Top 20 Richest Americans

[jeffrey]

Forbes magazine has released their top 400 richest Americans, including those U.S. citizens now living abroad. It's no surprise that Bill Gates remains the richest American for the eleventh year in a row with some $51 billion. Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway came in second again with a net worth of $40 billion.

Google's founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page jumped into the top 20 by more than doubling their net worth from last year from $4 billion to $11 billion each, ranking them 16th on the list this year.




The top 10 richest Americans increased their collective net worth by $125 billion. There are now only 25 members on the list that have less than $1 billion with the lowest being $900 million.

The top 20 richest Americans are listed below with their net worth and how they built their fortune.

1. Gates, William Henry III - $51 billion - Microsoft

2. Buffett, Warren Edward - $40 billion - Berkshire Hathaway

3. Allen, Paul Gardner - $22.5 billion - Microsoft

4. Dell, Michael - $18 billion - Dell

5. Ellison, Lawrence Joseph - $17 billion - Oracle

6. Walton, Christy - $15.7 billion - Wal-Mart

6. Walton, Jim C. - $15.7 billion - Wal-Mart

8. Walton, S. Robson - $15.6 billion - Wal-Mart

9. Walton, Alice L. - $15.5 billion - Wal-Mart

10. Walton, Helen R. - $15.4 billion - Wal-Mart

11. Ballmer, Steven Anthony - $14 billion - Microsoft

12. Anthony, Barbara Cox - $12.5 billion - Cox Enterprises

12. Chambers, Anne Cox - $12.5 billion - Cox Enterprises

12. Johnson, Abigail - $12.5 billion - Fidelity

15. Adelson, Sheldon - $11.5 billion - casinos, hotels

16. Brin, Sergey - $11 billion - Google

16. Page, Larry E. - $11 billion - Google

18. Omidyar, Pierre M. - $10.2 billion - Ebay

19. Kerkorian, Kirk - $10 billion - investments, casinos

19. Mars, Forrest Edward Jr. - $10 billion - Mars candy

19. Mars, Jacqueline - $10 billion - Mars candy

19. Mars, John Franklyn - $10 billion - Mars candy

[Bluezy]

Wow...and none of these people can take all that wealth with them when they die.

[Tree0164]

I know it is crazy.... some wealthy Americans.

[jpsmoney]

I'm the 50,367,565 richest person on earth, according the GlobalRichList.com

[Bluezy]

That's better than being number 51,367,565! You are getting there!

[Russell]

The interesting thing about Walmart in particular is that the business is under various family members' names. However, combined, the Walmart family is richer than Bill Gates.

[Luv2shop]

Originally Posted by Russell

The interesting thing about Walmart in particular is that the business is under various family members' names. However, combined, the Walmart family is richer than Bill Gates.

Amazing!

[Optsol]

Lots of money in chocolate