5 Billionaires From VA Among Richest Americans: New Forbes List

VIRGINIA — Billionaire Jacqueline Mars remains the wealthiest person in Virginia, according to The Forbes 400, an annual ranking of America’s super rich released Tuesday.

Overall, the 400 richest billionaires in America are worth $4.5 trillion, tying a record set in 2021. Overall, they are about $500 billion richer than they were a year ago, in large part because of rebounding stock markets and an AI-driven tech boom, Forbes said.

Billionaires had to have a net worth at least $2.9 billion to be included on the prestigious list, up from $2.7 billion a year ago. Forbes said its net worth calculations use stock prices from Sept. 8.

Mars, 83, the richest person in Virginia, is worth an estimated $38.9 billion. She is ranked 19th overall on the Forbes list. Mars, Incorporated is a company owning candy, food and pet care brands like M&M's, Snickers, Banfield Pet Hospital, VCA Animal Hospitals, Pedigree and more. Mars's grandfather founded the company, she now owns an estimated one-third, according to Forbes.

Pamela Mars, 63, another heir to Mars, Incorporated, also made the list at 76 with an estimated $9.7 billion net worth.

Other Virginia billionaires who made the cut:

• #238. Winifred J. Marquart, 64, $4.8 billion net worth, SC Johnson heir
• #295. Daniel D'Aniello, 77, $3.8 billion net worth, co-founder of private equity firm Carlyle Group
• #345. William Conway, Jr., 74, $3.3 billion net worth, co-founder of private equity firm Carlyle Group

Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform X, tops the list for a second year with an estimated net worth of $251 billion — $90 billion richer than Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and No. 2 on the list, and $93 billion ahead of Oracle software development company founder Larry Ellison.

Forbes also tracked the charitable giving of every member of The Forbes 400, and scored each person on a scale of 1 (those who have given less than 1 percent of their wealth away so far) to 5 (those who have given at least 20 percent). The richest people in America are, so far, not all that generous. Two-thirds of them have given less than 5 percent of their wealth away so far; only 11 have donated 20 percent or more.

Read more about Forbes’ methodology.