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    The gilded age

    Tilman Fertitta crashes the Forbes billionaires list, but Rich Kinder is stillthe richest man in Houston

    Sarah Rufca
    Mar 8, 2012 | 2:36 pm
    • Tilman Fertitta with wife Paige at the 2011 Momus Coronation in Galveston
      Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
    • Rich Kinder

    The Houston billionaire's club (which may or may not be a real thing) looks like it has a new inductee this year.

    The Forbes list of the world's billionaires was released this week, including 1,226 individuals who are worth a collective $4.6 trillion — both records. Big Rich Texas isn't just a reality show: Since 2010, the number of billionaires in the Lone Star State has increased by 20 percent, from 40 to 48, with 14 residing in or near Houston.

    Here's a little insider tip: Apparently oil and gas is a good place to make a lot of money.

    In Houston, Landry's CEO Tilman Fertitta is on the Forbes list for the first time, entering at No. 854 with $1.5 billion from his seemingly endless restaurant and casino empire. In Houston, Fertitta is tied in the rankings with lawyer Joe Jamail Jr. and Houston Texans owner Bob McNair, leaping past oilman Bud Adams Jr. (No. 1,075), who, with only $1.1 billion in assets, must now wear the pauper hat at all the billionaire club meetings.

    Here's a little insider tip: Apparently oil and gas is a good place to make a lot of money.

    "Pipeline prince" Rich Kinder is once again the richest man in Houston — with $8.3 billion he's ranked No. 110 in the world. Oilman Jeffrey Hildebrand follows him at No. 193 with $5.3 billion. Dannine Avara, Scott Duncan, Milane Frantz and Randa Duncan — heirs of the late pipeline magnate Dan Duncan — are each listed with assets of $4.1 billion at No. 270.

    Shale drilling pioneer and Woodlands founder George Mitchell is one of the oldest billionaires on the list with $2.2 billion at age 92.

    In non-energy billionaires, hedge funder John Arnold is listed at No. 377 with $3 billion, former Astros owner Drayton McLane (who sold the team for $680 million in 2012) is credited with making his fortune ($2 billion, No. 634) in grocery distribution, and Toyota distributor Thomas Friedkin rounds out the Houston billionaires at No. 804 with $1.6 billion.

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    This Week's Hot Headlines

    Houston billionaire ranks among top U.S. landowners and more popular stories

    CultureMap Staff
    Jun 14, 2025 | 11:01 am
    HMNS Great Outdoors Gala 2022 Russell and Glenda Gordy and Red FJ Cruiser
    Photo by Jenny Antill
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    Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week, including a look at one of America's top landowners. Plus, the sad closure of a pioneering steakhouse and a popular pizzeria makes plans for Houston. Get the details on our most popular stories below, then head here to plan your weekend.

    1. Houston oil-and-gas billionaire ranks among America's top 100 landowners. About one-fourth of the country’s mega-owners of private land have ties to Texas, either living here, owning land here, or both. The highest-ranked Houston-based landowner is oil-and-gas billionaire Russell Gordy.

    2. Houston's pioneering South American steakhouse will soon shutter in River Oaks. Sad news for inner loopers who are fans of plantain chips, wood-grilled steaks, and Houston’s best tres leches. The River Oaks location of South American steakhouse Churrascos will close Monday, June 16.

    3. Texas Monthly's BBQ Snob dishes on the magazine's new top 50 list. On this episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn joins CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss the magazine’s new list of the 50 best barbecue joints in Texas.

    4. 'Famous' Bronx-based pizza chain fires up 3 Houston locations. A New York-based pizza chain has big plans for Houston. Called Singas Famous Pizza, the restaurant will soon open three locations in the area.

    Singas PizzaSingas Pizza is coming to Houston.Photo courtesy of Singas

    5. Texas slides down the list of best U.S. state economies for 2025. Texas' robust economy may be showing some cracks. Texas now ranks as the state with the eighth best economy, four spots lower than one year ago, according to a new report.

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