Mapping America’s billionaires — where they live, how they made $5.7 trillion, and what they do with it

The top 100 billionaires control nearly $3.86 trillion—more than half of total billionaire wealth. Three men—Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg—together approach the $1 trillion mark, illustrating how outsize fortunes at the apex skew the overall picture despite a growing long tail of lesser-known billionaires.

Tech isn’t the biggest feeder

Despite mega-valuations in AI and software, finance and banking remain the largest pipeline to 10-figure fortunes—about 300 billionaires—versus roughly 110 from tech and around 75 from real estate. The finding highlights the enduring role of capital markets, private equity and trading platforms in American wealth creation.

Dynasties still matter

Roughly one-third of US billionaires inherited all or part of their wealth. Five dynastic clusters—Walton, Koch, Mars, Cargill-MacMillan, and Pritzker—collectively hold about $830 billion, or nearly 15% of total billionaire wealth. While there is only one Rockefeller on the current list, the heirs of prominent corporate empires remain a defining feature of the landscape.

Celebrity and ‘near-boundary’ fortunes

The billionaire “border” is fluid. Market swings, private-company repricing and large gifts can move individuals on or off the list from year to year. That volatility extends to high-profile performers and athletes—names like Taylor Swift, LeBron James and others—whose estimated net worths can hover around the threshold.

Philanthropy with sharp edges

Since 2015, billionaires have publicly donated or pledged about $185 billion, with education and medical research accounting for roughly $90 billion. Those flows are reshaping institutions, from campus politics to biomedical labs. Yet giving is uneven: around 25% of listed billionaires have disclosed less than $1 million in donations over the last decade, while others—such as Michael Bloomberg—have made multi-billion-dollar commitments to universities and public health. Some of the most popular recipients include the Gates Foundation, Gavi, and New York’s Central Park Conservancy.

What $5.7 trillion can buy

To put the number in perspective, that collective fortune could purchase a Corvette Stingray convertible for every US driver aged 65+, fund four-year Harvard costs for 1 million students (with stipends), acquire every residential property in Chicago, and still buy the entire market cap of McDonald’s, Delta Air Lines, Ford and Lululemon—with billions left over.

Methodology caveats matter

Altrata’s estimates combine publicly and privately held business valuations and investible assets, adjusting for asset swings that can push individuals above or below the $1 billion mark. Property counts include residences, land and other holdings titled to individuals. Primary industry is assigned based on current roles, and primary location by business address—choices that can shape interpretation of where and how wealth is concentrated.

The takeaway

America’s billionaire class is expanding in number while becoming more geographically and sectorally diverse—but its wealth distribution is increasingly top-heavy. Finance still mints the most fortunes, tech produces the largest individual peaks, dynasties remain durable, and philanthropy—while significant—is uneven. The result is a more ubiquitous billionaire footprint with outsized influence concentrated at the very top.