Florida has once again solidified its status as a hub for the ultra-wealthy. A recent Forbes report revealed that 54 billionaires from the Sunshine State made the prestigious Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans. (photo credit Forbes)

Leading the pack is Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, who holds the title of Florida’s wealthiest resident with an estimated net worth of $197 billion. Interestingly, Bezos’s philanthropy score of 2 places him among the less charitable billionaires on the list.

Other notable Florida billionaires include:

• Ken Griffin: Hedge funds ($43 billion)
• Thomas Peterffy: Discount brokerage ($40 billion)
• David Tepper: Hedge funds ($21.3 billion)
• Shahid Khan: Auto parts ($13.3 billion)
• J. Christopher Reyes and Jude Reyes: Food distribution ($12 billion each)
• Bernard Marcus: Home Depot ($10.3 billion)

The Forbes 400 list showcases a diverse range of industries represented by Florida’s billionaires, from technology and finance to food and retail. The minimum net worth required to make the list this year was $3.3 billion, up from $2.9 billion in 2023.

National Wealth Trends

Overall, the 400 richest Americans collectively hold a staggering $5.4 trillion in wealth, a significant increase from last year. Twelve individuals boast fortunes exceeding $100 billion, setting a new record.

The list is topped by Elon Musk, followed by Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg. Other notable names in the top five include Larry Ellison and Warren Buffett.

Women and the Wealthy

Alice Walton, daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, remains the richest woman in the United States, with a net worth of $89.2 billion. The number of women on the Forbes 400 list has increased to 67, representing a combined wealth of $839 billion.

Young and Rich

The youngest person on the list is Lukas Walton, the grandson of Sam Walton, at 38 years old. Venture capitalist and real estate mogul Josh Kushner is also under 40, making the list at 39 years old.

Notable Additions and Departures

Several newcomers have joined the ranks of the ultra-wealthy, including Todd Graves of Raising Cane’s and Peter Cancro of Jersey Mike’s Subs.

Former President Donald Trump made a comeback to the list after a brief absence, while Vince McMahon fell off due to recent controversies.

For the first time, Forbes reports that there are now 415 American billionaires who didn’t make it onto their list, outnumbering those who did. Some of the familiar faces with impressive fortunes include Arnold Schwarzenegger ($1 billion), Jerry Seinfeld ($1.1 billion), Bruce Springsteen ($1.1 billion), Taylor Swift ($1.3 billion), and Oprah Winfrey ($3 billion). 

Quite the lineup, huh?