The wallets are getting thicker down in Georgia, as Forbes crowns Chick-fil-A heirs Bubba Cathy, Dan Cathy, and Trudy Cathy White the wealthiest people in the Peach State. Tied for 213th place globally, the trio boasts a combined net worth of $11.4 billion. Despite a sales growth hiccup in 2024, the famous chicken sandwich makers have managed to stay at the top of the heap.
For a brand used to seeing double-digit yearly increases, Chick-fil-A’s growth cooled to a mere 5.4% last year, with systemwide sales hitting $22.7 billion—its lowest uptick in 19 years. Yet with over 3,200 locations worldwide, including a new 24-hour spot in the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport (still observing the Sunday closure), there’s opportunity for a rebound in 2025. This is according to a report by FOX5 Atlanta.
Chasing behind the fast-food monarchs is Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank, who’s also the proprietor of the Atlanta Falcons and holding an estimated $9 billion, making him the 329th richest person globally. The billionaire roundup in Georgia extends from pest control with Gary Rollins at No. 487, to tech with the co-founders of Mailchimp, Dan Kurzius and Ben Chestnut, raking in fortunes of $5.6 billion and $5.1 billion respectively.
Nationally, the billionaire scenery is just as lavish with Elon Musk sitting on a mountain of wealth at $386.5 billion—making him the titan in Texas and topping the charts worldwide. According to an article by Patch, the lift-off in Musk’s wealth is buoyed by his ventures in Tesla, SpaceX, and the AI company xAI. Back in Georgia, Forbes’ list is a reminder that the state's billionaires aren't just frying up golden eggs, but diversifying their nests in industries from software to roofing, with figures like Diane Hendricks leading the charge as one of 10 women topping the rich lists in their respective states.
It's evident that America’s billionaires are not evenly scattered, with nearly two-thirds cozied up in just four states. California leads the charge, followed by New York, Florida, and Texas.
