Forbes lists 5 Minnesotans among nation's richest; where's N.J.'s Wilf?

The usual suspects from Minnesota are among the 400 richest Americans, according to the list released Monday by Forbes magazine, but there is one well-known person from New Jersey whom Minnesotans won't find on the roster.

Leading the way among Minnesotans are Barbara Carlson Gage and Marilyn Carlson Nelson, who are each worth $3.9 billion thanks to their hotel and restaurant holdings. They come in tied at 118th among all Americans.

Next is Cargill's Whitney MacMillan ($3.8 billion, 122nd), media executive Stanley Hubbard ($2.2 billion, 252nd) and Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor ($1.7 billion, 327th).

The list also includes Richard Schulze, chairman emeritus of Best Buy Co., who is from Minnesota but now officially resides in Bonita Springs, Fla. His $2.7 billion places him 201st.

Nowhere to be found is Vikings owner Zygi Wilf, whose net worth has netted a lot of attention as final negotiations inch along on a state-supported Vikings stadium and his family's legal troubles over alleged financial misdeeds continue in New Jersey. It takes at least $1.3 billion to make the list.

Lawyers in New Jersey opposing the Wilfs and arguing that the family's net worth should be made public have cited news reports that estimate Zygi Wilf's net worth as being between $310 million and $1.3 billion.

Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates remains America's richest man, taking the top spot for the 20th straight year, with a net worth of $72 billion.

Investor Warren Buffett, the head of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., keeps second place with $58.5 billion, while Oracle Corp. co-founder Larry Ellison stayed third with $41 billion.

According to Forbes, the 400 people on the annual list posted a combined net worth of $2 trillion, up from $1.7 trillion a year ago. That marks their highest combined value ever.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482