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List of wealthiest in U.S. includes 1 isle resident

STAR-ADVERTISER / SEPTEMBER 2010
BSN - Pierre Omidyar speaks during a news conference after the 2010 Top 250 Business luncheon on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010 at the Waikiki Beach Marriot's Kona Moku Ballroom. Omidyar, the founder of eBay and the publisher of the Honolulu Civil Beat, was the keynote speaker. (Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Advertiser).

NEW YORK » Life is good for America’s superwealthy.

Forbes on Monday released its annual list of the top 400 richest Americans, which included one Hawaii resident: eBay founder Pierre Omid­yar. While most of the top names and rankings didn’t change from a year ago, the majority of the elite club’s members saw their fortunes grow over the past year, helped by strong stock and real estate markets.

"Basically, the mega-rich are mega-richer," said Forbes Senior Editor Kerry Dolan.

Dolan noted that list’s minimum net income increased to a pre-financial crisis level of $1.3 billion, up from $1.1 billion in 2012, with 61 American billionaires not making the cut. "In some ways it’s harder to get on the list than it ever has been," she said.

Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates remains America’s richest man, taking the top spot on the list for the 20th straight year, with a net worth of $72 billion, up from $66 billion a year ago.

Investor Warren Buffett, head of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., posted another distant second-place finish with $58.5 billion but increased his net worth from $46 billion.

Oracle Corp. co-founder Larry Ellison stayed third with $41 billion and was the only member of the top 10 whose net worth was unchanged from a year ago.

Brothers Charles and David Koch, co-owners of Koch Industries Inc., stay tied for fourth with $36 billion each, up from $31 billion in 2012.

Walmart heirs Christy Walton, Jim Walton, Alice Walton and S. Robson Walton took the next four spots, with holdings ranging from $33.3 billion to $35.4 billion, all increasing from year-ago levels.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, founder of the eponymous financial information company, rounds out the top 10 with $31 billion, up from $25 billion.

Omidyar, 46, was tied for 47th place at $8.5 billion. The Hono­lulu resident and Punahou School graduate and trustee slipped from 42nd place in 2012.

According to Forbes, 273 members of the list are self-made billionaires, while 71 inherited their wealth and another 56 inherited at least some of it but are still growing it.

Facebook co-founder Dus­tin Mos­ko­vitz, who was 85th with a net worth of $5.2 billion, was the youngest member on the list at the age of 29.

On the flip side, the oldest person on the list is 98-year-old David Rockefeller Sr. at No. 193 with a net worth of $2.8 billion.

MONEY MAGNATES
Hawaii resident and eBay founder Pierre Omidyar made the Forbes 400 list again. The top people on the list:

1. Bill Gates Medina, Wash. $72B
2. Warren Buffett Omaha, Neb. $58.5B
3. Larry Ellison Woodside, Calif. $41B
4. Charles Koch Wichita, Kan. $36B
(tie) David Koch New York $36B
6. Christy Walton & family Jackson, Wyo. $35.4B
7. Jim Walton Bentonville, Ark. $33.8B
8. Alice Walton Fort Worth, Texas $33.5B
9. S. Robson Walton Bentonville, Ark. $33.3B
10. Michael Bloomberg New York $31B
47. Pierre Omidyar Honolulu $8.5B

Source: Forbes

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