For the first time in history, the threshold for entry onto The Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans has reached a staggering $3.3 billion, marking a new record and an increase of $400 million from last year.
This means that even a net worth of $1 billion or $3 billion is no longer sufficient to secure a spot for billionaires like Oprah Winfrey, Sam Altman, Kim Kardashian on the prestigious list.
As a result, there are now more billionaires outside the elite group than ever before—415 individuals, compared to those who made the cut. Among those missing out are high-profile figures like Oprah Winfrey, with an estimated net worth of $3 billion, and Kim Kardashian, valued at $1.7 billion. Other notable absentees include Taylor Swift ($1.3 billion), Magic Johnson ($1.2 billion), and Arnold Schwarzenegger ($1 billion).
The tech and finance sectors are also represented in the ranks of the “too-poor” billionaires, with leaders such as Palmer Luckey ($2.4 billion), Alexandr Wang of Scale AI ($2 billion), Bilt Rewards founder Ankur Jain ($1.2 billion), and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman ($1 billion) falling short.
However, there is always the chance for a comeback in the future. Jayshree Ullal, president and CEO of Arista Networks, was $100 million shy of the list last year but has since seen her wealth soar to an estimated $4.4 billion thanks to Arista’s rising stock price, allowing her to secure a spot on The Forbes 400 for the first time.
As for Sam Altman, speculation continues regarding his potential ascent to billionaire status. OpenAI is reportedly exploring a restructuring that would transition the organization from a non-profit to a for-profit corporation, potentially granting Altman equity in the company.
While reports suggest he could receive a 7% stake, Altman has publicly denied any plans for a “giant equity stake” during discussions with OpenAI staff last week.
