&l;p&g;&l;img class=&q;size-large wp-image-19443&q; src=&q;http://blogs-images.forbes.com/laurengensler/files/2018/05/Forbes-RichestByState2018-HeroImage-v2-1200x810.jpg?width=960&q; alt=&q;&q; data-height=&q;810&q; data-width=&q;1200&q;&g; (Design by Nick DeSantis, FORBES staff)
For the fourth year in a row, &l;em&g;Forbes&l;/em&g; has scoured the country from sea to shining sea to find the richest person in&a;nbsp;every single state. The centimillionaires and billionaires we found have made (or inherited) fortunes in&a;nbsp;a sprawling range of industries -- from&a;nbsp;hotels to hedge funds to coal.
In all, &l;em&g;Forbes&l;/em&g; located 53 captains of industry (three states had ties) with fortunes that add up to $832 billion, up from $747 billion last year and $682 billion the year before. The average fortune for this year&s;s list stands at $16.6 billion, up from $14.4 billion in 2017.
&l;span&g;The&a;nbsp;&l;/span&g;&l;a href=&q;http://www.forbes.com/sites/maddieberg/2018/05/21/how-the-richest-person-in-every-state-got-rich&q;&g;most popular way to make a fortune that is unrivaled by anyone else in your state&l;/a&g; is&l;span&g;&a;nbsp;to go into finance and investing,&a;nbsp;where a full 10 people on our list have made a name for themselves. Fashion and retail comes next, and with eight people on our list, followed by the food and beverage sector (five people) and the service industry (with another five people).&l;/span&g;&l;!--donotpaginate--&g;
The surging price of Amazon stock has made Jeff Bezos the richest person in his adopted home state of Washington for the first time (as well as the wealthiest person in the world); his fortune skyrocketed from $83 billion last year to a current $132 billion. Amazon&s;s stock roared 66% higher in the 12 months through mid-May as investors cheered the company&s;s reshaping of the&a;nbsp;retail world, plus its ability to grab market share in places like the cloud, and post a stretch of profits, to boot. Bezos now easily outranks Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, who qualified as&a;nbsp;Washington&s;s richest last year with a net worth of $88.9 billion.
&l;img class=&q;size-full wp-image-19502&q; src=&q;http://blogs-images.forbes.com/laurengensler/files/2018/05/Map-RichestInEveryState2018-v2.jpg?width=960&q; alt=&q;&q; data-height=&q;904&q; data-width=&q;960&q;&g; (Design by Nick DeSantis, FORBES staff)
Digital trading pioneer Thomas Peterffy also had a blockbuster year&a;nbsp;and solidified&a;nbsp;his position as the richest person in Florida. His fortune basically doubled to $25.7 billion thanks to a dizzying 104% rise in shares of his company,&a;nbsp;Interactive Brokers. That makes him the largest gainer, in terms of sheer dollars as well as percentage growth, compared to last year&s;s list. He is now leaps and bounds ahead of fellow Florida resident and hedge fund manager David Tepper, who is the state&s;s second-richest with a fortune of $11 billion.
California&s;s wealthiest resident, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, managed to increase his fortune by $11.6 billion in the past year to a recent $74 billion. This is&a;nbsp;&l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/sites/noahkirsch/2018/05/12/mark-zuckerberg-net-worth-is-up-13-billion-since-midst-of-privacy-scandal/#7aaacd10758a&q;&g;despite an outcry over the way his social media empire&a;nbsp;handles user data and its alleged role in spreading&a;nbsp;&l;span&g;misinformation during the last presidential election&l;/span&g;&l;/a&g;. Zuckerberg remains&a;nbsp;the third-richest person in the nation.
Investors were not so kind to Charles Ergen, who lost his place as the richest person in Colorado as&a;nbsp;shares of Dish Network were beaten down by almost 50% in the 12 months through mid-May. His net worth was knocked down to $10 billion,&a;nbsp;a far cry from the&a;nbsp;&l;span&g;$18.8 billion he clocked last year. Taking his place as the state&s;s richest is&a;nbsp;&l;/span&g;Philip Anschutz, with a net worth of $12.7 billion,&a;nbsp;which stems from a bevy&a;nbsp;of endeavors including&a;nbsp;&l;span&g;oil, railroads, real estate and entertainment.&l;/span&g;
In some states, there is&a;nbsp;little competition when it comes to&a;nbsp;wearing the crown of the state&s;s richest person. Take Warren Buffett in Nebraska. The legendary investor is the fourth-wealthiest person on the entire planet with a net worth of $85 billion. The next-richest person in his beloved home state is his longtime friend Walter Scott Jr., whose fortune also comes from Berkshire Hathaway (namely, its utilities subsidiary), but is decidedly smaller at $4.2 billion.
Six of the 50 U.S. states lack a billionaire altogether.&a;nbsp;For more on the richest&a;nbsp;person in those states, see &l;a href=&q;http://www.forbes.com/sites/denizcam/2018/05/21/six-u-s-states-have-no-billionaires-see-whos-the-richest-person-in-each-in-2018&q;&g;here&l;/a&g;.
Here is the full list:
&l;span&g;&l;strong&g;Alabama&l;/strong&g;: &l;/span&g;&l;span&g;&l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/jimmy-rane/&q;&g;Jimmy Rane&l;/a&g;, l&l;/span&g;&l;span&g;umber,&a;nbsp;&l;/span&g;&l;span&g;$950 million&l;/span&g;
&l;strong&g;Alaska&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/leonard-hyde/&q;&g;Leonard Hyde&l;/a&g;, &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/jonathan-rubini-1/&q;&g;Jonathan Rubini&l;/a&g; &a;amp; families, real estate, $310 million each
&l;strong&g;Arizona&l;/strong&g;:&a;nbsp;&l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/mark-shoen/&q;&g;Mark Shoen&l;/a&g;, U-Haul, $3 billion
&l;strong&g;Arkansas&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/jim-walton/&q;&g;Jim Walton&l;/a&g;, Walmart, $40.3 billion
&l;strong&g;California&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/mark-zuckerberg/&q;&g;Mark Zuckerberg&l;/a&g;, Facebook, $74 billion
&l;strong&g;Colorado&l;/strong&g;:&a;nbsp;&l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/philip-anschutz/&q;&g;Philip Anschutz&l;/a&g;, investments, $12.7 billion
&l;strong&g;Connecticut&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/ray-dalio/&q;&g;Ray Dalio&l;/a&g;, hedge funds, $17.4 billion
&l;strong&g;Delaware&l;/strong&g;:&a;nbsp;&l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/robert-gore/&q;&g;Robert Gore&l;/a&g; and &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/elizabeth-snyder/&q;&g;Elizabeth Snyder&l;/a&g;, Gore-Tex, $750 million each
&l;strong&g;Florida&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/thomas-peterffy/&q;&g;Thomas Peterffy&l;/a&g;, discount brokerage, $25.7 billion
&l;strong&g;Georgia&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/jim-kennedy/&q;&g;Jim Kennedy&l;/a&g;, media, $9 billion
&l;strong&g;Hawaii&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/pierre-omidyar/&q;&g;Pierre Omidyar&l;/a&g;, eBay, $10.6 billion
&l;strong&g;Idaho&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/frank-vandersloot/&q;&g;Frank VanderSloot&l;/a&g;, nutrition and wellness, $3.4 billion
&l;strong&g;Illinois&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/ken-griffin/&q;&g;Ken Griffin&l;/a&g;, hedge funds, $9 billion
&l;strong&g;Indiana&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/carl-cook/&q;&g;Carl Cook&l;/a&g;, medical devices, $8.2 billion
&l;strong&g;Iowa&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/harry-stine/&q;&g;Harry Stine&l;/a&g;, agriculture, $3.2 billion
&l;strong&g;Kansas&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/charles-koch/&q;&g;Charles Koch&l;/a&g;, Koch Industries, $51.5 billion
&l;strong&g;Kentucky&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/b-wayne-hughes/&q;&g;B. Wayne Hughes&l;/a&g;, self storage, $2.7 billion
&l;strong&g;Louisiana&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/gayle-benson/&q;&g;Gayle Benson&l;/a&g;, New Orleans Saints, $2.7 billion
&l;strong&g;Maine&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/susan-alfond/&q;&g;Susan Alfond&l;/a&g;, shoes, $1.6 billion
&l;strong&g;Maryland&l;/strong&g;:&a;nbsp;&l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/ted-lerner/&q;&g;Ted Lerner &a;amp; family&l;/a&g;, real estate, $5.1 billion
&l;strong&g;Massachusetts&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/abigail-johnson/&q;&g;Abigail Johnson&l;/a&g;, money management, $16.9 billion
&l;strong&g;Michigan&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/daniel-gilbert/&q;&g;Daniel Gilbert&l;/a&g;, Quicken Loans, $6.3 billion
&l;strong&g;Minnesota&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/glen-taylor/&q;&g;Glen Taylor&l;/a&g;, printing, $2.8 billion
&l;strong&g;Mississippi&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/james-duff/&q;&g;James&l;/a&g; and &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/thomas-duff/&q;&g;Thomas Duff&l;/a&g;, diversified, $1.2 billion each
&l;strong&g;Missouri&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/pauline-macmillan-keinath/&q;&g;Pauline MacMillan Keinath&l;/a&g;, Cargill, $7.2 billion
&l;strong&g;Montana&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/dennis-washington/&q;&g;Dennis Washington&l;/a&g;, construction and mining, $5.9 billion
&l;strong&g;Nebraska&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/warren-buffett/&q;&g;Warren Buffett&l;/a&g;, Berkshire Hathaway, $85 billion
&l;strong&g;Nevada&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/sheldon-adelson/&q;&g;Sheldon Adelson&l;/a&g;, casinos, $42.8 billion
&l;strong&g;New Hampshire&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/andrea-reimann-ciardelli/&q;&g;&l;span&g;Andrea Reimann-Ciardelli&l;/span&g;&l;/a&g;, consumer goods, $1.1 billion
&l;strong&g;New Jersey&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/john-overdeck/&q;&g;John Overdeck&l;/a&g;, hedge funds, $5.5 billion
&l;strong&g;New Mexico&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/mack-c-chase/&q;&g;Mack C. Chase&l;/a&g;, oil, $700 million
&l;strong&g;New York&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/david-koch/&q;&g;David Koch&l;/a&g;, Koch Industries, $51.5 billion
&l;strong&g;North Carolina&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/james-goodnight/&q;&g;James Goodnight&l;/a&g;, software, $9.9 billion
&l;strong&g;North Dakota&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/gary-tharaldson/&q;&g;Gary Tharaldson&l;/a&g;, hotels, $900 million
&l;strong&g;Ohio&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/les-wexner/&q;&g;Les Wexner &a;amp; family&l;/a&g;, retail, $5.4 billion
&l;strong&g;Oklahoma&l;/strong&g;:&a;nbsp;&l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/harold-hamm/&q;&g;Harold Hamm &a;amp; family&l;/a&g;, oil and gas, $19.5 billion
&l;strong&g;Oregon&l;/strong&g;:&a;nbsp;&l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/phil-knight/&q;&g;Phil Knight &a;amp; family&l;/a&g;, Nike, $30.7 billion
&l;strong&g;Pennsylvania&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/victoria-mars/&q;&g;Victoria Mars&l;/a&g;, candy and pet food, $6 billion
&l;strong&g;Rhode Island&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/jonathan-nelson/&q;&g;Jonathan Nelson&l;/a&g;, private equity, $1.8 billion
&l;strong&g;South Carolina&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/anita-zucker/&q;&g;Anita Zucker&l;/a&g;, chemicals, $2.5 billion
&l;strong&g;South Dakota&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/t-denny-sanford/&q;&g;T. Denny Sanford&l;/a&g;, banking and credit cards, $2.5 billion
&l;strong&g;Tennessee&l;/strong&g;:&a;nbsp;&l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/thomas-frist-jr/&q;&g;Thomas Frist Jr &a;amp; family&l;/a&g;, hospitals, $9.7 billion
&l;strong&g;Texas&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/alice-walton/&q;&g;Alice Walton&l;/a&g;, Walmart, $40 billion
&l;strong&g;Utah&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/gail-miller/&q;&g;Gail Miller&l;/a&g;, Utah Jazz and car dealers, $1.4 billion
&l;strong&g;Vermont&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/john-abele/&q;&g;John Abele&l;/a&g;, healthcare, $630 million
&l;strong&g;Virginia&l;/strong&g;:&a;nbsp;&l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/jacqueline-mars/&q;&g;Jacqueline Mars&l;/a&g;, candy and pet food, $23.8 billion
&l;strong&g;Washington&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/jeff-bezos/&q;&g;Jeff Bezos&l;/a&g;, Amazon, $132 billion
&l;strong&g;West Virginia&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/jim-justice-ii/&q;&g;Jim Justice II&l;/a&g;, coal, $1.9 billion
&l;strong&g;Wisconsin&l;/strong&g;: &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/john-menard-jr/&q;&g;John Menard Jr&l;/a&g;, home improvement, $10.5 billion
&l;strong&g;Wyoming:&l;/strong&g; &l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/profile/john-mars/&q;&g;John Mars&l;/a&g;, candy and pet food, $23.8 billion
--
&l;strong&g;For more coverage on the richest people in every state, check out:&l;/strong&g;
&l;em&g;&l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/sites/maddieberg/2018/05/21/how-the-richest-person-in-every-state-got-rich&q;&g;How The Richest Person In Every State Got Rich&l;/a&g;&l;/em&g;
&l;em&g;&l;a href=&q;http://www.forbes.com/sites/denizcam/2018/05/21/six-u-s-states-have-no-billionaires-see-whos-the-richest-person-in-each-in-2018&q;&g;The Six U.S. States Without Billionaires: See Who&a;rsquo;s The Richest In Each In 2018&l;/a&g;&l;/em&g;
&l;a href=&q;https://www.forbes.com/sites/anismuslimin/2018/05/21/how-james-and-thomas-duff-became-billionaires-and-the-richest-people-in-mississippi/#5dac3d8f6b12&q;&g;&l;em&g;How Two Brothers Became Billionaires &a;mdash; And The Richest People In Mississippi&l;/em&g;&l;/a&g;
--
&l;strong&g;Methodology&l;/strong&g;
This is our fourth&a;nbsp;year compiling a list of the richest person in every state. Several of the members of this group also appear on the&a;nbsp;Forbes World&a;rsquo;s Billionaires List, which is published in March, and The&a;nbsp;Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans, which comes out in October. For the richest in state package, we update the net worths of the billionaires we are constantly tracking to make sure we have the latest figures. We then spend a significant amount of time hunting for the richest centi-millionaires in the states with no billionaires. Our estimates represent a snapshot of wealth as of May&a;nbsp;11, 2018. The net worth of anyone in this group can change materially within&a;nbsp;days or weeks.
&l;strong&g;Editors&l;/strong&g;
Kerry A. Dolan, Lauren Gensler and Luisa Kroll
&l;strong&g;Reporters&l;/strong&g;
Angel Au-Yeung, Madeline Berg, Deniz Cam, Carter Coudriet, Lauren Gensler and Anis Muslimin. Additional reporting by Christopher Helman, Max Jedeur-Palmgren, Noah Kirsch, Joann Muller, Andrea Murphy, Samantha Sharf, Chloe Sorvino, Michela Tindera, Nathan Vardi and Jennifer Wang. Research by Susan Radlauer.
&a;nbsp;&l;/p&g;
Read More
