Richest Americans- The Wealthiest Person in Each State

Being showcased in Forbes magazine is, and has always been, an honor. For ages, Forbes has been a credible source for lists of the most most influential people in the world. Today we take a look at the richest people in all 50 states who have captured a spot in one of Forbes’ most prestigious lists. This list’s top industries include finance and investment, fashion and retail, food and beverage, and the tech industry. Now let’s take a look at the nation’s wealthiest!

Alabama - Jimmy Rane

Jimmy Rane’s net worth amounts to around $900 million. He is the CEO of Alabama’s Great Southern Wood Preserving, which makes various lumber products such as desks and fences, among others, making the primary source of his fortune lumber. He is also popularly known as “The Yella Fella,” where his cowboy alter-ego appeared in plenty of his company’s T.V. commercials.

Alaska - Leonard Hyde and Jonathan Rubini

Leonard Hyde worked with Jonathan Rubini as a business partner in real estate. They have amassed around $300 million each and own the biggest buildings in Alaska, including the iconic J.L. Tower and the ConocoPhillips Tower. They are also in charge of the Alaskan military housing development and own several hotel chains both in and out of Alaska.

Arizona - Ernest Garcia II

Ernest Garcia is the richest person in Arizona, with a whopping net worth of $5.6 billion. He is currently the biggest shareholder of Carvana, an online platform that sells old cars and helps people get car loans. Carvana was founded by one of Ernest’s sons, Ernest Garcia III.  He is also the founder and CEO of DriveTime, which is one of the biggest car retailer shops in the U.S.

Arkansas - Jim Walton

Jim Walton is the youngest son of the founder of Walmart, Sam Walton. While Walmart already boasts an impressive financial portfolio, Jim is also the Arvest Bank founder, which has around $16 billion in asset value. His net worth, you may ask? It’s $51.1 billion, which makes him the wealthiest person in Arkansas.

California - Mark Zuckerberg 

You probably know the richest person in California as he started the famous social media platform Facebook during his Harvard days back in 2004 at the age of 19. The primary objective of his version of Facebook back then was to match his classmates’ faces and names. Since he introduced Facebook to the public in 2004, it boomed, becoming an internet phenomenon. Zuckerberg is currently worth $97.2 billion.

Colorado - Philip Anschutz

Philip Anschutz is one of the richest people in the sports industry. He currently owns the LA Kings, LA Galaxy, and is a minority owner of the LA Lakers. His Anschutz Entertainment Group operates more than 100 arenas and concert venues worldwide, making him the richest person in Colorado with a net worth of about $12 billion.

Connecticut - Ray Dalio 

Ray Dalio is surely a rags to riches story. He started out being a golf caddy and, at just the young age of 19 years old, started playing in the market based on tips from the golf players he was assisting. He launched Bridgewater from his apartment in New York and is now the founder of Dalio, the world’s largest hedge firm, making him the richest person in Connecticut with an $18.4 billion net worth.

Delaware - Robert Gore and Elizabeth Snyder

They say that you should not go into business with family or close friends, but it clearly turned out well for siblings Robert Gore and Elizabeth Snyder, who founded the Gore-Tex, a revolutionary waterproof, lightweight fabric widely used from outdoor clothing to footwear to camping equipment. They have amassed around $885 million each, making them the richest people in Delaware.

Florida - Thomas Peterffy

If you have heard the term “discount brokerage,” you would probably have heard of Thomas Peterffy, Florida’s richest person with a net worth of $18.8 billion. He is the CEO and founder of Interactive Brokers, which is a trading platform for investors. He also owns around 500,000 acres of land in the United States. This is a far cry from 21-year-old Thomas, who arrived in the U.S. as an immigrant from Hungary.

Georgia - Jim Kennedy

Jim Kennedy is the richest person in Georgia, with a net worth of $9.2 billion. He is currently the chairman of Cox Enterprises, which is an automotive and media company. His grandfather also founded Cox Enterprises and the Dayton Evening News.

Hawaii - Pierre Omidyar

If you are familiar with eBay, then you probably know of Pierre Omidyar, the founder of the famous online retail platform. Aside from eBay, Pierre also owns a couple of resorts in California and Mexico. He clearly doesn’t have much time on his hands because he is also the First Look Media founder. With all his assets, he is the richest man in Hawaii with a net worth of $22.6 billion.

Idaho - Frank VanderSloot

Frank Vandersloot found fame and fortune by being the founding father of Melaleuca, which offers various natural and healthy products, from supplements to eco-friendly cleaners. He sells to every 1.5 million consumers monthly through his online store, making him the wealthiest person in Idaho. His net worth is $2.7 billion.

Illinois - Ken Griffin

Ken Griffin is the CEO and founder of Citadel, which is a hedge-fund primarily based in Chicago. Citadel manages around $32 billion in assets. He first started his trading business from his Harvard dorm room, and it grew into a hedge fund three years later. Griffin’s net worth is $15 billion.

Indiana - Carl Cook

Carl Cook is best known for his company Cook Group, which manufactures medical devices making him the richest man in Indiana. His parents were actually the brainchildren behind the company, and Carl just took over after his father’s death. His net worth is $10.5 billion.

Iowa - Harry Stine

Harry Stine is a farmer’s son, and his upbringing influenced him to build Stine Seed Co., an agricultural firm that licenses corn and soybean genetics to big firms such as Monsanto and Syngenta. As a child, Harry was fascinated with seeds, and his fascination turned out into a billion-dollar enterprise. Stine’s net worth is $5.4 billion.

Kansas - Charles Koch

Charles Koch is the CEO and founder of the Koch industries, which has over $110 billion in revenue. They manufacture everything from Dixie cups, paper towels, and fertilizers and airbag fibers. His father actually founded Koch industries, and Charles took over the company after his father passed away. Charles Koch’s net worth is $44.9 billion.

Kentucky - Tamara Gustavson

Tamara Gustavson is the largest shareholder of Public Storage, which she co-owned with her father, making her the richest person in Kentucky with a $5.3 billion net worth. She was once vice president of Public Storage but left the firm in 2003 to raise her kids.

Louisiana - Gayle Benson

Gayle Benson is the owner of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints, and the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans. She is also the widow of the late Tom Benson. She is the richest person in Louisiana, with a net worth of $2.9 billion.

Maine - Susan Alfond

Harold Alfond, who founded the Dexter Shoe Co., passed away and as a result, his daughter Susan Alfond and her three siblings became instant billionaires. Their shares were sold to Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, and they are now worth around $420 million in stocks. Susan is currently worth $2.1 billion.

Maryland - Ted Lerner

Ted Lerner is the richest man in Maryland with a net worth of $5.1 billion. He became rich through his real estate business. He currently owns 20 million square feet of commercial and retail space, hotels, and apartments in the Washington D.C. area.

Massachusetts - Abigail Johnson

Abigail Johnson became rich from her money management. She is currently the CEO of Fidelity Investment, a mutual fund firm with over $2.7 trillion in asset value. She took over as the CEO from her father, Edward Johnson III, and she has worked full-time ever since, making her the richest person in Massachusetts with $14.7 billion net worth.

Michigan - Daniel Gilbert

Daniel Gilbert co-founded Quicken Loans, which is the U.S.’s largest online mortgage lender since the mid-1980s. He has a very strong business strategy which was apparent when he sold Quicken Loans to Intuit for about $532 million but then later bought it for $64 million. Aside from the loaning industry, he also owns the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers. He is currently worth $57.3 billion.

Minnesota - Glen Taylor

Seeing as he went from being a millionaire to becoming a billionaire, Glen Taylor surely knows how to turn millions into billions. He first bought a wedding service business and turned it into Taylor Corp., a printing firm worth over $2 billion. He is also a shareholder of the NBA’s Timberwolves, WNBA’s Lynx, and Minneapolis Star Tribune. He is now the richest man in Minnesota with a $2.9 billion net worth.

Mississippi - Thomas and James Duff

Mississippi’s richest people are Thomas Duff and James Duff, with $1.35 billion each. The brothers co-founded Duff Capital Investors, which earned over $2.6 billion in revenue. The firm’s biggest asset is a commercial tire dealer, Southern Tire Mart, founded by their father back in 1973.

Missouri - Pauline MacMillan Keinath

Pauline MacMillan Keinath is the largest shareholder of Cargill, the largest private company in the United States. Pauline’s great-grandfather founded Cargill in Iowa, but even if the family is not directly involved in the company’s management, they still own around 90% of the company. Pauline herself is worth $4.9 billion.

Montana - Dennis Washington

Dennis Washington found his fortune in construction and mining. He was previously a crane operator and decided to diversify a business group called Washington Companies because of his love for machinery. Besides Washington Companies, he also owns a mining business, a regional railroad, and shares in two diamond mines. He has a net worth of $6.4 billion.

Nebraska - Warren Buffett

With a whopping $85 billion net worth, Warren Buffett is the richest man in Nebraska. He is currently the CEO and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, one of the most successful investment companies in the United States. He also owns a multitude of companies, such as Geico and Dairy Queen.

Nevada - Sheldon Adelson

Las Vegas, AKA Sin City. Sheldon Adelson is the current CEO of Las Vegas Sands and owns more than half of the gambling empire’s revenue both in the U.S. and in Asia. He also owns the Las Vegas Review Journal, making him the richest man in Vegas with $35.7 billion.

New Hampshire - Andrea Reimann-Ciardelli

German heiress Andrea Reimann-Ciardelli sold her shares to other family members back in 2003. Their company sold consumer goods with known international brands, including hygiene and home products, making the heiress the richest person in New Hampshire with $720 million.

New Jersey - John Overdeck

John Overdeck is a hedge fund manager and co-founder and co-chairman of Two Sigma Investments in New York City. He was named one of the highest-earning hedge fund managers and traders by Forbes in 2019. He is currently worth $6.5 billion.

New Mexico - Mack C. Chase

Finally, a person in the oil industry- Mack C. Chase found fortune in oil with oil fields in Texas and New Mexico. He co-founded Marbob Energy Corporation, a pumping service to well owners, and then built the Mack Energy Corporation back in the late 1980s. He is the richest person in New Mexico, with a $700 million net worth.

New York - Michael Bloomberg

Bloomberg founded his namesake company, Bloomberg, in the early 1980s. He currently owns around 88% of the business, which is now worth $9 billion. He also served as New York’s city mayor for three terms making him the richest man in New York City. He is currently $55.5 billion.

North Carolina - James Goodnight

James Howard Goodnight is a software developer and has been the CEO of SAS Institute since 1976. SAS Institute is a multinational developer of analytics based in Cary, North Carolina. His net worth currently stands at $13.5 billion.

North Dakota - Gary Tharaldson 

Gary Tharaldson is North Dakota’s first-ever billionaire. He sold his first hotel for over $1.2 billion and built even more properties with the profit. Currently, he owns over 40 hotels across 14 states. He also owns an aquifer in Arizona and an ethanol plant in North Dakota. He has a net worth of $1 billion.

Ohio - Les Wexner

Les Wexner is the founding father of L Brands, a global retail empire that includes Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works. He started with a $5000 loan from his aunt and opened The Limited, Inc., which sold various clothes from shirts to pants. Now, he owns over 3,000 stores across the globe and is worth $6.1 billion.

Oklahoma - Harold Hamm

Harold Hamm is the richest man in Oklahoma State with a new worth of $7.8 billion. He owns Continental Resources, which is one of the biggest oil companies in the United States. It is so big, in fact, that it produces around 200,000 barrels a day! A true rags to riches story, Harold started as working at a gas station in North Dakota.

Oregon - Phil Knight

Phil Knight is the co-founder and current chair emeritus of everyone’s favorite sportwear brand, Nike. He founded the company while he was competing in track and field at the University of Oregon under coach (and later Nike co-founder) Bill Bowerman. Knight also owns a stop motion film production company called Laika. His current net worth is estimated at $39.2 billion.

Pennsylvania - Victoria Mars

Have you ever dreamed of working for a candy factory? Well, Victoria Mars has made her empire by being the founder of sweet concoctions like M&Ms and Milky Ways. She inherited eight percent stake of the candy factory after her father passed away and is currently worth $7.8 billion.

Rhode Island - Jonathan Nelson

Jonathan Nelson is the founding father and the current CEO of Providence Equity Partners, a global private equity firm based in Providence, Rhode Island. The company has investments in a plethora of other companies, which have roots in media, communications, education, and IT. It even includes Hulu and Ironman! Nelson has a net worth of $1.8 billion.

South Carolina - Anita Zucker 

Anita Zucker was originally the chair of the Hudson’s Bay Company, but took over as the CEO of The Intertech Group after her husband passed away. She is currently the richest person in South Carolina with a net worth of $1.9 billion.

South Dakota - T. Denny Sanford

T. Denny Sanford is the richest man in South Dakota with a net worth of $2.5 billion. He found his fortune in banking – and the founder of First Premier Bank, which markets credit cards to those with low credit scores who may be considered “high risk” to other banks.

Tennessee - Thomas Frist Jr.

Thomas Frist Jr. is the founder of HCA healthcare – a for-profit network of healthcare facilities and surgical centers in the United States and London. He owns over 170 hospitals and 100 surgical centers. He is the richest person in Tennessee, and his net worth is $11.7 billion.

Texas - Alice Walton

Another family member of the Walmart clan, Alice Walton, is the only daughter of Walmart’s founder Sam Walton. However, she focused on curating art rather than the business part of Walmart. She opened the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which showcases Warhol, Rockwell, and Rothko’s works. At $60.8 billion, Alice Walton is the richest woman in the world.

Utah - Gail Miller

Gail Miller, with her late husband, Larry Miller, turned a single Toyota dealership into (as of 2019) a $5.4 billion chain of car dealerships. When her husband passed away she became the chair of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies. She was also the owner of the NBA’s Utah Jazz until she sold the team in 2020, while still retaining a minority stake. She is the richest person in the state of Utah with a net worth of $1.9 billion.

Vermont - John Abele

John Abele found fortune in the healthcare industry as he co-founded the medical device manufacturing company Boston Scientific. His objective is to offer less invasive and more accessible medical treatments. Currently, he is investing his time the start-up, Knowledgehook, Inc. He is worth $3.3 billion.

Virginia - Jacqueline Mars

Like her sister Victoria, Jacqueline Mars owns a third of the Mars family fortune. She spent most of her working years with the company and was also a board member, making her the richest woman in Virginia with a net worth of $28.1 billion.

Washington - Jeff Bezos

Jeff Bezos is currently the richest person in the world with a whopping $192.6 billion net worth! He is a co-founder of Amazon, which has $230 billion in revenue. Bezos is underwent a divorce trial with his wife Mackenzie Scott in 2019 after 25 years of marriage.

West Virginia - Jim Justice II

Jim Justice II is the governor and the only billionaire in the state of West Virginia. He found fortune in coal and is the owner of Greenbrier resort. However, the billionaire has received around $10 million court-ordered penalties for tax claims. He has a net worth of $1.2 billion.

Wisconsin - John Menard Jr.

John Menard Jr. owns a variety of home improvement stores such as Home Depot and Lowe’s. He rakes in around $10 billion from his stores in over 300 locations across the country. He is the richest man in Wisconsin, with a net worth of $11.4 billion.

Wyoming - John Mars

John Mars owns a third of the famous Mars Inc. with a net worth of $28.1 billion, making him the richest person in Wyoming. You might know his sisters, Veronica and Jacqueline, who are also billionaires on this list.