9 Long Islanders Make Forbes List Of Billionaires

Forbes released its annual ranking of the world's billionaires this week, and nine Long Islanders made the list, as well as hundreds of New Yorkers.

The 2017 list was the largest since Forbes began compiling it 31 years ago, with 2,043 people. That was an increase of 233 from last year. The total net worth of the billionaires also rose 18 percent, to a total of $7.67 trillion -- another record.

Bill Gates, owner of Microsoft, was the richest person on the planet for a fourth year in a row, with a net worth of $86 billion.

In New York, David Koch, who runs Koch Industries with his brother, is the richest, with $48.4 billion. He was ranked 8 overall.

Here are the Long Islanders that made the list:

No. 49 -- James Simons, East Setauket. Net Worth: $18 billion

Simons retired from Renaissance Technologies Corp., a hedge fund firm he founded, in 2010, but still plays an active role there. A codebreaker during the Vietnam War, Simons founded Renaissance in 1982 and used computer modeling to find better liquid securities.

149 -- Margaretta Taylor, Southampton, and Katharine Rayner, East Hampton. Net Worth: $8.1 billion.

Taylor, Rayner and their brother, James Cox Chambers, are the heirs to the Cox fortune. Their grandfather founded Cox Enterprises, an automotive and media conglomerate. The two sisters are not involved with the business, and mainly focus on philanthropy.

359 -- Charles Dolan and family, Oyster Bay. Net Worth: $4.8 billion.

Dolan is the former owner of Cablevision, which he sold last year for $17.7 billion. Dolan is still an influential figure locally, and owns stakes in the New York Knicks, the New York Rangers, Madison Square Garden and AMC Networks.

474 -- Julian Robertson, Jr., Locust Valley. Net Worth: $3.8 billion.

Robertson founded Tiger Management in 1980 and became one of the most successful hedge fund managers in the world. He built a sizeable fortune through deals overseas, and also runs a charity, the Tiger Foundation.

660 -- Kenneth Langone, Sands Point. Net Worth: $3.1 billion.

Langone was an early investor in Home Depot and is considered a cofounder of the retail chain. He makes investments in tech and industrial companies.

1,161 -- Louis Bacon, Oyster Bay. Net Worth: $1.8 billion.

Bacon runs the hedge fund Moore Capital. He is an ardent supporter of environmental causes, which he supports through the Moore Charitable Foundation, which he runs and donates to.

1,376 -- Mitchell Jacobson, Locust Valley. Net Worth: $1.42 billion.

Jacobson began working at MSC Direct, an office and industrial equipment distributor his father founded, in 1976. The company, based in Melville, ships all over the world. Jacobson took over as CEO in 1995.

1,940 -- Axel Stawski, Sagaponack. Net Worth: $1 billion.

Stawski made his money in real estate, founding Stawski Partners in 1973. The company owns six office buildings and three condos in Manhattan, and is developing a luxury rental tower in Long Island City.

You can view the full list of billionaires at Forbes.

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