85 California billionaires ranked among the 100 richest people on the planet

Call it a California gold rush.The Golden State is home to 85 of America’s wealthiest people, according to Forbes’ annual ranking of the country’s 400 richest, which features tech titans, entrepreneurs and billionaire families.The 2026 list has a record $8 trillion in combined wealth, with 34 newcomers joining the elite club.The price of admission? At least $4.4 billion, up from $3.8 billion last year.

The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.Please provide a valid email.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story Overall, California boasted more billionaires on the Forbes 400 list than any other state.

New York trails behind with 54, followed by Florida with 49 and Texas with 43.That concentration of wealth comes as California voters prepare to weigh in on a very different question: whether to impose a one-time 5% tax on the fortunes of billionaires who were California residents at the start of 2026.Proposition 40 is on the Nov.3 ballot, with 45% of likely voters currently supporting it and 42% opposed, according to a September UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times.

According to Forbes’ annual ranking, which is a snapshot of each member’s wealth as of Sept.4, 2026, Alphabet co-founder Larry Page leads the California pack, landing at No.

3 nationwide with a staggering $278 billion fortune.Not far behind is fellow Alphabet co-founder Sergey Brin, the second-wealthiest Californian and fifth-richest American overall, with $265 billion to his name.Both men climbed the Forbes ladder this year — but not everyone in California’s billionaire club was moving up.Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg rounds out the Golden State’s top three, but his national ranking slipped to sixth, down from third in 2025.His net worth now stands at $212 billion.Still, he probably isn’t losing too...