Three Ohioans Rank Among Forbes 400 Richest People in America
Three Ohioans have been named among the wealthiest individuals in the U.S. in Forbes’ annual list of the 400 Richest People in America. The combined net worth of those on the 2024 list has reached a record $5.4 trillion, up nearly $1 trillion from the previous year. For the first time, a dozen individuals on the list boast fortunes of $100 billion or more.
Les Wexner, 87, of New Albany, holds the title of Ohio’s richest person, ranking at No. 146. Wexner, who founded the global retail giant L Brands, is worth $7.9 billion. He served as CEO for over five decades and sold a majority stake in Victoria’s Secret in 2020 for $525 million. Wexner had purchased the brand for just $1 million in 1982.
Denise York, 73, of Youngstown, ranks as Ohio’s second-richest person, placing at No. 184 with a net worth of $6.7 billion. York owns over 90% of the San Francisco 49ers, one of the most valuable NFL franchises.
The third Ohioan on the list is Mike Brown, 89, from Cincinnati, marking his first appearance on the Forbes 400. Brown and his family, worth $3.9 billion, own the Cincinnati Bengals, valued at around $4 billion. Mike Brown helped his father, Paul Brown, found the team in 1967 after Paul’s dismissal as coach of the Cleveland Browns. Today, several family members, including Mike’s daughter Katie Blackburn, play key roles in the Bengals’ management.
For the third consecutive year, Elon Musk tops the Forbes list as the richest person in America with a net worth of $244 billion. Musk co-founded companies such as Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI. He is followed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos ($197 billion) and Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg ($181 billion).
