The 400 richest people in the United States have reached a record total net worth of $6.6 trillion, according to the 2025 Forbes 400 list. This represents a $1.2 trillion increase in wealth over the previous year, fueled by surging stock markets and interest in artificial intelligence.
Economic factors such as inflation, tariffs, and slowing employment have not impacted the fortunes of America’s billionaires. The wealth gap in the rankings has shifted significantly over the last decade; while a net worth of $3.8 billion was once comfortably within the top half of the list, that sum is now the minimum required to appear on the ranking.
Elon Musk remains the richest person in America despite Tesla volatility and declining popularity. Additionally, Alice Walton, an heir to Walmart, has become the first American woman worth $100 billion.
The 2025 ranking includes 14 newcomers to the elite group, including four individuals with a net worth of $10 billion or more. The Forbes 400 estimates are based on a snapshot of wealth as of September 1, 2025.
