Apple CEO Steve Jobs may not be the richest person in the United States, but as the 43rd wealthiest he isn't doing too bad, either. Forbes ranked Mr. Jobs as 43rd in its 2009 400 Richest Americans study, up from 61st in 2008.
Forbes estimated Mr. Jobs's net worth at about US$5.1 billion. In comparison, Microsoft's Bill Gates took the number one slot with a $50 billion net worth.
Mr. Jobs is well known for his dynamic leadership at Apple and tight control over development of products such as the iMac, the iPod and the iPhone. Forbes noted Mr. Jobs's Pixar purchase from George Lucas in 1986 as the best investment he made because he was able to turn his $10 million buy into a $7.4 billion sale to Disney several years later.
Others in the top 400 list include Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffett at $40 billion, Larry Ellison from Oracle at $27 billion, Google founders Sergy Brin and Larry Page at $15.3 billion each, and PC maker Michael Dell with $14.5 billion.