Laurene Powell Jobs
Source: NewSchools Venture Fund
Forbes publishes an annual list of the rich, both in the U.S. and globally. Monday's list was for Americans. Microsoft founder Bill Gates once again topped the list at $81.2 billion, well ahead of the Wizard of Omaha, Warren Buffet, who came in at $67.8 billion.
Larry Ellison was #3 at $48.1 billion, while Mark Zuckerberg was #10, at $34.8 billion. The rest of the Top 10 was a who's-who of conservatives, including both Koch brothers (the two that matter, anyway), and a handful of Walton heirs.
Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin were #12 and 13, respectively, with each being worth of $31 billion and enough change to buy everyone reading this article.
Brick and mortar casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson was #14 at $30.9 billion—his main claim to public fame is currently arguing that Internet gambling, which he doesn't own, is bad, while casino gambling, which he does own, is good. He's poured millions into the political campaigns of those willing to pretend that's a rational position.
Other notables include Apple foe Jeff Bezos (#15), Apple investor Carl Icahn (#16), liberal political activist George Soros (#17), former Microsoft CEO and former wannabe Apple foe Steve Ballmer (#18), candy moguls Forrest Mars Jr., Jacqueline Mars and John Mars (19, 20, 21)—I mean, seriously? who knew candy mogulling was still a billionaire-producing thing?—Michael Dell (#24), and Microsoft founder Paul Allen (#26).
Which brings us back to Mrs. Powell Jobs. According to her Forbes mini-profile, she is, “among the top donors to Ready for Hillary, a super PAC that has already raised some $6 million to support a Clinton presidential run.”
She is also Disney's top investor, with 130 million shares. At Monday's closing price of $88.83 per share, that's $11.2 billion in Mickey Mouse bucks. She also owns a big chunk of Apple.
In addition to her political activities, Mrs. Powell Jobs is an angel investor, the founder and chair of the Emerson Collective, a member of College Track, and is involved in other charities and funds taking aim at improving education in the U.S.
In 2013, Mrs. Powell Jobs was ranked #35, with a net worth of $11.7 billion.
As noted above, only three women have a higher net wealth in the U.S., including two Waltons and a member of the Mars clan.