In the United States, everyone wants the American Dream: to come to this prosperous land and build a rich and fruitful life. But only a few people truly make it to the top of the food chain. We're talking about the billionaire tycoons who are in charge of some of the country's most influential empires. If you're curious which magnates are in your own backyard, read on, and discover the richest person in every state. And to find out where your dollar doesn't go as far, This Is the State Where Your Money Is Worth the Least.
1 | Washington
ShutterstockJeff Bezos: $117.1 billion
Jeff Bezos is the founder and CEO of Amazon. He is currently the richest person in the world, followed by Bill Gates. And for more interesting tidbits, check out why Rich Men Are Twice as Likely to Have This Deadly Condition, Study Finds.
2 | Nebraska
ShutterstockWarren Buffett: $89.6 billion
Warren Buffet, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, is a business mogul and investor. He is also the seventh wealthiest person in the world.
3 | California
Frederic Legrand - COMEO/ShutterstockMark Zuckerberg: $81.9 billion
Mark Zuckerberg is the famous founder of Facebook. And if you're looking to build your own business, it might help to live in The Smartest State in the U.S.
4 | New York
ShutterstockMichael Bloomberg: $58.4 billion
Michael Bloomberg was the former mayor of New York City between 2002 to 2013. He also ran for president in 2020.
5 | Arkansas
Walmart / FlickrJim Walton: $51.9 billion
Jim Walton is the youngest son of Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart. As heir to the supermarket fortune, he is the eighth richest person in the world.
6 | Texas
Walmart / FlickrAlice Walton: $51.7 billion
Alice Walton is the richest woman in the world, and the only daughter of Sam Walton. And for more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter.
7 | Kansas
Tribune Content Agency LLC / AlamyCharles Koch: $42.8 billion
Charles Koch is chairman and CEO of Koch Industries, a diversified brand involved with a variety of industries, including electronics, forest and consumer products, refining, trading, investments, and ranching. It is America's second largest private company by revenue.
8 | Nevada
Hemis / AlamySheldon Adelson: $41.4 billion
Sheldon Adelson owns and runs the Las Vegas Sands Corporation as CEO.
9 | Oregon
Cal Sport Media / AlamyPhil Knight and family: $40.0 billion
Phil Knight is the co-founder and former CEO of sports brand Nike.
10 | Virginia
UPI / AlamyJacqueline Mars: $30.2 billion
Jacqueline is one of the many Mars family members on this list. They run Mars Inc., the candy dynasty that makes Snickers, M&M's, and Twix. In total, the entire family is worth about $90 billion.
11 | Wyoming
PA Images / AlamyJohn Mars: $30.2 billion
Other than being a candy tycoon, Jacqueline's brother, John, was made an honorary knight by Queen Elizabeth II.
12 | Connecticut
TED Conference / FlickrRay Dalio: $18.7 billion
Ray Dalio is a hedge fund manager and entrepreneur who founded Bridgewater Associates in 1975.
13 | Florida
Humans MGMT HLD Co / FlickrThomas Peterffy: $17.6 billion
Thomas Peterffy founded Interactive Brokers, where he continues to be the chairman.
14 | Massachusetts
REUTERS / AlamyAbigail Johnson: $16.0 billion
For the last six years, Abigail Johnson has been the president and CEO of Fidelity Investments. She's also the chairman of Fidelity International.
15 | Hawaii
OnInnovation / FlickrPierre Omidyar: $13.2 billion
Thanks to Pierre Omidyar, you can bid for your heart's greatest desires on eBay, the company he created in 1995.
16 | Illinois
REUTERS / AlamyKen Griffin: $13.1 billion
Ken Griffin founded the investment firm Citadel in 1990 and currently acts as CEO.
17 | Tennessee
Hospital Corp. of AmericaThomas Frist Jr and family: $13.0 billion
Thomas Frist Jr is a co-founder of HCA Healthcare.
18 | Wisconsin
Eric Glenn / ShutterstockJohn Menard Jr: $11.7 billion
John Menard Jr founded and owns Menards, a chain of home improvement stores in the Midwest. He is also known for being the owner of a former INDYCAR racing team.
19 | Colorado
ZUMA Press / AlamyPhilip Anschutz: $11.5 billion
Philip Anschutz is a jack-of-all-trades, and has his hands in many industries. His most notable title is the owner of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings.
20 | Indiana
Cook PharmicaCarl Cook: $10.4 billion
Carl Cook is the heir and CEO of the Cook Group, a medical device company.
21 | Georgia
Bloom Energy / FlickrJim Kennedy: $9.9 billion
Jim Kennedy is the chairman and former CEO of the media company, Cox Enterprises.
22 | Oklahoma
dpa picture alliance / AlamyHarold Hamm and family: $9.7 billion
Harold Hamm accumulated his fortune through his involvements in the oil industry.
23 | North Carolina
UPI / AlamyJim Goodnight: $8 billion
James Goodnight is a software developer and CEO of the SAS Institute, which he co-founded in the '70s.
24 | Pennsylvania
Mostardi Photography / AlamyVictoria Mars: $7.5 billion
Victoria Mars is the former chairman of Mars, Inc.
25 | Missouri
ShutterstockPauline MacMillan Keinath: $6.9 billion
Pauline MacMillan Keinath is a billionaire heiress of the Cargill fortune. Cargill, an agriculture corporation, is the largest private company in America.
26 | Montana
ZUMA Press, Inc. / AlamyDennis Washington: $6.7 billion
Dennis Washington owns a handful of private companies in the U.S. and Canada. He is also passionate about his fleet of mega-yachts (pictured here).
27 | Michigan
REUTERS / AlamyDaniel Gilbert: $6.5 billion
Dan Gilbert co-founded Quicken Loans in the '80s, then went on to buy the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA team.
28 | Arizona
Kristoffer Tripplaar / AlamyErnest Garcia II: $6.2 billion
Ernest Garcia II is a used car businessman, who owns DriveTime and has a huge stake in Carvana.
29 | New Jersey
M4OS Photos / AlamyJohn Overdeck: $6.1 billion
John Overdeck is the co-founder of the investment firm Two Sigma.
30 | Maryland
ZUMA Press / AlamyTed Lerner and family: $5.5 billion
Ted Lerner is the former owner of the Washington Nationals baseball team.
31 | Iowa
REUTERS / AlamyHarry Stine: $5.4 billion
Harry Stine founded a seed company that makes stronger crops without the need for pesticides.
32 | Kentucky
Mike Mozart / FlickrTamara Gustavson: $5 billion
As the daughter of B. Wayne Hughes, Tamara Gustavson inherited the fortune of her father's storage company.
33 | Ohio
Wexner Center / FlickrLes Wexner and family: $4.5 billion
Les Wexner founded and formerly headed L Brands, a retail empire that includes popular outlets like Bath & Body Works and Victoria's Secret.
34 | Idaho
MelaleucaFrank VanderSloot: $3.7 billion
Frank VanderSloot is the CEO of Melaleuca, a wellness company that makes eco-friendly household cleaning supplies, health supplements, and more than 400 other products.
35 | Louisiana
ZUMA Press / AlamyGayle Benson: $3.1 billion
After her husband passed away, Gayle Benson gained control over the New Orleans Saints football team and the New Orleans Pelicans basketball team.
36 | Minnesota
Tribune Content Agency LLC / AlamyGlen Taylor: $2.8 billion
Glen Taylor has power from many places. Besides being a politician in the Minnesota senate, he also owns the Star Tribune newspaper and the Minnesota Timberwolves NBA basketball team.
37 | South Dakota
First Premier BankT. Denny Sanford: $2.4 billion
Thomas Denny Sanford founded the First Premier Bank and is the CEO of United National Corporation.
38 | Maine
Avery Yale Kamila / Portland Press Herald / Getty ImagesSusan Alfond: $1.9 billion
Susan Alfond's father, Harold, built Dexter Shoe Company in the 1950s. She is the heiress to the family fortune.
39 | South Carolina
Ryan Johnson / FlickrAnita Zucker: $1.9 billion
Anita Zucker is the CEO and chairwoman of the InterTech Group. She's also a philanthropist who helped found the Zucker Family Graduate Education Center in North Charleston with the former Clemson University president James F. Barker (pictured here).
40 | Rhode Island
ZUMA Press, Inc. / AlamyJonathan Nelson: $1.8 billion
Jonathan Nelson started the firm Provide Equity Partners in the '80s. It now is in charge of more than 180 companies, such as the triathlon series, Ironman.
41 | Utah
Action Plus Sports Images / AlamyGail Miller: $1.6 billion
Gail Miller is the chairwoman of the Salt Lake Community College and owner of the Utah Jazz NBA basketball team.
42 | West Virginia
REUTERS / AlamyJim Justice II: $1.5 billion
James Justice II has been the governor of West Virginia since 2017. He also specializes in industries such as coal mining and agriculture.
43 | Mississippi
Brent Wallace / Duff Capital InvestorsJames and Thomas Duff: $1.4 billion
Together, brothers James and Thomas Duff built and run Duff Capital Investors.
44 | North Dakota
Jonathan Weiss / AlamyGary Tharaldson: $1 billion
Gary Tharaldson bought a Super 8 Motel in the '80s and continued buying hotels for the next two decades. He eventually owned more than 350 properties.
45 | Alabama
Great Southern Wood PreservingJimmy Rane: $900 million
Jimmy Rane is the founder and CEO of Great Southern Wood Preserving, a company that specializes in lumber products such as fences and decks.
46 | Delaware
Gore-TexElizabeth Snyder: $900 million
Elizabeth Snyder received her fortune thanks to Gore-Tex, a waterproof fabric used in athletic gear that was created by her family's company, W.L. Gore & Associates.
47 | New Hampshire
ReutersAndrea Reimann-Ciardelli: $700 million
Though she was born in Germany, Andrea Reimann-Ciardelli is an American heiress known for having a stake in the AB Holding Company.
48 | New Mexico
Mack Energy CorporationMack C. Chase: $700 million
Mack C. Chase founded an energy corporation and has many influential ties within the oil and natural gas industries.
49 | Vermont
Sebastiaan ter Burg / FlickrJohn Abele: $600 million
John Abele co-founded Boston Scientific, a medical device development company.
50 | Alaska
JL PropertiesLeonard Hyde, Jonathan Rubini and families: $300 million
Leonard Hyde and Jonathan Rubini are partners that run JL Properties, the real estate development company that is responsible for some of Anchorage's biggest buildings. And for more fun facts, check out the 24 Celebrities Who Still Live in Their Hometown.
