Richest in DFW
19 DFW billionaires land on Forbes list of richest Americans in 2024
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has a net worth of $15.2 billion in 2024, Forbes says.
Over a dozen of Dallas-Fort Worth's illustrious billionaires have made the cut on the new Forbes 400, a list of the 400 richest people in the United States for 2024.
Released on October 1, the Forbes 400 list is a definitive ranking of the wealthiest Americans, using interviews, financial data, and documentation provided by billionaires and their companies.
According to the report, America's elite class is now worth $5.4 trillion collectively, which is a $1 trillion jump since 2023.
“The Forbes 400 is richer than ever, and it’s harder than ever to be one of the 400 richest people in America," said Forbes senior editor Chase Peterson-Withorn in a press release.
In all, 43 Texas billionaires made the list.
Austin resident Elon Musk ranks No. 1 nationally for the third time, with a net worth of $244 billion. Despite ranking at the top of the list this year, Musk's net worth has actually dropped by $7 billion since 2023.
Walmart heiress Alice Walton of Fort Worth is the third-richest Texan, as well as the wealthiest person in DFW and the wealthiest woman in America. According to Forbes' list, Walton has a net worth of $89.2 billion, which has risen significantly from her 2023 net worth of $56.7 billion. Walton, 74, is the only daughter of Sam Walton, who opened the first Walmart store in 1962.
New to the list is Lyndal Stephens Greth, who is the chairman of Midland-based oil company Endeavor Energy Resources and daughter of the late Autry Stephens, who founded the company. Forbes estimates Greth's net worth as $32.3 billion, and lists Dallas as her city of residence. She is the second wealthiest person in Dallas-Fort Worth, and the 28th most affluent person in the U.S.
Greth became chairman of Endeavor Energy Resources after Stephens died in August 2024. In a deal that closed in September, Endeavor Energy Resources was sold to Midland-based Diamondback Energy for an estimated $26 billion in stock and cash.
"Endeavor is one of the largest private oil producers in the U.S., generating some 327,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day," Forbes wrote in Greth's profile. "The company has the rights to drill on more than 500,000 acres in the U.S., mainly in Texas."
The third-richest person in DFW is Koch Inc. co-owner Elaine Marshall and family. Marshall, 82, has an estimated net worth of $28.3 billion — a substantial hike from her last reported net worth of $8.8 billion in 2014. She is the fifth wealthiest Texan and the 35th richest person in the U.S.
"Elaine Marshall owns an estimated 16 percent of $125 billion (sales) conglomerate Koch, Inc. (formerly Koch Industries) with her two sons," Forbes says. "She inherited her stake from husband E. Pierce Marshall (d. 2006), whose father J. Howard Marshall II (d. 1995) was an early partner of founder Fred Koch (d. 1967)."
Here's how the rest of Dallas-Fort Worth's billionaires fared on this year's list:
- Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones of Dallas sits at No. 48 in the U.S. with an estimated net worth of $15.2 billion. Last year: $14.5 billion.
- Banking and real estate mogul Andy Beal of Dallas holds the No. 74 spot nationally. His estimated net worth is $12 billion. Last year: $13.8 billion.
- Money manager Ken Fisher of Dallas ranks 86th nationally with an estimated net worth of $11.2 billion. Last year: $7.1 billion.
- Hotel and investment guru Robert Rowling of Dallas ties for 126 nationally with an estimated net worth of $8.6 billion. Last year: $7.5 billion.
- Oil and real estate titan Ray Lee Hunt of Dallas ranks No. 176 nationally with an estimated net worth of $6.9 billion. Last year: $7.2 billion.
- Private equity kingpin David Bonderman of Fort Worth and oil and gas tycoon Kelcy Warren of Dallas tie for No. 184 nationally with an estimated net worth of $6.7 billion. Last year: $5.7 billion and $4.6 billion, respectively.
- Oil and investment mogul Robert Bass of Fort Worth ties for 204th nationally with an estimated net worth of $5.3 billion. Last year: $4.9 billion.
- Media magnate and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban of Dallas ties for 230th nationally with an estimated net worth of $5.7 billion. Last year: $5.2 billion.
- Margot Birmingham Perot of Dallas, widow of tech and real estate entrepreneur H. Ross Perot Sr., ranks 247th nationally with an estimated net worth of $5.3 billion. Last year: $4.9 billion.
- Oil and gas honcho Trevor Rees-Jones of Dallas ties for 256th nationally with an estimated net worth of $5.1 billion. Last year: $4.9 billion.
- Real estate bigwig H. Ross Perot Jr. of Dallas holds the No. 288th spot nationally with an estimated net worth of $4.6 billion. Last year: $3.7 billion.
- Private equity firm cofounder Carl Thoma and Airplane leasing industry founder Steven Udvar-Hazy of Westlake tie for No. 308 nationally with an estimated net worth of $4.4 billion. Last year: $3.5 billion and $3.8 billion, respectively.
- Oil heir Sid Bass ranks 359th nationally with an estimated net worth of $3.7 billion. Last year: $3.9 billion.
- Oil and gas magnate Ray Davis of Dallas ranks No. 385 nationally with an estimated net worth of $3.5 billion. Last year: $2.9 billion.
Missing from the 2024 list is oil baron W. Herbert Hunt of Dallas, who died in April 2024. Hunt, 95, had a net worth of $4.7 billion. According to Forbes, Hunt owned Dallas-based oil company Petro-Hunt, a refinery in Louisiana, and also invested in real estate across Texas, Arizona, and California.
Also missing from the 2024 list is D.R. Horton founder Donald Horton, who died at age 74 in May 2024. Forbes estimated his net worth at $5.9 billion.
Find all the Texans on the new Forbes 400 list here.
The central foyer was transformed into a South-of-France villa, and harpists played on terraces.Photo by Ashley Gongora
The prettiest seaside "shrimp boat" you'll ever see.Photo by Ashley Gongora
Ball chair Mary Martha Pickens in a vibrant green and blue Michael Faircloth gown (with Dr. John Pickens).Photo by Tamytha Cameron
Dancers from Bruce Wood Dance Dallas and electric violin players from Dallas Live Orchestra entertained before dinner.Photo by Ashley Gongora
The ball was attended by 1,540 guests.Photo by Ashley Gongora