Jeff Bezos, Miami High School alum, Ousts Gates as the Richest of the Rich

The world has more billionaires today than ever before, and at the top of that list is Amazon’s, and Miami Palmetto High alum, Jeff Bezos. Bezos, at the age of 54, easily sped past Bill Gates on Forbes list of billionaires in 2018.

Bezos’ net worth is set in around $112 billion, the first-ever report of a 12 figure net worth reported on the Forbes billionaire list. This figure is even more remarkable as it represents an almost inconceivable $39 billion increase over Bezos’ 2017 list figure. Bezos has stakes in a lot of ventures these days. He owns the Washington Post, and he led Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods in 2017.

Bill Gates, the previous top of the Forbes list, has been on top of the pile for 18 of the past 24 years. His net worth is currently being reported at “only” 90 billion putting him in a distant second. $6 billion behind Gates is the investment savant Warren Buffet at $84 billion. Both of these ultra-rich individuals saw their net worth rise in the past year. It just wasn’t anything remotely like the growth Bezos apparently managed.

Notable for many, United States President Donald Trump saw his net worth diminish by about $400 million over the past year bringing his net worth to $3.1 billion. This moves Trump from the 544th spot to the 766th.

The richest of the rich’s ranks have been growing as the 2018 list recognized over 2,200 billionaires spread out over 72 countries. Their net worth totals approximately $9.1 trillion, a little less than half the current U.S. national debt. This total net worth increased 18% this past year, and the average billionaire’s net worth is about $4.1 billion.

Bezos isn’t the only billionaire on the list with ties to South Florida. Several locals, including those with substantial local business ties, have shown up on Forbes’ list.

Japan’s Masayoshi Son ranks at 39 with $22.7 billion. Masayoshi is a new investor in David Beckham’s Miami soccer club. Following Son at 38, with a net worth of $20.2 billion, is Len Blavatnik. Blavatnik is a partner in the Faena District in Miami Beach.

Representing the Miami sports scene, further down the list at numbers 154 and 205 respectively are Micky Arison, owner of the Miami Heat, with a net worth of $9.7 billion and Steven Ross, owner of the Miami Dolphins, with a net worth of $7.6 billion.

Other Notables: Rank 138, hedge-fund manager David Tepper with $11 billion; 372, Robert Rich. Jr. at $5.2 billion; 588, Jeff Greene at $3.8 billion; 606, Nick Caporella at $3.7 billion; tied at 703, Rakesh Gangwal and George Lindemann at $3.3 billion each; 791. Jorge Perez at $3 billion; 859, H. Wayne Huizenga at $2.8 billion; 924, Phillip Frost at $2.6 billion; and at 965, Norman Braman with $2.5 billion.