15 Connecticut Residents Among the World's Billionaires, Forbes Reports

Forbes has released its annual list of the world's billionaires and in 2024, there are more people on the list than ever — and they're richer than ever.  There are 141 more billionaires in the world than last year, with 2,781 in total. Their combined worth equals $14.2 trillion — up by $2 trillion in 2023.

The U.S. has a record 813 billionaires — the most of any country. A total of 15 are residents of Connecticut, up from 13 a year ago. 

Steve Cohen, best known this time of year as the owner of the New York Mets, leads the way as Connecticut’s wealthiest.  Cohen, a Greenwich resident who leads Point72 Asset Management, a $30.6 billion hedge fund, has a net worth of $19.8 billion, ranking him as the 97th wealthiest person in the world.

Overall, the 2024 list also broke records set in 2021, with 26 more billionaires on the list and their combined net worth up by $1.1 trillion. Billionaires themselves are also wealthier, with two-thirds adding to their worth.

China has 473 billionaires and India has 200, which set a record for that country.  Notable names include Taylor Swift, worth $1.1 billion, at number 2,545 in the rankings; Elon Musk at #2, Jeff Bezos at #3, and MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, who is worth $35.6 billion, ranked at #43. Scott, who has been donating large portions of her wealth to nonprofit organizations around the country, donated $8 million to four Connecticut nonprofits last month: COMPASS Youth Collaborative in Hartford; Leadership, Education and Athletics in Partnership (LEAP) in New Haven; Building One Community – The Center for Immigrant Opportunity in Fairfield County; and Journey Home in Hartford County.

Leading the worldwide list is Bernard Arnault and his family are at number one, with a net worth of $233 billion. Arnault is head of LVMH, a luxury fashion and cosmetics conglomerate in France.

Connecticut billionaires on the list include Ray Dalio, lost wealth last year. Dalio founded Bridgewater Associates and is worth $15.4 billion, making him the 124th richest person in the world.

Newcomers to the list are Douglas Ostrover and Michael Rees of New York City-based Blue Owl Capital, an investment firm specializing in private credit, and residents of Greenwich and New Canaan, respectively.  Others on the list include Darien residents Andreas Halvorsen of Viking Global Investors and Todd Boehly of Eldridge; and Greenwich residents Stephen Mandel Jr. of Lone Pine Capital, Clifford Asness of AQR Capital, Mario Gabelli of Gamco and Alex Behring of 3G Capital, according to published reports.

Also with earnings placing them on the list are siblings Alexandra Daitch of Old Lyme and Lucy Stitzer of Greenwich, Karen Pritzker of Branford, XPO Logistics founder Brad Jacobs of Greenwich, and WWE co-founder Vince McMahon of Greenwich.

On the magazine’s cover is Todd Boehly, a Darien resident, businessman and investor. He is the co-founder, chairman, chief executive officer and controlling member of Eldridge Industries, a holding company headquartered in Greenwich.  Eldridge Industries employs more than 3,000 people and has made investments in over 100 operating businesses.   Boehly, at #477 in the rankings of the world’s billionaires,  is Chairman and owner of Chelsea Football Club and an owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Sparks, and Cloud9.