IL’s 2 richest men saw their wealth grow. Who made Forbes’ 2025 billionaires list?
Two Illinois residents made the Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2025: The Top 200. One was named the 42nd richest person in the world, while the other came in 178th.
There are 3,028 billionaires across the world by Forbes’ count, more than ever recorded, including 902 in the U.S. Illinois’ two richest residents both saw significant wealth gains compared to 2024, and both moved up on the list.
Here’s what to know about the two Illinois billionaires on the top 200 list, as well as how the Illinois governor, Elon Musk and others compared.
Lukas Walton
Lukas Walton, a resident of Chicago, was named the 42nd richest person in the world, up from 60th place last year, and the richest person in Illinois by Forbes. Walton is 38 and the grandson of Sam Walton, who founded Walmart. Lukas Walton inherited his fortune when his father died in a plane crash, Forbes reports.
Walton’s real-time net worth was calculated at $38.9 billion as of April 15, compared to $28.1 billion in April 2024. Since he inherited the fortune, Forbes gave him a 1 out of 10 in the “self-made” score category — he also got a 1 out of 5 for philanthropy.
Walton keeps his life “fiercely private,” Business Insider reported, but sold a Lincoln Park home in 2022 for $1.7 million, according to the Chicago Tribune. The home was sold in a private transaction and wasn’t publicly listed.
Walmart has 4,605 locations across the U.S. and employs about 1.6 million people in the country.
Patrick Ryan
Patrick Ryan landed at the 178th richest in the world spot in Forbes 2025 report, compared to 200th place last year. Ryan is a resident of Winnetka and works as CEO and founder of Ryan Speciality Group, a Chicago-based wholesale brokerage and specialty insurance firm, according to Forbes.
Ryan’s real-time net worth was $13.6 billion as of April 15, up from $10.3 billion last year.
Unlike Walton, Ryan is listed as “self-made” by Forbes, receiving an 8 out of 10 in that category and a 2 out of 5 for philanthropy. Patrick Ryan and his wife, Shirley Ryan, made the largest gift in Northwestern University history with a $480 million donation in 2021. Both of the Ryans attended Northwestern.
Patrick Ryan is 86 years old and has three children.
How do other billionaires compare?
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is the richest politician in office in the U.S., but he did not make the top 200 wealthiest people list. Pritzker’s real-time net worth was calculated at $3.7 billion as of April 15, and Forbes reports he is the 991st wealthiest person in the world.
Elon Musk took the No. 1 richest person in the world title, up from second place last year. His real-time net worth was $369.6 billion, though it’s declined recently. Musk surpasses Walton’s net worth by $330.7 billion.
Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison and Bernard Arnault and family rounded out the list of the top five richest people in the world. The smallest net worth to make the top 200 this year was $12 billion.
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