California is home to more billionaires than any other U.S. state, with its economy driven by technology, entertainment, venture capital, and clean energy. From Silicon Valley’s innovation hubs to Hollywood’s entertainment empires, California’s wealthiest individuals are among the most influential in the world.
Here are the Top 10 Richest People in California (2025) based on the latest Forbes data, public filings, and market valuations.
1. Elon Musk – $422 Billion
Source of Wealth: Tesla, SpaceX, X (formerly Twitter), Neuralink
Residence: Palo Alto / Texas (dual ties)
Though Musk relocated some operations to Texas, he remains deeply tied to Silicon Valley, with major investments in Tesla’s AI lab, SpaceX launches from California, and Neuralink research based in the Bay Area.
2. Larry Ellison – $201 Billion
Source of Wealth: Oracle
Residence: Woodside / Lanai (HI)
Ellison co-founded Oracle Corporation, one of the largest software companies in the world. Though he spends much time in Hawaii, his core real estate, venture investments, and company roots are deeply Californian.
3. Mark Zuckerberg – $200 Billion
Source of Wealth: Meta Platforms (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp)
Residence: Palo Alto, CA
Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, continues to invest heavily in AI, the metaverse, and social platforms. His wealth rebounded significantly in 2025 as Meta’s stock surged following new AI-driven products.
4. Larry Page – $140 Billion
Source of Wealth: Google (Alphabet Inc.)
Residence: Palo Alto, CA
A co-founder of Google, Page remains a major shareholder in Alphabet, the parent company of Google, YouTube, and Waymo. He focuses on emerging technologies and philanthropy.
5. Sergey Brin – $135 Billion
Source of Wealth: Google (Alphabet Inc.)
Residence: Los Altos Hills, CA
The other Google co-founder, Brin is known for supporting AI, health tech, and research into life extension through Calico Labs and Verily. He maintains a significant presence in California’s tech sector.
6. Laurene Powell Jobs – $28 Billion
Source of Wealth: Apple, Disney (via Steve Jobs’ estate), Emerson Collective
Residence: Palo Alto, CA
Widow of Steve Jobs, Powell Jobs controls stakes in Apple and Disney, and leads the Emerson Collective, an organization focused on education, immigration reform, and media.
7. Eric Schmidt – $24.5 Billion
Source of Wealth: Google, Investments
Residence: Atherton, CA
Former CEO of Google, Schmidt remains a major player in tech investing and national security innovation, funding AI, robotics, and government-tech collaborations.
8. Reed Hastings – $9.8 Billion
Source of Wealth: Netflix
Residence: Santa Cruz, CA
Co-founder of Netflix, Hastings has transitioned to philanthropy and education, while retaining a massive stake in the company as it expands globally in content and gaming.
9. Peter Thiel – $9.1 Billion
Source of Wealth: PayPal, Palantir, Venture Capital
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Thiel, a PayPal co-founder, made his fortune investing in Facebook, Palantir, and AI firms. He now splits time between LA and Miami but maintains core venture capital operations in California.
10. Dustin Moskovitz – $8.7 Billion
Source of Wealth: Facebook, Asana
Residence: San Francisco, CA
A co-founder of Facebook and CEO of Asana, Moskovitz is also known for his effective altruism philanthropy, donating billions to global health, AI safety, and poverty eradication.
Summary Table
| Rank | Name | Net Worth (2025) | Source of Wealth | Residence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elon Musk | $422B | Tesla, SpaceX, X | Palo Alto / Texas |
| 2 | Larry Ellison | $205B | Oracle | Woodside, CA |
| 3 | Mark Zuckerberg | $200B | Meta | Palo Alto |
| 4 | Larry Page | $140B | Palo Alto | |
| 5 | Sergey Brin | $135B | Los Altos Hills | |
| 6 | Laurene Powell Jobs | $28B | Apple, Disney | Palo Alto |
| 7 | Eric Schmidt | $24.5B | Google, Investing | Atherton |
| 8 | Reed Hastings | $9.8B | Netflix | Santa Cruz |
| 9 | Peter Thiel | $9.1B | PayPal, VC | Los Angeles |
| 10 | Dustin Moskovitz | $8.7B | Facebook, Asana | San Francisco |
Final Thoughts
California continues to be the epicenter of innovation and wealth creation, led by tech visionaries and media moguls who shape the world’s future. From Silicon Valley titans to media streaming pioneers, the Golden State’s billionaire class drives trends in AI, automation, and global connectivity.
