Forbes 400

The Forbes 400 (est. 1982) is an annual list published by Forbes magazine of the wealthiest 400 people in the United States, ranked by net worth. In 2005 their combined weatlh topped $1.13 trillion with 94% (all but 26) being billionaires. The Forbes list provides a glimpse of what can only be called an economic oligarchy, with an average net worth of $2.8 billion.

2005 Top 10

• Bill Gates
• Warren Buffett
• Paul Allen
• Michael Dell
• Larry Ellison
• Christy Walton
• Jim Walton
• S. Robson Walton
• Alice Walton
• Helen Walton

At the top of the list is Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, with a net worth of 51 billion dollars. Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page are the youngest members at 32 years old and ranked 16th overall, each worth $11 billion. The 400th wealthiest person was shared by 16 members including Stephen Case of America Online.

Related Topics:
Bill Gates - Microsoft - Billion - Google - Sergey Brin - Larry Page - Stephen Case - America Online

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Forbes 400 list contains other prominent names including Donald Trump and Oprah Winfrey.

Related Topics:
Donald Trump - Oprah Winfrey

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Eight members from last year's list died including Jay Van Andel, co-founder of Amway, and John Walton as a result of plane crash in June. John H. Johnson, founder of Johnson Publishing Company was the first African-American to appear on the list had a fortune estimated at close to $600 million, died in 2005.

Related Topics:
Jay Van Andel - Amway - John Walton - June - John H. Johnson

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thirty-three members from last year's list are not included in 2005 because their fortunes could not keep pace with the rising $900 million minimum such as Teresa Heinz Kerry, the wife of 2004 Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

Related Topics:
Teresa Heinz Kerry - 2004 - John Kerry

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Founder's Club is a list of members who were on the Forbes 400 since its inception in 1982. In 2003, only 54 founders were on the list because some are not as rich now as they once were, and other are deceased.

Related Topics:
1982 - 2003

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~