Introduction to America’s Wealthiest Billionaires
America’s wealthiest billionaires are $1.2 trillion richer in 2025, bringing their collective worth to a staggering $6.6 trillion. This significant increase in wealth is a testament to the growing economy and the booming stock market. According to the new Forbes 400, Houston’s own Richard Kinder has become the richest billionaire in the city.
Richard Kinder: The Richest Houstonian
The Kinder Morgan chairman is the 11th richest Texas resident and ranks as the 108th richest American. Kinder also dethroned Tilman Fertitta to claim the title as the wealthiest Houstonian. The publication estimates Kinder’s net worth at $10.6 billion, up from $8.1 billion last year. He also appears among Forbes’ separate list of the richest billionaires in the world. Kinder, 80, co-founded oil and gas pipeline firm Kinder Morgan in 1997, which is now known as one of the largest American energy infrastructure companies.
Philanthropic Efforts
Kinder and his wife, Nancy, also founded Houston-based nonprofit the Kinder Foundation in 1997. The organization provides "major gifts to public causes with the intention of helping people realize healthy and rewarding lives," according to its website. In May 2025, the Kinders pledged $150 million to Texas Children’s Hospital and MD Anderson to create the Kinder Children’s Cancer Center. "Our philanthropic efforts center on supporting transformational projects in Houston, and this initiative exemplifies that mission in every way," said Kinder in a press release.
Richest Houstonians
In all, 43 Texas billionaires made it on the 2025 Forbes 400 list, and 10 are based in the Houston metro. Hospitality honcho Fertitta, 68, is the second-richest billionaire in Houston, and his net worth has jumped from $10.1 billion last year to $11 billion in 2025. He owns the Golden Nugget Casinos, the Houston Rockets, Texas-based restaurant and entertainment company Landry’s, and also serves as the U.S. Ambassador to Italy. Other notable Houstonians on the list include oil tycoon Jeffery Hildebrand, Toyota mega-dealer Dan Friedkin, and Houston pipeline heir Randa Duncan Williams.
Richest Billionaires Elsewhere in Texas
The richest person in America in 2025 is none other than Austin-based Elon Musk. Musk, 54, saw his net worth skyrocket to $428 billion this year, or $184 billion more than his 2024 net worth. He claimed the No. 1 spot for the fourth time. Walmart heiress Alice Walton of Fort Worth was dubbed the wealthiest woman in America for 2025. Walton, 75, simultaneously holds the title as the richest woman in the world. Forbes estimates Walton’s net worth at $106 billion (up from $89.2 billion last year) and proclaims her as the first female centibillionaire (a person with a 12-digit fortune) in America.
Conclusion
The significant increase in wealth among America’s billionaires is a testament to the growing economy and the booming stock market. Richard Kinder’s rise to the top as the richest Houstonian is a notable achievement, and his philanthropic efforts are making a positive impact in the community. As the wealth gap continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how these billionaires use their wealth to shape the future of America. With great wealth comes great responsibility, and it is up to these individuals to use their resources to make a positive difference in the world.
