No. 1 on the Forbes list is Bill Gates, the Microsoft Corp. chairman with $66 billion in his pocket. Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s Warren Buffett follows with $46 billion, and Oracle Corp.'s Larry Ellison, with $41 billion, is No. 3. (Interesting sidebar. Mr. Ellison grew up in a two-bedroom apartment in a middle-class neighborhood on Chicago's South Shore before moving to California.)
Mr. Zell, the real estate and private-equity mogul who's been expanding his operations into Brazil, is the first Chicagoan to pop up. He's in the 103 spot with $3.8 billion.
With $3.1 billion, Mr. Griffin, the founder and CEO of Citadel Corp., tied for 128th with flamboyant New York businessman Donald Trump.
J.B. Pritzker is the first of five Pritzkers on the list. He's 179th with $2.5 billion. He founded New World Ventures private-equity group and co-leads the Pritzker Group.
Thomas Pritzker, with $2.2 billion, is 218th. He is chairman and CEO of the Pritzker Organization and heads Hyatt Hotels Corp., which is where much of the family wealth originates.
Filmmaker Gigi Pritzker, with $1.9 billion, is 250th.
Penny Pritzker, with $1.8 billion, is 271st. She is CEO of PSP Capital Partners and its affiliate, Pritzker Realty Group.
And James Pritzker, who heads the Pritzker Military Library on Michigan Avenue, is 311th with $1.5 billion.
Other notable Chicago names on the list:
Beanie Babies founder Ty Warner, $2.4 billion, is 190th on the list.
Real estate and casino mogul Neil Bluhm, $2.1 billion, is 229th.
Brothers Chris and Jude Reyes, who are in the food and beverage distribution business (McDonald's is a major client), tied for 239th, each with $2 billion.
Morningstar Inc. CEO Joe Mansueto is 297th with $1.65 billion.
And Patrick Ryan, who will have to pay a hefty tax bill since Aon Corp., the company he founded, moved to London, is 360th on the list with $1.2 billion. It's going to take more than a tax hit of multiple millions of dollars to affect his billionaire status.
Forbes also makes note of those who have fallen off its annual list since last year, given they hover too close to the $1.1 billion mark that puts you on the list. Among the Chicagoans are Nicholas Pritzker ($1.07 billion) chairman and CEO of Hyatt Development Corp.; Groupon co-founder Eric Lefkofsky ($1.03 billion); and Zynga founder Mark Pincus ($760 million).
Since Oprah Winfrey (58th on the list with $2.7 billion) officially decamped to Los Angeles, Chicago is lacking in star power.
Given that Hollywood producer George Lucas spends a lot of time in Chicago with his longtime partner, Ariel Investments LLC's Mellody Hobson, it's worth noting he's 120th on the list with $3.3 billion.
Chicago Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts is among Forbes' Ones to Watch, as an emerging philanthropist.
Forbes says the combined wealth of America's richest is $1.7 trillion, up from $1.5 trillion in 2011, partly because of the rising stock market; a rebound in real estate values, mainly in cities such as Los Angeles and New York; and rising values for artworks.
The average net worth of a Forbes 400 member is a staggering $4.2 billion, up from $3.8 billion last year, and the highest in at least a decade, as two-thirds of the individuals added to their fortunes in the past year. Net worth increased for 241 members, and decreased for 66 members. Cost of admission to the 2012 list is $1.1 billion, up from $1.05 billion a year ago.
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