America's Wealthiest: A State-by-State Breakdown of Forbes 400's Elite—From Coast to Coast Power Players

America’s richest person in each state reveals a fascinating tale of wealth concentration and entrepreneurial dominance. The freshly released Forbes 400 list showcases 400 billionaires spread across just 40 states, with some states claiming extraordinary financial firepower while others remain unrepresented in this elite circle.

Geographic Wealth Concentration: Where the Money Really Lives

The distribution is strikingly uneven. California dominates with 87 Forbes 400 members controlling over $1 trillion in combined wealth, making it the undisputed financial capital. Texas follows closely, with 45 members commanding $670 billion—a figure boosted significantly by the world’s wealthiest individual, Elon Musk, who sits atop the global wealth rankings at $251 billion. New York rounds out the top tier with 62 members worth $562 billion collectively, while Florida secures the fourth position with 46 billionaires holding $316 billion.

The Gate-Keepers: Who Tops Each State’s Wealth List?

Across America’s wealth landscape, different industries dominate different regions. In the tech hubs, Larry Ellison’s $158 billion Oracle fortune makes him California’s richest person at 79, while Jeff Bezos ($161 billion) anchors Washington’s wealth through Amazon. The retail dynasty continues strong—Jim Walton and family command $68.2 billion as Walmart’s heirs in Arkansas, and various family members of the Mars company each hold $38.9 billion across Virginia and Wyoming.

The finance sector produces its own titans: Michael Bloomberg’s $96.3 billion financial media empire tops New York, while Warren Buffett’s $121 billion Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate makes the 93-year-old Nebraska’s wealthiest resident and the fourth-richest person nationally. Hedge fund managers have cracked the code too—Ken Griffin’s $35.4 billion Citadel operation secures Florida’s top spot, while Steve Cohen’s $19.8 billion Point72 Asset Management leads Connecticut.

Surprising Shifts: New Standards for Entry

Entry into this year’s Forbes 400 required a net worth of $2.9 billion—the highest threshold in the list’s history. Together, these 400 individuals command $4.5 trillion, matching a record high for the collective ranking.

The richest person in each state reflects America’s economic specialization: real estate dominance in Maryland (Annette Lerner & Family’s $6.5 billion), industrial power in Montana (Dennis Washington’s $7 billion), agricultural influence in Iowa (Harry Stine’s $9.7 billion corn and soybean genetics business), and healthcare wealth in Tennessee (Thomas Frist Jr. & Family’s $22.6 billion HCA Healthcare holdings).

Notably absent from the newcomer celebrations are some familiar names—several previous list members dropped out, while entrepreneur and sports icon Michael Jordan made his debut appearance.

The Takeaway

America’s richest person in each state tells the story of diversified wealth: tech titans in the West, retail royalty in the South, finance magnates in the Northeast, and industrial barons scattered throughout. Whether through inherited retail fortunes, self-made tech empires, or financial innovations, these 400 individuals from across 40 states represent the top echelon of American wealth creation and accumulation.