Who are the richest Americans? Forbes drops 2026 list
Forbes has released its 2026 list of the 400 wealthiest Americans, noting that the minimum net worth required to qualify has risen to an unprecedented $4.4 billion. Elon Musk maintains the top spot, becoming the first person on the list to surpass a $900 billion net worth.
Why it matters
The report highlights a significant and widening wealth gap in the United States, where the top 20 individuals now control half of the total wealth represented on the list.
Hear this story In America, the rich are getting richer , according to Forbes' new list of the country's top 400 wealthiest people.
The wealth gap among the ultra-rich is widening, so much so that 590 American billionaires were "too poor" to make the annual Forbes 400 List, which calculated that everyone who did make the cut is worth a combined $8 trillion.
According to Forbes, the combined net worths of the top 20 on its list account for 50% of the total, which is up $970 billion from 2025. Despite the minimum net worth "soaring to an unprecedented $4.4 billion," 34 newcomers still made the cut.
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