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Who are the richest Americans today? Forbes drops 2026 ranking
Confirmed
In Short: Forbes has announced a record 590 American billionaires who missed the 2026 Forbes 400 List, highlighting the widening wealth gap among the ultra-rich.
According to Forbes, the rise in the number of American billionaires is driven by the AI and data center boom, as well as the U.S. stock market's record-high performance," said a spokesperson for Forbes. "Making it onto the Forbes 400 list is now more challenging than ever, with a record 590 American billionaires not wealthy enough to make the cut.
The combined net worth of the top 20 on the Forbes list accounts for 50% of the total, up $970 billion from the previous year, according to the magazine. "This wealth concentration is a stark reminder of the growing disparity among the ultra-rich," noted a USA Today report.
Forbes formed its 2026 list using estimates of each person's wealth as of September 4, according to the magazine. The full list can be viewed at [https://www.forbes.com/forbes-400/](https://www.forbes.com/forbes-400/).
A Pew Research Center analysis shows that concern about artificial intelligence has been on the rise among Americans, with 52% now more concerned than excited about its increased use in daily life, up from 37% in 2021. This trend is evident across all age groups, with younger adults showing a particularly steep increase in concern.
What's confirmed
- Department of Agriculture’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend eating at least 8 ounces of fish a week, and urges people to choose salmon or other species that are similarly high in “heart-healthy” Omega-3 fatty acids.
What's still developing
- Here's a look at the top 50 richest Americans named on Forbes' 400 list.
- Americans 65 and older are a bit less likely to think AI will lead to fewer jobs, though this is still the majority view among this age group.
- Americans have become increasingly worried about artificial intelligence over the years, and young adults’ concern has continued to climb.
- Concern about AI is up among younger and older Americans alike since we first asked this question in 2021.
- But while the rise was mainly in the first two years for Americans ages 30 and older, concern continues to climb for adults under 30 – whose skepticism of AI has made headlines in recent months.
- This Pew Research Center analysis looks at how Americans feel about AI and its impact on jobs, both overall and by age.