DENVER (KDVR) — Studies show that a majority of Colorado households don’t make enough money to live comfortably, but a select few live lavishly on 10 and 11-figure salaries.
Forbes released its 2025 list of billionaires, with many in the U.S. and a few in Colorado. Their incomes far exceed some of the richest 1% of Coloradans.
For perspective, more than half of Colorado households make under $100,000 per year. According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data available from 2019-23, the median individual income in Colorado was $50,489, and half of Colorado households made $92,470 per year.
In order to be in the top 1% of earners in the Centennial State, a recent GOBankingRates study found that Coloradans must have earned at least $896,273 in 2024 to be in the top 1% of earners. That breaks down to over $74,000 per month.
Another recent GOBankingRates study found that the household income necessary to live the “American dream” in Denver is $151,860 each year. The finance website also found that an income of $148,812 qualifies for the top 10% of earners in Colorado.
According to the Forbes billionaire list, there are 3,028 billionaires in the world, and 12 have their residence listed as Colorado:
Philip Anschutz – $16.9 billion
John Malone – $10.8 billion
Mark Stevens – $8 billion
Charles Ergen – $3.4 billion
Pat Stryker – $4.1 billion
Cargill MacMillan III – $1.4 billion
William MacMillan – $1.4 billion
Gary Magness – $1.4 billion
Stewart Butterfield – $1.6 billion
James Leprino – $2.1 billion
Kenneth Tuchman – $1 billion
Thomas Bailey – $1.3 billion
Philip Anschutz, the richest Coloradan, ranked 122nd in the world, up two spots from 2024. He is 85 years old and lives in Denver.
Anschutz holds a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree from the University of Kansas. Forbes said he earned his fortune in oil, railroads, telecom, real estate and entertainment over the last five decades. His Anschutz Entertainment Group owns more than 70 arenas and concert venues worldwide.
The full Forbes billionaires list is online.
