Using data from Forbes, writers at online news aggregator Stacker recently compiled a list of the richest billionaires in the state of Arkansas.
According to the report, as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to rage last year, 660 people became billionaires globally, a 30 percent increase from the previous year’s number; and that while the U.S. is home to the most billionaires in the world, Americans are split in their feelings on the billionaire class. According to Pew Research Center data, people in the U.S. became more critical of billionaires between 2020 and 2021. Although support for individual billionaires like Elon Musk or Bill Gates is relatively strong, many Americans view the ultra-rich—as a group rather than as individuals—negatively. Meanwhile, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is projected to become the world’s first trillionaire by 2026.
The nation’s wealthiest billionaires are mostly concentrated within finance and technology, with other wealthy sectors including food and beverage, fashion and retail, and media and entertainment. To determine the most affluent Americans and how they reached their billionaire status, Stacker compiled a list of the richest billionaires that are residents of Arkansas, using data from Forbes. Billionaires are ranked by net worth as of March 31, 2022.
Forbes lists five billionaires in Arkansas:
#5. Warren Stephens- Net worth: $2.9 billion (#1,069 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Little Rock, Arkansas
– Source of wealth: investment banking
#4. John Tyson- Net worth: $3.0 billion (#1,039 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Springdale, Arkansas
– Source of wealth: food processing
#3. Johnelle Hunt- Net worth: $4.9 billion (#602 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Fayetteville, Arkansas
– Source of wealth: trucking
#2. Rob Walton- Net worth: $67.8 billion (#19 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Bentonville, Arkansas
– Source of wealth: Walmart
#1. Jim Walton- Net worth: $69.1 billion (#17 wealthiest in the world)
– Residence: Bentonville, Arkansas
– Source of wealth: Walmart
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