FL Billionaires Among Richest Americans: Forbes 2024 List

FLORIDA — Amazon founder and Palm Beach resident Jeff Bezos is the wealthiest person in Florida and the United States, according to The Forbes 400 for 2024, the recently released annual ranking of America’s super rich.

Bezos ranked No. 3 on the list and is worth an estimated $194 billion, Forbes said.

Overall, the 400 richest billionaires in America have more wealth than a year ago, and there are now more billionaires than ever: 2,781 in all, 141 more than last year and 26 more than the record set in 2021, Forbes said. Those on the list are worth a total of $14.2 trillion, up by $2 trillion from 2023.

The United States is now home to a record 813 billionaires worth a combined $5.7 trillion. One of the most famous, former President Donald Trump, didn't make this year's top 400 list. He ranked 1,438 on Forbes' list with a net worth of $2.3 billion, down from $2.5 billion a year ago.

Palm Beach is home to at least 58 billionaires, according to the Palm Beach Daily News. Forty of the island's residents saw their estimated net worth increase over the past year, while 15 saw their coffers shrink.

Leading the 2024 list is French businessman Bernard Arnault, the head of luxury goods giant LVMH, with a value of $233 billion. He’s $38 billion richer than the world’s No. 2, Elon Musk, who is worth an estimated $195 billion.

Leading the 2024 list is French businessman Bernard Arnault, the head of luxury goods giant LVMH, with a value of $233 billion. He’s $38 billion richer than the world’s No. 2, Elon Musk, who is worth an estimated $195 billion thanks to his ownership of SpaceX and Tesla.

Forbes says Musk is the richest U.S. resident, followed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who owns The Washington Post, as well, according to The Forbes 400 for 2024. He is worth an estimated $194 billion, Forbes said.

Seven Tampa Bay billionaires are on the list, led by Ronald Wanek, the St. Petersburg-based founder of Ashley Furniture worth $5.3 billion. He is ranked No. 572 on the list.

The other Tampa Bay billionaires ranked, according to WFLA, are:

• Robert Duggan, No. 809 with a net worth of $3.9 billion.
• Eddie DeBartolo Jr., the former owner of the San Francisco 49ers, is No. 991 with a net worth of $3.3 billion.
• Todd Wanek, son of Ronald, is CEO of Ashley Furniture and ranks 1033rd with a net worth of $3.2 billion.
• Todd Christopher, founder of hair care products company Vogue International, is tied with Wanek at 1033.
• Kenneth Feld of Palmetto and Thomas James of St. Petersburg, are tied at No. 1,238 with a net worth of $2.7 billion.

Other Florida billionaires on the list include:

• Julia Koch and Family, Koch Industries, No. 23, $64.3 billion
• Stephen Schwarzman, private equity firm Blackstone, No. 34, $38.8 billion
• Ken Griffin, founder of Citadel hedge fund, No. 42, $36.4 billion
• Thomas Peterffy, chairs Interactive Brokers, No. 44, $34 billion
• Gina Rinehart, Metals and Mining, No. 56, $30.8 billion
• Abigail Johnson, Finance and Investments, No. 62, $28 billion
• Daniel Gilbert, Finance and Investments, No. 73, $26.2 billion
• David Tepper, Finance and Investments, No. 94, $20.6 billion

The Palm Beach Post listed South Florida billionaires, their ranking on the Forbes list and their net worth. You can find the Post story here.