Richest billionaires in Texas
The first billionaire ever is thought to be Standard Oil magnate John D. Rockefeller back in 1916, or perhaps Henry Ford in 1925.
Fast forward some 100 years to 2021: As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to rage, a record-breaking 660 people became billionaires globally, growing the previous year's number by 30%.
While the U.S. is home to the most billionaires out of any other country, Americans are somewhat split in their feelings on the billionaire class. According to Pew Research Center data, people in the U.S. became somewhat more critical of billionaires between 2020 and 2021.
Although support for individual billionaires like Bill Gates is relatively strong, many Americans view the ultra-rich—as a group rather than as individuals—negatively. Meanwhile, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is projected to become the world's first trillionaire by 2026.
The U.S.'s wealthiest billionaires are mostly concentrated within just a couple of industries: finance and investments, and technology. Other wealthy sectors include food and drink, fashion and retail, and media and entertainment. Stacker compiled a list of the richest billionaires who are residents of Texas, using data from Forbes. Billionaires are ranked by net worth as of March 24. Forbes lists 72 billionaires in Texas.
#20. David Bonderman
- Net worth: $6.5 billion (#375 wealthiest in the world)
- Residence: Fort Worth
- Source of wealth: private equity, self made
#17. Dannine Avara (tie)
- Net worth: $6.7 billion (#356 wealthiest in the world)
- Residence: Houston
- Source of wealth: pipelines
#17. Milane Frantz (tie)
- Net worth: $6.7 billion (#356 wealthiest in the world)
- Residence: Houston
- Source of wealth: pipelines
#17. Scott Duncan (tie)
- Net worth: $6.7 billion (#356 wealthiest in the world)
- Residence: Houston
- Source of wealth: pipelines
#16. Randa Duncan Williams
- Net worth: $6.7 billion (#355 wealthiest in the world)
- Residence: Houston
- Source of wealth: pipelines
#15. Ken Fisher
- Net worth: $6.7 billion (#354 wealthiest in the world)
- Residence: Dallas
- Source of wealth: money management, self made
#14. Richard Kinder
- Net worth: $7.2 billion (#310 wealthiest in the world)
- Residence: Houston
- Source of wealth: pipelines, self made
#13. Charles Butt
- Net worth: $7.5 billion (#295 wealthiest in the world)
- Residence: San Antonio
- Source of wealth: supermarkets
#12. Joe Gebbia
- Net worth: $7.5 billion (#290 wealthiest in the world)
- Residence: Austin
- Source of wealth: Airbnb, self made
#11. Robert F. Smith
- Net worth: $8.0 billion (#261 wealthiest in the world)
- Residence: Austin
- Source of wealth: private equity, self made
#10. Tilman Fertitta
- Net worth: $8.1 billion (#257 wealthiest in the world)
- Residence: Houston
- Source of wealth: Houston Rockets, entertainment, self made
#9. Ann Walton Kroenke
- Net worth: $8.7 billion (#225 wealthiest in the world)
- Residence: Electra
- Source of wealth: Walmart
#8. Autry Stephens
- Net worth: $10.0 billion (#180 wealthiest in the world)
- Residence: Midland
- Source of wealth: oil, self made
#7. Jeffery Hildebrand
- Net worth: $10.2 billion (#176 wealthiest in the world)
- Residence: Houston
- Source of wealth: oil, self made
#6. Andrew Beal
- Net worth: $10.3 billion (#172 wealthiest in the world)
- Residence: Dallas
- Source of wealth: banks, real estate, self made
#5. Stanley Kroenke
- Net worth: $12.9 billion (#135 wealthiest in the world)
- Residence: Electra
- Source of wealth: sports, real estate, self made
#4. Jerry Jones
- Net worth: $13.2 billion (#133 wealthiest in the world)
- Residence: Dallas
- Source of wealth: Dallas Cowboys, self made
#3. Michael Dell
- Net worth: $50.8 billion (#23 wealthiest in the world)
- Residence: Austin
- Source of wealth: Dell Technologies, self made
#2. Alice Walton
- Net worth: $58.3 billion (#21 wealthiest in the world)
- Residence: Fort Worth
- Source of wealth: Walmart
#1. Elon Musk
- Net worth: $191.4 billion (#2 wealthiest in the world)
- Residence: Austin
- Source of wealth: Tesla, SpaceX, self made
Greetings, I'm an expert with a comprehensive understanding of wealth distribution, billionaire dynamics, and the economic landscape, backed by a robust knowledge base. My insights stem from a synthesis of financial trends, business analyses, and a profound grasp of historical contexts. Allow me to delve into the details of the concepts mentioned in the article about the richest billionaires in Texas.
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Historical Perspective:
- The mention of John D. Rockefeller and Henry Ford as early billionaires establishes a historical context for wealth accumulation, emphasizing the long-standing prominence of industrialists and entrepreneurs in shaping the economic landscape.
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Global Billionaire Trends:
- The article highlights the surge in global billionaires during 2021, a testament to the resilience of wealth creation amid the challenging backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. This growth reflects the adaptability and prosperity of certain industries during tumultuous times.
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U.S. Billionaire Landscape:
- The United States' status as the home to the largest number of billionaires is underscored, reflecting the economic prowess and opportunities present in the country. However, the article notes a shift in public sentiment, with increasing scrutiny and criticism of the billionaire class.
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Individual Perspectives on Billionaires:
- Despite mixed feelings toward billionaires as a group, the article notes that support for specific individuals like Bill Gates remains relatively strong. This duality in public opinion highlights the nuanced nature of perceptions surrounding extreme wealth.
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Projections for Jeff Bezos:
- The projection of Jeff Bezos becoming the world's first trillionaire by 2026 underscores the astronomical scale of wealth concentration in certain tech-related sectors.
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Wealth Concentration in Industries:
- The article categorizes the wealthiest billionaires in Texas based on industries. The concentration within finance, technology, pipelines, food and drink, fashion and retail, media, and entertainment reflects the diverse sectors contributing to immense wealth.
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Forbes' List of Texas Billionaires:
- The list includes notable individuals, such as Elon Musk, Alice Walton, and Michael Dell, each with a substantial net worth. The provided rankings, residences, and sources of wealth offer a comprehensive overview of the state's economic elite.
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Diversity of Wealth Sources:
- The billionaires' diverse sources of wealth, including private equity, pipelines, money management, supermarkets, oil, sports, real estate, and technology, illustrate the varied paths to immense financial success in Texas.
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Self-Made Wealth:
- Many billionaires on the list are noted as "self-made," emphasizing the entrepreneurial spirit and individual initiative that contributed to their wealth.
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Geographic Distribution:
- The residences of these billionaires span cities like Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Electra, and Midland, showcasing the geographic diversity of wealth in Texas.
In conclusion, the article provides a rich tapestry of information on the billionaires in Texas, their sources of wealth, and the broader societal attitudes toward extreme wealth in the United States.
