Billionaires In California 2025 [List of 20 Richest People]

Ever wondered what makes California a magnet for billionaires? Hold tight because we're about to take you on an exclusive tour of the lives and luxurious exploits of billionaires in California.

In case you didn't know, this sunny state is not just famous for its beaches and Hollywood stars; it's also home to some of the wealthiest people in the world.

Take note here that the extraordinary wealth built by these individuals did not grow on trees. Even though they might reside in mansions atop scenic hills now, many started from humble beginnings.

Hard work, creativity, and luck propelled them to incredible career heights. Curious yet? Keep reading to unwrap the fascinating stories behind these Californian billionaires!

How many billionaires are there in California?

As of 2022, California is home to 186 billionaires, according to data from Forbes. This makes it the state with the most billionaires in the US.

California's billionaires have amassed their fortunes through diverse industries, including technology, entertainment, real estate, and finance.

Some well-known billionaires in California include Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle’s Larry Ellison, and Google’s Sergey Brin and Larry Page.

However, these numbers are constantly changing due to fluctuations in net worth based on various factors, including market performance and investments.

Also Read: How Many Millionaires Are There In California? [2025 Latest]

List of 20 Richest People in California

Have you ever wondered about the people behind the technology that powers your daily life? Well, look no further than California, a state that serves not just as a powerhouse of wealth but also as a center for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Among the glittering coastline and rolling hills, some of the most influential figures in today's tech industry exist - billionaires who have defined our digital lives through monumental breakthroughs.

1. Larry Page

Larry Page, with a staggering net worth of $90.6 billion, is well-known as one of the co-founders of Google Inc.

Along with Sergey Brin, he revolutionized internet usage and established the blueprint for search engines today.

• Born on March 26, 1973, in Lansing, Michigan, U.S.
• He graduated from Stanford University.
• Rolled out Google from their dorm room in 1998.
• Served as Google's CEO until 2001 and later from 2011 to 2015.
• In addition to his tech prowess, Page is an investor in Planetary Resources, the famed space exploration company.

2. Sergey Brin

Sergey Brin stands shoulder to shoulder with Larry Page both in wealth and intellect. Co-founding Google with a net worth of $86.7 billion has ranked him amongst the wealthiest individuals globally.

• Born in Russia in 1973.
• Moved to Palo Alto to attend Stanford University for his Ph.D., which led him down an unexpected path.
• Together with Larry Page, patented "PageRank," Google's foundational algorithm.
• Also co-founded X (previously known as Google X), which produced initiatives like self-driving cars and the Google Glass project.
• Passionate philanthropist supporting Parkinson’s research due to his genetic predisposition to this condition.

3. Mark Zuckerberg

The name Zuckerberg has become increasingly synonymous with Facebook, a social media platform that has redefined how we interact. With a net worth of $73.4 billion, Zuckerberg has etched his name in the annals of billionaire history.

• 14 May 1984 is his birth date.
• He founded Facebook, called initially "TheFacebook," in his Harvard University dorm room.
• By the end of 2004, Facebook had 1 million users. Today, it boasts more than 2.8 billion monthly active users.
• He is known for tech innovation and philanthropy, with his wife, Priscilla Chan, pledging to give away 99% of their Facebook stake during their lifetime.

4. Jensen Huang

Jensen Huang's rise to billionaire status is an inspirational tale of innovation and business acumen. With a net worth of $24.1 billion, he tops off the list as one of the most influential figures in the semiconductor industry.

• Born on February 17th, 1963 in Tainan City, Taiwan.
• Co-founded NVIDIA Corporation in 1993 – a leading company making programmable graphics processors.
• Its cutting-edge technology powers everything from gaming and virtual reality to autonomous robots and cars.
• Recognized for professional brilliance by receiving the industry’s prestigious Robert N. Noyce Award from the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) in 2019, among many accolades.

5. Eric Schmidt

Eric Schmidt, another titan in the tech industry, is known for his extraordinary stewardship of Google. The Net worth of Eric Schmidt is $18.1 billion, and Schmidt's influence extends far beyond technology.

• Born on April 27th, 1955, in Virginia.
• Helped transform Google from a small startup to an international tech powerhouse as CEO from 2001 to 2011 and executive chairman till 2018.
• Holds degrees from Princeton University and the University of California, Berkeley.
• Currently chairs the Department of Defense’s Innovation Advisory Board for software matters.

Also Read: What Industry Makes The Most Millionaires 2025 [Top 20]

6. Donald Bren

Real estate magnate Donald Bren made his name (and his $17.4 billion fortune), by building up Irvine Company - one of California's biggest landowners. His expansive success is unparalleled in this domain.

• Born on May 11th, 1932 in Los Angeles.
• Acquired Irvine Company in 1977 and masterminded its expansion into a real estate empire encompassing residential properties, office spaces, golf clubs, and marinas, mainly in Southern California.
• Noted philanthropist with over $1.3 billion donated towards education, conservation efforts, and research endeavors.
• Credited for the design and quality urban planning that helped shape Orange County into the dynamic economic hub it is today.

7. Robert Pera

With a brilliant mind for technology and strategic entrepreneurship, Robert Pera has defied norms and shaped an empire in wireless technology, earning him a net worth of $15.5 billion.

• Born on March 10th, 1978 in San Mateo, California.
• He started his engineering career at Apple before leaving to start his company, Ubiquiti Networks, in 2005.
• Well-known for making high-performance networking technology for service providers and enterprises.
• In addition to his tech prestige, Pera has owned the Memphis Grizzlies NBA team since 2012.

8. Jan Koum

Jan Koum is half of the dynamic duo that brought WhatsApp into existence. This app revolutionized messaging and was a knockout financial success, raising a net worth of $13.8 billion for Koum.

• Born on February 24th, 1976 in Kyiv, Ukraine.
• Their early years were marked by hardship after immigrating to the United States with his mother at 16.
• I spent nearly a decade at Yahoo! before launching WhatsApp with Brian Acton in 2009.
• In its relatively short lifespan until its acquisition by Facebook for $19 billion in 2014, WhatsApp accumulated over 600 million users worldwide.

9. Laurene Powell Jobs

Laurene Powell Jobs, inheritor of a portion of the colossal wealth accumulated by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, has a substantial net worth of $12.6 billion.

• Born November 6th, 1963 in West Milford, New Jersey.
• Holds her wealth through shares in Apple and Disney, inherited from her late husband.
• Highly active in philanthropy with a focus on education and immigration reform through her organization, the Emerson Collective.

10. John Doerr

Venture capitalist John Doerr is a keystone in Silicon Valley's success narrative. Renowned for his Midas touch for suitable investments, he’s amassed a net worth of $9.7 billion.

• Born June 29th, 1951 in St. Louis, Missouri.
• Joined venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins in 1980. The firm has backed some of Silicon Valley's most iconic companies, from Amazon to Google to Beyond Meat.

11. Dustin Moskovitz

Dustin Moskovitz holds the honor of being one of the co-founders of Facebook, which catapulted him to billionaire status at an astonishingly young age, accumulating a net worth of $9.6 billion.

• Born May 22nd, 1984 in Gainesville, Florida.
• Left Facebook to found Asana in 2008 - A software service company designed to improve team collaboration.

12. Marijke Mars

Marijke Mars, a woman from the illustrious Mars family (one of the wealthiest families in the US), holds a significant net worth of $9.6 billion.

• Heir to her father, Forrest Mars Jr.'s fortune from the famous Mars, Incorporated.
• The candy and pet-food mega-corporation is responsible for well-loved brands like M&M’s, Twix, Skittles, and Pedigree.

13. Eric Smidt

Laid-back Beverly Hills is home to billionaire Eric Smidt. With a fortune anchored in hardware stores, his net worth currently stands at $9.2 billion.

• Born in 1960 in Los Angeles.
• Took control of his father's two small hardware stores at age 25 and transformed them into Harbor Freight Tools.
• The company now boasts over 1,000 locations across America.

14. Brian Chesky

Tech entrepreneur Brian Chesky is another young addition to California's billionaires club with a net worth of $9.1 billion.

• Born August 29th, 1981 in Niskayuna, New York.
• He co-founded Airbnb in 2008 when he could not afford rent; his solution disrupted the travel industry.
• Under his leadership as CEO, Airbnb has grown into a global platform with over 7 million listings worldwide.

15. Charles R. Schwab

Charles Schwab, a well-known figure in finance and investment, boasts a considerable net worth of $8.6 billion.

• Born July 29th, 1937 in Sacramento.
• Founded his eponymous firm in the 1970s and positioned it as a leader in discount brokerage by not charging the standard commission for trade orders like traditional brokerage firms.

16. George Roberts

Living proof that private equity can generate enormous wealth is George Roberts's impressive net worth of $8.2 billion.

• Born in 1944 in Houston.
• Co-founded KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) along with his cousin Henry Kravis. The firm is considered one of the pioneers in leveraged buyouts.

17. Nathan Blecharczyk

Joining Brian Chesky on the list from Airbnb's triumvirate is Nathan Blecharczyk, whose efforts have amassed him a net worth of $7.9 billion.

• Born in 1984 in Boston.
• It coded the foundation of what Airbnb is today and saw it grow exponentially to dominate the sharing economy.

18. Henry Samueli

Henry Samueli is a notable figure in the semiconductor industry and a proud holder of a net worth of $7.9 billion.

• Born September 20, 1954 in Buffalo, New York.
• Co-founder of Broadcom Limited, a highly influential broadband communication company with immense applications across networking, telecommunications, and consumer electronics.

19. David Geffen

David Geffen shines as one of Hollywood's most prosperous tycoons, with an estimated net worth of $7.7 billion.

• Born February 21st, 1943 in Brooklyn, New York.
• Founded two record labels (Asylum and Geffen Records) that inked deals with Aerosmith and Nirvana.
• Co-founded DreamWorks SKG with Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg.

20. Steven Rales

Wrapping up our list is manufacturing tycoon Steven Rales, who boasts an admirable net worth of $7.5 billion.

• Born on March 31st, 1951 in Cincinnati.
• Co-founded manufacturing and investment conglomerate Danaher Corporation along with his brother Mitchell.

As you journey across these titans of industry nested within California's vibrant ecosystem, remember their varied paths to success.

Hard work, filed patents, strategic investments - all different pieces of their expansive prosperity puzzles!

FAQs About Billionaires In California

Conclusion

As we wrap up our journey along California's Billionaire's Row, it’s clear that the Golden State is a global powerhouse, attracting brilliant minds and nurturing immense financial success.

There’s an undeniable allure to the state’s creative atmosphere, a stimulating mix of tech innovation, show business glitz, and property ventures.

These titans of industry, ranging from the tech sector to entertainment to real estate and beyond, tell a unique tale about perseverance, unconventional thinking, and transformative ideas. Their impact stretches far beyond California and continues to shape our society surprisingly.