The Forbes 400

THE 400 RICHEST PEOPLE IN AMERICA are having a rollicking time in the roaring 2020s. In all, they are worth a record $5.4 trillion, up nearly $1 trillion from last year.

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A dozen have $100 billion-plus fortunes, also a record. And admission to this elite club is pricier than ever: A minimum net worth of $3.3 billion is required, up $400 million since 2023. Despite the high bar, 23 newcomers managed to break into the ranks, having grown their fortunes in everything from mundane plastic pipes to cutting-edge artificial intelligence.

1. ELON MUSK

$244 billion SELF-MADE SCORE: 8 SOURCE: Tesla, SpaceX AGE: 53 RESIDENCE: Austin, TX .PHILANTHROPY SCORE: