Elon Musk, the world's richest person, also leads the list of the wealthiest Texans by an almost incomprehensible margin. According to Forbes data from July 2026, Musk's net worth stands at approximately $997 billion — more than four times the combined wealth of the next two richest Texans. His fortune briefly surpassed $1 trillion following SpaceX's historic IPO in June 2026.
Texas Billionaire Rankings: From Musk to Robert F. Smith
The second-richest Texan is Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell Technologies, with a net worth of about $212 billion as of May 2026. He ranks seventh globally. Third is Alice Walton, the Walmart heiress based in Fort Worth, with $134 billion — making her the richest woman in the world for the third consecutive year. Other notable names include Lyndal Stephens Greth and family ($31.3 billion), Elaine Marshall and family ($30.9 billion), Stanley Kroenke ($21.3 billion), and Jerry Jones and family ($19.6 billion). The list rounds out with Ken Fisher ($13.2 billion), Ann Walton Kroenke ($12.8 billion), Andrew Beal ($12 billion), Richard Kinder ($10.6 billion), Tilman Fertitta ($11 billion), Charles Butt ($10.3 billion), Jeffery Hildebrand ($10 billion), and Robert F. Smith ($10 billion).
Elon Musk: The Trillion-Dollar Threshold
Elon Reeve Musk, 54, is a co-founder of seven companies including Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI. His net worth surged from $300 billion in 2021 to nearly $1 trillion in 2026, driven by SpaceX's June 2026 IPO and the acquisition of xAI in February 2026. Forbes notes that Musk became the first person ever to exceed $1 trillion in net worth, albeit briefly. He holds approximately 42% of SpaceX and 20% of Tesla. Musk relocated from California to Austin, Texas, in 2020, cementing his status as the state's wealthiest resident.
Michael Dell: From Dorm Room to Tech Titan
Michael Saul Dell, 61, founded Dell Technologies from his University of Texas at Austin dorm room in 1984 with $1,000. The company merged with EMC in 2016 in a $60 billion deal. In May 2026, Dell Technologies posted its best single trading day ever, pushing Dell's net worth to $212.8 billion and making him the sixth-richest person globally. He and his wife pledged $6.25 billion to seed investment accounts for up to 25 million children under the 'Trump Accounts' initiative.
Alice Walton: America's First Female Centibillionaire
Alice Louise Walton, 75, is the daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton. She worked briefly as a buyer for Walmart before focusing on art philanthropy. She chaired the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art for a decade and in 2025 welcomed the inaugural class of 48 MD students to her Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. Forbes proclaimed her the first American woman to cross the $100 billion threshold; her net worth now stands at $134 billion.
Oil and Energy Fortunes: Greth, Marshall, Kinder, Hildebrand
Lyndal Stephens Greth, 50, inherited Endeavor Energy Resources from her father Autry Stephens, who sold the company to Diamondback Energy in a $26 billion deal that closed in September 2024. The firm produced about 327,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2024. Elaine Marshall, 83, holds a 16% stake in Koch Inc. inherited from her late husband, worth $30.9 billion. Richard Kinder, 80, co-founded Kinder Morgan, one of North America's largest energy infrastructure companies; his net worth rose from $8.1 billion to $10.6 billion. Jeffery Hildebrand, 66, turned Hilcorp Energy into America's largest privately owned oil company; he once gave each of his 1,400 employees a $100,000 bonus after they doubled the company's size.
Sports and Entertainment Wealth: Kroenke, Jones, Fertitta
Stanley Kroenke, 78, owns the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, and Arsenal F.C. His net worth is $21.3 billion. Jerry Jones, 82, bought the Dallas Cowboys for $140 million in 1989; the franchise is now valued at over $10 billion, making it the most valuable sports team in the world. His net worth is $19.6 billion. Tilman Fertitta, 68, owns Landry's, Golden Nugget Casinos, and the Houston Rockets; his net worth is $11 billion. He also serves as U.S. Ambassador to Italy.
Retail and Grocery Fortunes: Butt and Walton Heiresses
Charles Butt, 87, is chairman of H-E-B, the San Antonio-based grocery chain with over 400 stores. His net worth is $10.3 billion. Ann Walton Kroenke, 76, is a Walmart heiress married to Stanley Kroenke; her net worth is $12.8 billion.
Finance and Private Equity: Fisher, Beal, Smith
Ken Fisher, 74, founded Fisher Investments in 1979 with $250; the firm now manages over $270 billion in assets. His net worth is $13.2 billion. Andrew Beal, 72, built Beal Bank by buying distressed loans during banking crises; his net worth is $12 billion. Robert F. Smith, 62, founded Vista Equity Partners, which oversees more than $100 billion in assets. He gained national prominence in 2019 by pledging to pay off the entire student loan debt of Morehouse College's graduating class, a $34 million gift. His net worth is $10 billion.
Why Texas Attracts Billionaires
Texas is home to 43 billionaires on the 2025 Forbes 400 list, making it America's billionaire capital. The state's lack of a personal income tax helps wealthy individuals preserve their fortunes. Traditional sources of wealth include oil and gas, ranching, and retail, while the tech migration of the 2020s — led by Musk and Dell — has added a new dimension to the state's billionaire roster.
