You’ve probably driven past a Bath & Body Works in a suburban mall a thousand times without thinking much about the man behind the scented candles. Or maybe you’ve sat in the stands at a Bengals game, complaining about the play-calling, while the guy who actually owns the team sat in a climate-controlled suite.
Ohio isn't exactly the first place people look for billionaire drama. It’s not Silicon Valley. It’s not Manhattan. But the money here? It’s deep, it’s old, and honestly, it’s mostly tied to things you can touch—retail, real estate, and professional sports.
As we kick off 2026, the list of the wealthiest people in Ohio has some familiar faces at the top, but the numbers have shifted in ways that reflect just how much the "old guard" is changing.
The Retail King of New Albany: Les Wexner
If you want to talk about Ohio wealth, you have to start with Les Wexner. For decades, he’s been the undisputed heavyweight champion of the Buckeye State’s bank accounts. Even after stepping down from the helm of L Brands, his influence in the Columbus area—specifically New Albany—is basically everywhere.
Les Wexner’s net worth sits around $9.2 billion as of early 2026.
Think about that for a second. While the tech world was losing its mind over AI startups, Wexner’s fortune remained rooted in the stuff people buy every day: soaps, lotions, and the remnants of a retail empire that once included Victoria’s Secret and Abercrombie & Fitch.
But it’s not just about the stores anymore. His wealth is a complex web of investments and a massive real estate footprint. Wexner basically built New Albany from the ground up, turning it into a slice of New England luxury dropped into the middle of Ohio.
Why the Wexner Fortune is Different Now
Kinda interesting to note: Wexner’s public image has taken some hits over the last few years. Between the Jeffrey Epstein fallout and the changing cultural tides around Victoria’s Secret, he’s kept a lower profile than he used to. Yet, financially? The guy is still a juggernaut. His move to spin off Victoria’s Secret and focus on Bath & Body Works turned out to be a savvy play, keeping his net worth stable while other retail moguls saw their empires crumble.
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The Queen of Youngstown: Denise York
Most people think of wealth in Ohio and think of Cleveland or Columbus. They forget about Youngstown. That’s a mistake, especially when you consider Denise York and her family.
Denise York is currently the second wealthiest person in Ohio, with a net worth estimated at $8.4 billion.
Where does that kind of money come from in a town like Youngstown? Well, it doesn't stay in Ohio. The York family owns over 90% of the San Francisco 49ers.
- The DeBartolo Legacy: Her father, Edward DeBartolo Sr., was a legend in real estate and shopping malls.
- The NFL Boom: As the value of NFL franchises has skyrocketed, so has Denise’s bank account.
- The San Francisco Connection: Despite the team being on the West Coast, the Yorks have kept their roots firmly planted in the Mahoning Valley.
It’s a weird dynamic, right? One of the most storied franchises in football is essentially run out of an office in a town that’s better known for its steel history than its tech-savvy sports owners. But it works. The 49ers are valued at billions, and as long as people keep watching football, the York family's wealth is only going one way: up.
The Bengals' General: Mike Brown
Speaking of football, you can’t talk about Ohio billionaires without mentioning Mike Brown. The owner of the Cincinnati Bengals has seen his net worth jump significantly over the last few years, reaching $5 billion in 2026.
For a long time, the Browns were seen as "small-market" owners. They didn't have the flashy outside businesses that other NFL owners had. But then the Bengals started winning. Joe Burrow happened. The team’s value exploded.
Honestly, Mike Brown is a bit of a throwback. He still runs the team like a family business. He’s 90 years old and still heavily involved. In a world of hedge fund owners and private equity groups buying up sports teams, Brown is one of the last of a dying breed.
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The Quiet Billionaires You Haven’t Heard Of
While Wexner and York take the headlines, there are others in Ohio who are quietly amassing fortunes that would make your head spin.
Take August Troendle in Cincinnati. He’s the founder of MedPace, a clinical research company. His net worth is sitting around $3.7 billion. He’s the perfect example of "new" Ohio wealth—biotechnology and pharmaceutical services. He doesn't own a football team. He doesn't have his name on a mall. He just runs a massively successful company that helps bring new drugs to market.
Then there's Larry Connor. Based in Miamisburg, he runs The Connor Group. His wealth is built on real estate, specifically luxury apartments. He’s worth about $2.1 billion. Larry is also the guy who went to the International Space Station and recently talked about taking a sub to the Titanic ruins. He’s probably the most "adventurous" billionaire in the state.
The Cleveland Contingent: The Lerners
Cleveland used to be the hub of Ohio’s richest, and while the crown has shifted toward Columbus, the Lerner family still holds a massive stake in the state’s economy.
Norma Lerner, Randolph Lerner, and Nancy Lerner each hover around the $1.2 billion mark. Their wealth comes from banking (MBNA) and, famously, their former ownership of the Cleveland Browns. They’ve mostly transitioned into philanthropy and private investment, but their influence in Northeast Ohio is still immense.
The "Almost" Billionaires and Rising Stars
Wealth isn't static. In 2026, we’re seeing a shift in how money is made in the state.
Vivek Ramaswamy, who lives in Columbus, has seen his net worth fluctuate with his political and business ventures. Currently, he’s estimated at $1.2 billion. Whether he stays on this list depends heavily on his Roivant Sciences investments and his next moves in the public eye.
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We also have the Schottenstein family. If you’ve ever shopped at American Eagle or DSW, you’ve contributed to their fortune. Jay Schottenstein is a retail powerhouse, and while his individual net worth often stays just under the top three, the family’s collective wealth is staggering.
Why Ohio Billionaires Keep Their Money Here
You’d think once you hit ten figures, you’d move to Palm Beach or Aspen. Some do, sure. But many of Ohio's wealthiest stay put. Why?
- Cost of Living: Even for billionaires, your money goes further in Ohio. A $10 million mansion in New Albany would cost $50 million in Los Angeles.
- Legacy: Families like the Wexners and DeBartolos have built their entire identities around these communities.
- The "Midwest Nice" Buffer: Ohioans generally leave famous people alone. You can go to a grocery store in New Albany or a restaurant in Canfield and people might recognize you, but they aren't going to swarm you like they would in Hollywood.
The Misconception About "Rust Belt" Poverty
There's this tired narrative that Ohio is just a bunch of abandoned factories. The wealth of these individuals proves otherwise. The state has successfully pivoted from heavy manufacturing to a mix of logistics, healthcare, and finance.
When you look at the wealthiest people in Ohio, you’re seeing a map of the state's economic evolution. You see the retail boom of the 80s (Wexner), the real estate and sports explosion of the 2000s (York, Brown), and the high-tech services of today (Troendle).
What This Means for You
It's easy to look at these numbers and feel like it's another world. But the wealth of these individuals impacts everything from local taxes to the charities that fund Ohio's arts and hospitals.
If you're looking to track where the money is moving in 2026, keep an eye on these three things:
- Sports Valuations: If the Bengals or 49ers get sold (unlikely, but possible), it would create a massive liquidity event that would reshape these rankings.
- The Columbus Tech Surge: With Intel’s massive investment in Ohio, expect to see new billionaires emerge from the semiconductor and tech infrastructure industries over the next five years.
- Estate Planning: Many of these billionaires are in their 70s, 80s, and 90s. We are about to witness the largest transfer of wealth in Ohio history as these fortunes pass to the next generation.
Actionable Next Steps
To stay informed or even leverage this info for your own career or investments:
- Follow the Real Estate: Look at where Larry Connor or the Schottensteins are buying property. These are often the next "hot" neighborhoods in Ohio.
- Monitor SEC Filings: If you're interested in the "quiet" billionaires like August Troendle, follow the stock of their companies (like MedPace). It’s a great way to see how wealth is actually being generated in real-time.
- Check Local Foundations: If you’re looking for grants or community support, the Wexner Foundation or the Cleveland Foundation (supported by the Lerners) are where the heavy lifting happens.
Wealth in Ohio isn't just a number on a screen. It's built on retail, sports, and a whole lot of Midwest grit. Whether you're a fan of their business tactics or not, these individuals are the ones driving the economic engine of the state.
Keep an eye on the 2026 Forbes and Bloomberg updates. With the way the market is moving, the gap between the top three and everyone else is only getting wider.