How many billionaires does Rhode Island have? Well, the list is growing.
Paul Edward Parker- Rhode Island has a claim to at least five billionaires on the Forbes 2025 list.
- Larry Ellison and Stephen Schwarzman own property in Newport.
- Jonathan Nelson was born and raised in Providence and founded Providence Equity Partners.
Every spring, you can count on the blooming of crocuses, the return of April showers and a new billionaires list from Forbes.
So, how is Rhode Island represented on the newly released list of the world's richest people?
Depending on who counts as a Rhode Islander, the Ocean State can claim at least five billionaires on the Forbes list for 2025, made public Tuesday, with their ranking and net worth:
4. Larry Ellison, $192 billion
Why he counts as a Rhode Islander: He owns property in Newport, including the Beechwood mansion, which reportedly is being renovated into an art museum.
Ellison is chairman and co-founder of software giant Oracle. Now 80, he gave up the his role as CEO at the company in 2014, and was on the board of directors of Tesla until 2022. He lives on the Hawaiian island of Lanai.
31. Stephen Schwarzman, $44.4 billion
Why he counts as a Rhode Islander: Schwarzman owns property in Newport, including the Miramar mansion.
Schwarzman is chairman and CEO of Blackstone Group, a private equity firm he cofounded with fellow billionaire Peter Peterson in 1985, growing the company into the world's largest buyout firm.
1072. Jonathan Nelson, $3.4 billion
Why he counts as a Rhode Islander: Nelson was born and grew up in Providence, got a bachelor's degree in economics from Brown University and founded Providence Equity Partners, which is headquartered in Kennedy Plaza.
Nelson founded Providence Equity in 1989, was CEO until 2021 and is currently executive chairman. His firm has invested in more than 170 companies, many in the media, communications, education and information industries.
2110. Taylor Swift, $1.6 billion
Why she counts as a Rhode Islander: Swift famously owns a mansion in Westerly.
She joined the billionaires list last year, according to Forbes, on the strength of earnings from her Eras concert tour and the value of her music catalog and is the first musician to make the billionaire ranking primarily based on their songs and performances.
Her fortune includes nearly $600 million amassed from royalties and touring, plus a music catalog worth an estimated $600 million and some $125 million in real estate, said Forbes.
Not just an owner, Swift has been known to stay at her $17-million mansion overlooking the Atlantic in Westerly's Watch Hill neighborhood.
2790. Theresia Gouw, $1.1 billion
Why she counts as a Rhode Islander: Gouw received a bachelor's degree in engineering from Brown University and is treasurer of the Corporation of Brown University.
Gouw, a newcomer to the list for 2025, launched Acrew Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm in 2019, according to Forbes.