Top 5 Immigrant Billionaires in America

The rise of immigrant billionaires in the United States illustrates how global talent continues to drive innovation and economic growth. By 2025, a record 125 foreign-born U.S. citizens held billionaire status, controlling a combined $1.3 trillion in wealth, nearly 18 percent of America’s total billionaire fortunes. 

Among these, five individuals stand out for their extraordinary achievements, transforming industries from electric vehicles to high-speed trading. 

Understanding their journeys offers insight into the power of immigrant entrepreneurship and the opportunities that the U.S. market affords to visionary founders and inheritors alike.

1. Elon Musk (South Africa → Canada → U.S.)

Elon Musk tops the list with a net worth of $393.1 billion. As the founder or co-founder of Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, and X (formerly Twitter), Musk has revolutionised electric vehicles, space exploration, neurotechnology, and social media. His ability to tackle multiple, high-risk industries and turn them into market leaders underscores why he remains America’s richest immigrant.

2. Sergey Brin (Russia → U.S.)

Sergey Brin, with $139.7 billion, co-founded Google (now Alphabet) in 1998 alongside Larry Page. Brin’s technical expertise and vision for organising the world’s information propelled Google from a Stanford dorm-room project into one of the world’s most valuable and influential companies. His enduring stake in Alphabet keeps him firmly in second place among immigrant billionaires.

3. Jensen Huang (Taiwan → Thailand → U.S.)

Jensen Huang’s enterprise, NVIDIA, has become synonymous with artificial intelligence and advanced computing. With a net worth of $137.9 billion, Huang steered NVIDIA from a niche graphics-chip maker to the heart of the AI revolution. His leadership has fueled breakthroughs in data-centre acceleration, gaming, and professional visualisation, cementing his spot as the third-richest immigrant in America.

4. Thomas Peterffy (Hungary → U.S.)

Thomas Peterffy, founder of Interactive Brokers, holds $67.9 billion. A pioneer of electronic trading, Peterffy built one of Wall Street’s first digital brokerage platforms, democratizing access to global markets. His innovations in algorithmic trading and market-making transformed the financial industry, enabling faster, more efficient transactions for both retail and institutional investors.

5. Miriam Adelson & Family (Israel → U.S.)

Miriam Adelson and her family control $33.4 billion inherited from casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. As heirs to one of the world’s largest gaming and hospitality empires, they oversee properties such as the Venetian and Sands Expo in Las Vegas, alongside global investments. Their stewardship ensures the continued growth of a legacy built on large-scale entertainment and resort operations.