America’s wealthiest immigrants, a group now numbering 125 individuals hailing from 41 countries, collectively hold $1.3 trillion in assets, reflecting their significant impact and presence in the nation’s economic landscape.
Emerging from humble beginnings, billionaires like Steven Udvar-Hazy exemplify the transformative journey many immigrants undertake when they move to America. Having arrived from Hungary as a child, Udvar-Hazy began his life in the U.S. packing boxes in a Manhattan warehouse for 30 cents an hour at age 14. Today, he stands as a pioneer in the airplane leasing industry, illustrating the stark contrast between his early life experiences and his present achievements.
Udvar-Hazy speaks to the unique mindset immigrants possess, having left behind totalitarian or hardship conditions in their home countries. “When you get out of that situation and come to America, you have a completely different value system,” he explains, highlighting the stark differences in motivation and appreciation compared to those born and raised in the U.S.
This perspective isn’t limited to Udvar-Hazy. Immigrants comprise a record 14% of America’s nearly 900 billionaires, according to Forbes’ latest list. These 125 foreign-born citizens collectively represent 18% of the $7.2 trillion in total billionaire wealth in the United States.
Remarkably, three out of the top ten richest people in America are immigrants. Elon Musk tops the list as both America’s and the world’s wealthiest individual, with an estimated net worth of $393.1 billion. Born in South Africa, Musk’s journey brought him to the U.S. via Canada as a college student. Google cofounder Sergey Brin follows as the second richest immigrant, worth approximately $139.7 billion. His family’s immigration from Russia to escape anti-Semitism played a crucial role in his path to success.
Jensen Huang, cofounder and CEO of Nvidia, stands as America’s third richest immigrant, with a net worth of $137.9 billion. Born in Taiwan and later relocated to Thailand, Huang was sent to the U.S. at age nine to flee social unrest. His story is among many from Taiwan, which ties with Israel for the second most billionaire immigrants in the U.S., witnessing an increase from 4 to 11 Taiwanese billionaires since 2022. Notably, Huang’s cousin, Lisa Su, CEO of AMD, has also entered the billionaire ranks, one of 17 female billionaire immigrants, compared to 10 two years ago.
The latest list also showcases new faces like Maky Zanganeh, who hails from Iran. As co-CEO of Summit Therapeutics, Zanganeh was propelled into the billionaire classification after the company’s stock skyrocketed by nearly 200%, driven by a promising lung cancer drug candidate. She emphasizes the adaptive mindset necessary for immigrants, stating, “In business, you must stay sharp, evolve constantly, and be resilient.”
India has made a significant contribution, displacing Israel as the birth country of the most billionaire immigrants in the U.S., with a total of 12 individuals. Recent additions from India include Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet; Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft; and Nikesh Arora, CEO of Palo Alto Networks.
These stories highlight not only the diverse origins of America’s wealthiest but also underscore the entrepreneurial spirit and determination that define many immigrants’ successes.