400 Richest Americans Got Richer This Year, As Most Americans’ Net Worth Tanked: Forbes
400 Richest Americans Got Richer This Year, As Most Americans’ Net Worth Tanked: Forbes
The richest Americans got even richer this year, according to the new Forbes 400 list, even as the country’s total net worth tanked during the second quarter.
The top 400, all of whom are worth at least $1 billion, saw their combined wealth increase 8 percent this year, to the dizzying total of $1.37 trillion, according to analysis from CNN.
Meanwhile, according to data released last week by the Federal Reserve, the net worth of American households and non-profits in the second quarter of this year plunged 2.8 percent, or $1.52 trillion, from the previous quarter, to settle at $53.5 trillion.
This means the 400 richest people in America account for about 2.6 percent of the nation’s private wealth.
Topping the list — again — is Bill Gates, at $54 billion, up from $50 billion last year. In second is Warren Buffett, the so-called Oracle of Omaha who Thursday said it’s “common sense” that “we’re still in a recession,” with $45 billion. Members of the Walton family (of Walmart fame) snagged spots four, seven, eight and nine. New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, with $18 billion, came in 10th. Investor George Soros, who last week called the nation’s economy “blah,” came in 14th with $14.2 billion.
Charles and David Koch, the manufacturing and energy titans and Tea Party movement bankrollers, profiled by Jane Mayer in The New Yorker last month, tied for fifth place with $21.5 billion apiece.