Massachusetts has 34 billionaires, and the state’s 50 richest people have a combined net worth of nearly $134 billion, according to estimates from venture capital and private equity database firm Massinvestor Inc.
Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, a Dorchester native who has a home in Newton through a trust in his attorney’s name, led the list with a minimum net worth of $35 billion, according to research by the Winchester company. Last year, the company estimated his worth at $26.4 billion.
No. 2 on the list was Fidelity Investments chief executive Abigail Johnson with an estimated net worth of $16 billion, up from $15.2 billion last year.
Advertisement
Johnson’s high ranking belied the paltry representation of women among the top 50. There were more men named John (seven — eight if you add a Jonathan) than there were women of any name (six) on the list.
The top 10 on the list were almost the same as last year, and included New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft at No. 6 with $6.2 billion. John Henry, the principal owner of the Red Sox who also owns The Boston Globe, moved from No. 12 into a three-way tie at No. 9, with $2.5 billion.
Massinvestor said last year that its numbers are not a precise measure of each person’s net worth, but a “minimum.” Its researchers compiled the data from regulatory disclosures, news reports, and other public sources.
In general, the company said it included people who live or maintain a residence in the state; it excluded those who primarily live elsewhere and only have vacation homes in Massachusetts, unless the person had other unusually strong ties to the area.
Massinvestor hopes to sell its “AffluenceIQ” database of Massachusetts billionaires and millionaires — which includes their contact information — to local marketers, wealth managers, and nonprofits looking for their next big donor, the Globe reported last year.
Advertisement
The full list is at http://affluenceiq.com/50richest.php.
Dan Adams of the Globe staff contributed.