This Iowan Just Joined the Billionaire Ranks

Forbe's has released its annual list of the richest people in the world, and the state of Iowa now has two billionaires on the list.

Who is the Richest Person in Iowa?

The Des Moines Register reports that Harry Stine is the wealthiest person in the state, with a net worth of $9.9 billion. That is down from $10.2 billion in 2025. Stine owns Stine Seeds and made his fortune breeding soybeans and corn before he licensed those genetics to companies like Monsanto and Syngenta. To put his net worth into perspective, the Register reports that the median household income in Des Moines is around $65,000. Stine's wealth is equal to around 150,000 households.

Who is the Second Richest Person in Iowa?

Iowa's newest billionaire is Greg Abel. The Register reports that the long time Des Moines resident took over as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway in January of 2026. He replaced the 10th richest person in the world, Warren Buffett. Forbes states that Abel's net worth is around $1 billion.

Other Billionaires With Iowa Connections

The Register notes there are several other billionaires with Iowa ties. They include Iowa native Julia Koch, who inheirited a stake in Koch Inc, and is worth $81.2 billion. Cedar Rapids native Mark Walter is the founder and CEO of the holding company TWG Global, and is worth $7.3 billion.

In case you were wondering, the Register reports that the richest person in the world is Elon Musk, at an astounding $839 billion. Musk's net worth GREW by $497 billion in 2025.