Making, and staying on, Forbes’ ranking of the richest people in America is no easy feat. Only 11 out of 1,739 have made it every single year since inception.
By Sarah Young, Contributor
Over the 43 years Forbes has published The Forbes 400, a total of 1,739 moguls, heirs and celebrities have made the ranking of America’s richest people. Economic booms, busts, good old fashioned competition—and, of course, father time—have ensured that the list has never featured the exact same 400 people two years in a row. A few flashes in the pan only make the grade for a year. Many others spend a decade or two in the ranks before dropping off or passing away. But a lucky few—the legendary 11—have had staying power, managing to earn a spot on The Forbes 400 every year since its 1982 inception.
In all, they are worth an estimated $342.3 billion today, up from $3.8 billion all the way back in 1982 when they first appeared on Forbes’ ranking (equivalent to $12.2 billion in today’s dollars), meaning they have grown their wealth by some 8,900%, more than double the 4,200% growth of the S&P 500. Their average age is 88.
When Forbes first published The Forbes 400, Warren Buffett was the 52-year-old chairman of a $1.5 billion (assets) Berkshire Hathaway. “Lives modestly,” we wrote. “Estimated net worth: $250 million.” Four decades later, Berkshire’s assets have surpassed $1 trillion and Buffett is the fifth-richest person in America, and the wealthiest “billionaire streaker” never to miss The Forbes 400. His $150 billion net worth is 187 times his 1982 stash, even after adjusting for inflation. (He’d be even richer but for the fact that he’s also America’s most generous philanthropist.)
Only 4 of the 11 are self-made. In addition to Buffett, two retail and fashion tycoons earned their way onto the lists thanks to their world-renowned brands: Nike’s Phil Knight and Les Wexner, the disgraced L Brands founder behind Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works. The fourth self-made icon is Donald Bren, the richest real estate developer in the nation, whose Irvine Co. owns 129 million square feet of real estate, mostly in Southern California.
The remaining seven all got started with substantial help from their families though all but one were able to turn millions into billions. Among them: the 17th-richest person in America Charles Koch; Leonard and Ron Lauder, sons of Estée Lauder; and media giant Donald Newhouse, whose family has investments in Conde Nast, Warner Bros. Discovery and social news site Reddit.
Four other members of the inaugural 1982 ranking made the list in 2024 but fell off at least once along the way. Star Wars billionaire George Lucas dropped off in 1983 due to a divorce settlement, but rejoined in 1996 during the planning stage of the franchise’s prequel trilogy. Former president Donald Trump disappeared from the ranks amid his 1990s bankruptcies, and again in 2021 and 2023, but is back among the top 400 this year thanks, largely, to his Truth Social platform. Oil heir Sid Bass didn’t make the cut in 2021, while FedEx founder Fred Smith spent a total of 6 years off the list.
Many of the original 1982 Forbes 400 listees have since died. That includes comedian Bob Hope (d. 2003), who only made the list once; mobster Meyer Lansky (d. 1983); Steve Jobs (d. 2011); and shipping tycoon Daniel Ludwig (d. 1992), the richest person in America in 1982, worth $2 billion ($6.4 billion in today’s dollars). Others who made the original minimum net worth of $100 million (equivalent to $320 million today)—including musician Yoko Ono and heir Timothy Mellon —have either transferred their fortunes to heirs or were simply overtaken in worth by the likes of tech moguls, social media stars and crypto bulls.
With 43-year Forbes 400 streaks to their names, here are the eleven very lucky billionaires who have made the list every year since 1982:
Origin of Wealth: Berkshire Hathaway
Age: 94
1982 Forbes 400 net worth: $250 million (2024 equivalent: $800 million)
2024 Forbes 400 net worth: $150 billion
Origin of Wealth: Koch, Inc.
Age: 88
1982 net worth: $265 million (2024 equivalent: $850 million)
2024 net worth: $67.5 billion
Origin of Wealth: Nike
Age: 86
1982 net worth: $275 million (2024 equivalent: $880 million)
2024 net worth: $36.8 billion
Origin of Wealth: Real estate
Age: 92
1982 net worth: $350 million (2024 equivalent: $1.1 billion)
2024 net worth: $18.9 billion
Origin of Wealth: Energy, sports, entertainment
Age: 84
1982 net worth: $1 billion (2024 equivalent: $3.3 billion)
2024 net worth: $16.9 Billion
Origin of Wealth: Media
Age: 95
1982 net worth: $600 million (2024 equivalent: $1.9 billion)
2024 net worth: $12.2 billion
Origin of Wealth: Estée Lauder
Age: 91
1982 net worth: $125 million (2024 equivalent: $400 million)
2024 net worth: $11.5 billion
Origin of Wealth: Real estate
Age: 86
1982 net worth: $500 million (2024 equivalent: $1.6 billion)
2024 net worth: $9 billion
Origin of Wealth: Retail
Age: 87
1982 net worth: $100 million (2024 equivalent: $326 million)
2024 net worth: $7.9 billion
Origin of Wealth: Oil, real Estate
Age: 81
1982 net worth: $200 million (2024 equivalent: $640 million)
2024 net worth: $6.9 billion
Origin of Wealth: Estée Lauder
Age: 80
1982 net worth: $125 million (2024 equivalent: $400 million)
2024 net worth: $4.7 billion
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