DENVER — Bill Gates is the richest American for the 22nd year in a row, according to the Forbes list of the 400 richest Americans that was released Tuesday. Gates’ net worth is $76 billion. Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg climbed into the top 10 for the first time.
The price of entry on the list this year was $1.7 billion, the highest it has been in 34 years. That means 145 billionaires in the U.S. missed the list. The rankings are based on the richest Americans’ estimated net worth on Sept. 11, 2015.
Five Coloradans made the list
28. Charles Ergen, $16.4 billion
Ergen is the founder and chairman of DISH Network. The 62-year-old Denver resident took back the CEO job at DISH in early 2015 after spending four years in the “stepped back” role of chairman.
43. Philip Anschutz, $10.9 billion
Philip Anschutz made his money in investments. He’s 75 years old and he lives in Denver. Over 40 years, he built fortunes from oilfields, railroads, telecom, pro sports teams, movie making and most recently concerts and arenas.
68. John Malone, $7.2 billion
Forbes said 74-year-old John Malone is arguably the most powerful man in cable after his Charter Communications announced in May it would take over Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks for $71 billion in cash and stock. If the deal goes through, it will become the nation’s second-biggest cable company. Malone lives in Elizabeth.
211. James Leprino, $3 billion
The source of the 77-year-old Leprino’s wealth is cheese. He is owner and chairman of Leprino Foods, the world’s largest maker of mozzarella cheese. His company’s customers include Domino’s Pizza, Papa John’s, Pizza Hut, Little Caesar’s and Hot Pockets. His dad started the business in the 1950s. James Leprino lives in Indian Hills.
293. Pat Stryker, $2.3 billion
Medical equipment is the source of Stryker’s wealth. She and her siblings, Ronda and Jon, are the grandchildren of Homer Stryker, the surgeon credited with inventions like the mobile hospital bed, a walking cast and an oscillating saw for removing casts. Today, Stryker Corp. sells $9.7 billion worth of medical technology. Pat Stryker founded the Bohemian Foundation. It provides money for music and youth programs in her hometown of Fort Collins. It also funds programs for public health, poverty alleviation and the environment. She is 59 years old.