Wisconsin, known for dairy farming, manufacturing, and Midwestern resilience, is also home to powerful billionaires and wealthy families. From industrial giants to healthcare tech investors, the richest individuals in Wisconsin shape business, philanthropy, and policy locally and beyond.
Below is the 2025 list of the Top 10 Richest People in Wisconsin, based on Forbes rankings, SEC filings, local business records, and real estate holdings.
1. John Menard Jr. – $21.3 Billion
Source of Wealth: Retail (Menards Home Improvement)
Residence: Eau Claire, WI
Founder of the Menards chain, John Menard Jr. is the richest person in Wisconsin. His privately owned home improvement empire spans the Midwest and employs over 45,000 people. He is famously private and a major political donor.
2. Judy Faulkner – $7.8 Billion
Source of Wealth: Health Tech (Epic Systems)
Residence: Verona, WI
Founder and CEO of Epic Systems, the leading electronic health records software company in the U.S., Judy Faulkner built a tech empire in the heart of Wisconsin. She has pledged to donate 99% of her wealth to philanthropy.
3. Herbert Kohler Jr. (Estate & Family) – $7.1 Billion
Source of Wealth: Plumbing Fixtures, Hospitality (Kohler Co.)
Residence: Kohler, WI
The Kohler family, through the Kohler Company, continues to dominate in plumbing fixtures and luxury resorts. Although Herbert Jr. passed away in 2022, the family wealth remains deeply entrenched in Wisconsin industry.
4. James Cargill II – $4.4 Billion
Source of Wealth: Agriculture (Cargill Inc., family fortune)
Residence: Birchwood, WI
An heir to the Cargill agricultural empire, James Cargill II owns large tracts of land in northern Wisconsin and maintains a quiet lifestyle away from the media spotlight. Cargill Inc. remains one of the largest privately held companies in the world.
5. Stephen Marcus & Family – $2.1 Billion
Source of Wealth: Hospitality, Real Estate (The Marcus Corporation)
Residence: Milwaukee, WI
Stephen Marcus, former CEO and current chairman of The Marcus Corporation, helped grow the firm into a leading name in hospitality, with hotels and theaters across the country. The family remains one of Milwaukee’s most philanthropic.
6. Diane Hendricks – $1.7 Billion
Source of Wealth: Building Supplies (ABC Supply)
Residence: Beloit, WI
Chairwoman of ABC Supply, the largest roofing distributor in America, Diane is a self-made billionaire and major political donor. She has heavily invested in revitalizing Beloit through real estate and education.
7. S. Curtis Johnson – $1.6 Billion
Source of Wealth: Consumer Goods (SC Johnson & Son)
Residence: Racine, WI
A key heir to the SC Johnson fortune, Curtis Johnson has significant holdings in the privately held consumer goods company, known for brands like Windex, Glade, and Pledge.
8. Helen Johnson-Leipold – $1.5 Billion
Source of Wealth: Consumer Products, Outdoor Equipment (Johnson Outdoors, SC Johnson)
Residence: Racine, WI
Chairwoman and CEO of Johnson Outdoors, Helen also holds major shares in SC Johnson. She oversees brands like Eureka, Minn Kota, and Old Town Canoes.
9. Joseph Zilber (Estate & Zilber Ltd.) – $1.3 Billion
Source of Wealth: Real Estate Development
Residence: Milwaukee, WI (Legacy)
Although Joseph Zilber passed in 2010, his company Zilber Ltd. and its charitable trust continue to dominate in real estate across the Midwest. His family still manages extensive commercial properties and charitable endowments.
10. Richard Uihlein – $1.2 Billion
Source of Wealth: Packaging (Uline)
Residence: Lake Forest, IL / Pleasant Prairie, WI (Business HQ)
While technically residing in Illinois, Richard Uihlein’s company Uline is headquartered in Pleasant Prairie, WI. A strong supporter of conservative causes, he’s one of the most influential political donors in the Midwest.
Summary Table
| Rank | Name | Net Worth (2025) | Source of Wealth | Residence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Menard Jr. | $21.3B | Menards | Eau Claire |
| 2 | Judy Faulkner | $7.8B | Epic Systems | Verona |
| 3 | Kohler Family | $7.1B | Kohler Co. | Kohler |
| 4 | James Cargill II | $4.4B | Cargill Inc. | Birchwood |
| 5 | Stephen Marcus & Family | $2.1B | Marcus Corp. | Milwaukee |
| 6 | Diane Hendricks | $1.7B | ABC Supply | Beloit |
| 7 | S. Curtis Johnson | $1.6B | SC Johnson | Racine |
| 8 | Helen Johnson-Leipold | $1.5B | Johnson Outdoors | Racine |
| 9 | Zilber Family | $1.3B | Real Estate | Milwaukee |
| 10 | Richard Uihlein | $1.2B | Uline | Pleasant Prairie (HQ) |
Final Thoughts
Wisconsin’s richest residents represent a blend of industrial innovation, family legacies, and tech entrepreneurship. From home improvement moguls to healthcare software pioneers, these individuals and families continue to shape the economy, politics, and philanthropic culture of the Badger State.
