List of richest people in America released

Published 5:32 pm Thursday, September 22, 2011

The economy may be down, but the wealth of America’s richest is up by 12 percent, to nearly $1.53 trillion, Forbes magazine said this week in unveiling its list of the 400 wealthiest people in the country.

Email newsletter signup

Topping the list for the 18th year in a row is Microsoft founder Bill Gates. But there are some changes in the top 20, as younger technology entrepreneurs like Facebook’s Mark Zuckerburg watch their fortunes grow.

Here’s the breakdown of the 20 richest people in the country, according to Forbes. Click here for Forbes’ full list.

No. 1: Bill Gates

Net worth: $59 billion

Age: 55

Residence: Medina, Wash.

Source: Microsoft

No. 2: Warren Buffett

Net worth: $39 billion

Age: 81

Residence: Omaha, Neb.

Source: Berkshire Hathaway

No. 3: Larry Ellison

Net worth: $33 billion

Age: 67

Residence: Woodside, Calif.

Source: Oracle

No. 4 (tie): Charles Koch

Net worth: $25 billion

Age: 75

Residence: Wichita, Kan.

Source: diversified

No. 4 (tie): David Koch

Net worth: $25 billion

Age: 71

Residence: New York

Source: diversified

No. 6: Christy Walton

Net worth: $24.5 billion

Age: 56

Residence: Jackson, Wy.

Source: Wal-Mart

No. 7: George Soros

Net worth: $22 billion

Age: 81

Residence: Katonah, N.Y.

Source: hedge funds

No. 8: Sheldon Adelson

Net worth: $21.5 billion

Age: 78

Residence: Las Vegas, Nev.

Source: casinos

No. 9: Jim Walton

Net worth: $21.1 billion

Age: 63

Residence: Bentonville, Ark.

Source: Wal-Mart

No. 10: Alice Walton

Net worth: $20.9 billion

Age: 61

Residence: Fort Worth, Texas

Source: Wal-Mart

No. 11: S. Robson Walton

Net worth: $20.5 billion

Age: 67

Residence: Bentonville, Ark.

Source: Wal-Mart

No. 12: Michael Bloomberg

Net worth: $19.5 billion

Age: 69

Residence: New York

Source: Bloomberg LP

No. 13: Jeff Bezos

Net worth: $19.1 billion

Age: 47

Residence: Seattle, Wash.

Source: Amazon.com

No. 14: Mark Zuckerberg

Net worth: $17.5 billion

Age: 27

Residence: Palo Alto, Calif.

Source: Facebook

No. 15: Sergey Brin

Net worth: $16.7 bill

Age: 38

Residence: Los Altos, Calif.

Source: Google

No. 16: Larry Page

Net worth: $16.7 billion

Age: 38

Residence: Palo Alto, Calif.

Source: Google

No. 17: John Paulson

Net worth: $15.5 billion

Age: 55

Residence: New York

Source: hedge funds

No. 18: Michael Dell

Net worth: $15 billion

Age: 46

Residence: Austin, Texas

Source: Dell

No. 19: Steve Ballmer

Net worth: $13.9 billion

Age: 55

Residence: Hunts Point, Wash.

Source: Microsoft

No. 20 (tie): Forrest Mars

Net worth: $13.8 billion

Age: 80

Residence: Big Horn, Wy.

Source: candy

No. 20 (tie): Jacqueline Mars

Net worth: $13.8 billion

Age: 71

Residence: The Plains, Va.

Source: candy

No. 20 (tie): John Mars

Net worth: $13.8 billion

Age: 75

Residence: Jackson, Wy.

Source: candy, pet food