Richest billionaires in automotive

The first billionaire is generally considered to be John D. Rockefeller in 1916, though some argue it was Henry Ford in 1925.

Fast-forward some 100 years to 2021: As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to rage, a record-breaking 660 people became billionaires globally, growing the previous year's number by 30%.

While the United States has the most billionaires of any country, Americans are somewhat split on their feelings about the billionaire class. According to data from the Pew Research Center, the nation became somewhat more critical of billionaires between 2020 and 2021.

Although support for individual billionaires like Bill Gates is relatively strong, many Americans view the ultrarich—as a group rather than as individuals—negatively. Meanwhile, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is projected to become the world's first trillionaire by 2026.

In the auto industry, billionaires have built wealth by revolutionizing transportation. Whether through legacy car manufacturers or cutting-edge electric vehicle startups, these fortunes reflect the enduring demand for mobility and innovation on the road.

Stacker compiled the richest billionaires in the auto industry using data from Forbes. Data is as of September 23, 2025.

#14. JB Straubel
- Net worth: $1.6 billion
- Source: Tesla
- Lives in: Carson City, Nevada

#13. A. Jayson Adair
- Net worth: $1.7 billion
- Source: Damaged cars
- Lives in: Dallas, Texas

#12. Terry Taylor
- Net worth: $1.9 billion
- Source: Car dealerships
- Lives in: Palm Beach, Florida

#11. Willis Johnson
- Net worth: $2.6 billion
- Source: Damaged cars
- Lives in: Franklin, Tennessee

#10. Herb Chambers
- Net worth: $2.9 billion
- Source: Car dealerships
- Lives in: Boston, Massachusetts

#9. E. Joe Shoen
- Net worth: $3.5 billion
- Source: U-Haul
- Lives in: Phoenix, Arizona

#8. Norman Braman
- Net worth: $3.5 billion
- Source: Art, car dealerships
- Lives in: Miami, Florida

#7. Mark Shoen
- Net worth: $4.1 billion
- Source: U-Haul
- Lives in: Phoenix, Arizona

#6. Gail Miller & family
- Net worth: $4.8 billion
- Source: Car dealerships
- Lives in: Salt Lake City, Utah

#5. Roger Penske
- Net worth: $7.2 billion
- Source: Cars
- Lives in: Birmingham, Michigan

#4. Dan Friedkin
- Net worth: $9.5 billion
- Source: Toyota dealerships
- Lives in: Houston, Texas

#3. Ernest Garcia, III
- Net worth: $11.6 billion
- Source: Used cars
- Lives in: Phoenix, Arizona

#2. Shahid Khan
- Net worth: $14.4 billion
- Source: Sports teams, auto parts
- Lives in: Naples, Florida

#1. Ernest Garcia II
- Net worth: $23.4 billion
- Source: Used cars
- Lives in: Tempe, Arizona

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