NC is home to 11 billionaires, and 8 live in the Triangle. Who are they?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Triangle hosts eight Forbes billionaires in software, gaming, clinical trials and banking.
- Combined Triangle billionaire net worth exceeds $31 billion, within NC’s $37B total.
- Forbes used March 1 market data plus estimates of private assets and property.
Eight billionaires with ties to The Triangle rank among the richest people in the world, according to Forbes.
The region’s biggest tech CEOs, gaming and banking execs earned a spot on Forbes’ 2026 World Billionaires List, collectively boasting an estimated net worth over $31 billion.
They joined more than 3,400 others featured in this year’s cohort and represented multiple industries, including finance and healthcare. Here’s what to know about them:
James Goodnight
- Net worth: $12.6 billion
- Age: 83
- Source of wealth: Software
- Rank: No. 238 richest in the world
- Residence: Cary
Goodnight co-founded analytics software firm SAS Institute alongside John Sall in 1976. The two met while Goodnight was pursing a doctorate degree at North Carolina State University, Forbes reported.
He remains the state’s wealthiest billionaire.
John Sall
- Net worth: $6.1 billion
- Age: 77
- Source of wealth: Software
- Rank: No. 684 richest in the world
- Residence: Cary
Sall co-founded SAS Institute with James Goodnight in 1976, according to Forbes.
He and Goodnight also co-founded Cary Academy, a private school, and are co-owners of the Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.
Tim Sweeney
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- Net worth: $5.1 billion
- Age: 55
- Source of wealth: Video games
- Rank: No. 837 richest in the world
- Residence: Cary
Sweeney is the co-founder and CEO of Epic Games, developer of the insanely popular Fortnite video game. Lauded for his business acumen and conservation efforts in Western North Carolina, the video game maker was a finalist for The Raleigh News & Observer’s Tar Heel of the Year award, the Observer previously reported.
Dennis Gillings
- Net worth: $2.2 billion
- Age: 81
- Source of wealth: Clinical trials
- Rank: No. 1,913 richest in the world
- Residence: Durham
Dennis Gillings is the founder and former CEO of Quintiles, a clinical research firm. The company changed its name to IQVIA in 2017, according to Forbes.
The British billionaire retired as the company’s executive chairman in 2016.
“It has been a memorable ride to get to our multi-billion dollar status today, and I feel privileged to have led this journey,” Gillings said at the time. “However, I believe there is so much more to come.”
Olivia Holding
- Net worth: $1.5 billion
- Age: 61
- Source of wealth: Banking
- Rank: No. 2,600 richest in the world
- Residence: Raleigh
Holding is one of four sisters of Frank Holding Jr., the longtime chairman and CEO of First Citizens Bank, according to Forbes. Together, they own about 20% of the bank.
“Our family has been in North Carolina for at least five generations,” Holding told Research Triangle Park in 2016. “We want to promote the success of the state.”
Holding also manages her family’s farms and agricultural businesses as the president of Twin States Farming, Inc. and E & F Properties, Inc. in Smithfield.
Carson Brice
- Net worth: $1.4 billion
- Age: 58
- Source of wealth: Banking
- Rank: 2712nd richest in the world
- Residence: Raleigh
Brice is one of four sisters of Frank Holding Jr., the longtime chairman and CEO of First Citizens Bank, according to Forbes. Together, they own about 20% of the bank.
In the fall, the Raleigh-based bank expanded its national footprint by purchasing 138 U.S. branches from Toronto-Based BMO bank, The News & Observer reported. It’s currently the nation’s 16th largest bank.
Claire Bristow
- Net worth: $1.4 billion
- Age: 59
- Source of wealth: Banking
- Rank: 2712th richest in the world
- Residence: Raleigh
Bristow is one of four sisters of Frank Holding Jr., the longtime chairman and CEO of First Citizens Bank, according to Forbes. Together, they own about 20% of the bank.
Bristow debuted on Forbes’ billionaires list in 2025 at $1.3 billion, the Triangle Business Journal previously reported.
Frank Holding Jr.
- Net worth: $1.3 billion
- Age: 64
- Source of wealth: Banking
- Rank: No. 2,858 richest in the world
- Residence: Raleigh
Holding is the longtime chairman and CEO of commercial banking chain First Citizens Bank. He assumed the role in 2008, and today, he and his four sisters collectively own roughly 20% of the company, Forbes said.
Who are the richest people in North Carolina?
The Tar Heel State is home to 11 billionaires whose combined net worths amount to more than $37 billion, according to Forbes’ latest report. That’s over 500 times the median household income in North Carolina ($73,958), the latest census data shows.
These are the state’s three other billionaires (including two in Charlotte) on Forbes’ list:
- Roy Carroll II: $2.6 billion net worth; Greensboro; Carroll Companies
- J. Frank Harrison III & family: $2 billion net worth; Charlotte; Coca-Cola Consolidated
- Ric Elias: $1 billion net worth; Charlotte; Red Ventures
Who are the richest people in the US?
These U.S. billionaires were ranked the top 10 wealthiest people in the nation, according to Forbes:
- Elon Musk: $838 billion net worth; Texas; Tesla/SpaceX
- Larry Page: $257 billion net worth; California; Google
- Sergey Brin: $237 billion net worth; California; Google
- Jeff Bezos: $224 billion net worth; Florida; Amazon
- Mark Zuckerberg: $222 billion net worth; California; Facebook
- Larry Ellison: $190 billion net worth; Florida; Oracle
- Jensen Huang: $154 billion net worth; California; semiconductors
- Warren Buffett: $149 billion net worth; Nebraska; Berkshire Hathaway
- Rob Walton & family: $146 billion net worth; Arkansas; Walmart
- Jim Walton & family: $143 billion net worth; Arkansas; Walmart
How Forbes compiles its list
For its annual billionaires list, the outlet looked at stock prices and exchange rates from Sunday, March 1, offering a snapshot of the world’s wealthiest people. Individuals were listed rather than families who share their wealth across generations.
Forbes said several factors were considered in the rankings, including private companies, real estate art and other assets.
“We don’t pretend to know each billionaire’s private balance sheet (though some provide it),” editors wrote. Individuals who didn’t offer documentation had their fortunes discounted.
Portions of this story were previously published in The Charlotte Observer.
This story was originally published March 26, 2026 at 11:35 AM.