were on the list, starting with Fort Worth’s Alice Walton, coming in at No. 13 with $38.2 billion. Next from Fort Worth is Robert Bass, coming in at No. 122 with $4.9 billion, followed by Sid Bass at No. 219 with $3.4 billion. At No. 315 is Lee Bass with $2.6 billion. David Bonderman, who formerly worked for the Bass Family and now heads Fort Worth and San Francisco-based TPG, is also at No. 315 with $2.6 billion. At No. 324 is Ed Bass, listed with $2.5 billion.
The minimum net worth now required to be counted among the very richest Americans hit a record high of $2 billion, up from $1.7 billion in 2015 and 2016. There were 169 billionaires who did not make the cut. However, even at these new heights, there were 22 newcomers to this year’s list. The average net worth of a Forbes 400 member hit $6.7 billion, also a record high, up from $6 billion last year.
Bill Gates tops The Forbes 400 for the 24th consecutive year, with a net worth of $89 billion this year. Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, worth $81.5 billion, retains the No. 2 spot for the second consecutive year. Warren Buffett, who prior to 2016 held the No. 2 spot for 15 consecutive years, is now No. 3 for the second year in a row. The biggest gainer (in dollar terms) of The Forbes 400 list is Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg. Despite a $15.5 billion increase in net worth, Zuckerberg, remains in No. 4, worth $71 billion. Rounding out the top 5 is Larry Ellison (No. 5), worth $59 billion, up $9.7 billion from last year.
The presidency did Donald Trump no favor on his rating on the list. Trump (No. 248) is down $600 million to a net worth of $3.1 billion due to a weakening in the New York City retail and office real estate market as well as new information. Trump was ranked No. 156 in 2016. Forbes has been tracking The Donald’s fortune since the debut of The Forbes 400 in 1982.
There are 34 Forbes 400 members residing in Texas. The top 10 are:
Rank Name Wealth ($b)
13 Alice Walton 38.2
19 Michael Dell 23.2
45 Andrew Beal 10.9
74 Richard Kinder 67.0
95 Jerry Jones 56.0
97 Dannine Avara 55.0
97 Scott Duncan 55.0
97 Milane Frantz 55.0
97 Randa Williams 55.0
108 Robert Rowling 52.0
For the complete ranking, methodology and more, please visit: http://www.forbes.com/forbes-400/