Ohio is home to two of the 400 richest people in America, according to “The Definitive Ranking of the Wealthiest Americans in 2023″ from Forbes.
But, despite their massive wealth, you might not know who they are. Here’s are some hints: One has ties to retail sales, and the other to professional sports.
Les Wexner, 86, of New Albany, Ohio, is the 176th richest person in America with a net worth of $6 billion, according to Forbes’ list. Wexner founded L Brands, the global retail parent company to Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works, among others, and served as the company’s CEO for more than five decades before stepping down in 2020.
Wexner, an Ohio State University graduate, opened The Limited – later becoming L Brands – in 1963 with the help of a $5,000 loan from his aunt, according to Forbes. In 1982, he bought Victoria’s Secret for $1 million and added the company to his L Brands business portfolio. However, after Wexner’s departure as CEO in 2020, L Brands split Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works into two separate publicly traded companies in 2022.
According to Forbes’ rankings, Wexner rates as an “8″ on the Self-Made Score, a scale which ranges from one (inherited fortune but not working to increase it) to 10 (self-made who not only grew up poor but also overcame significant obstacles). On the Philanthropy Score, which ranges from one (has given away less than 1% of wealth) to five (has given away 20% or more of wealth) Wexner rated middle of the pack as a “3,” having donated nearly $250 million to institutions in Ohio, including OSU’s Wexner Medical Center, per Forbes.
Denise York, 72, of Youngstown, Ohio, also made Forbes’ 400 Richest Americans list. York, whose family owns more than 90% of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, is the 182nd richest person in America with an estimated net worth of $5.8 billion, according to Forbes’ rankings.
York’s father, Edward Debartolo Sr., purchased the 49ers for $13 million in 1977, and the team is now worth $5.2 billion, per Forbes. York owns the team along with her husband, John, who founded DeYor Laboratories in Youngstown, and their son, Jed, serves as the franchise’s CEO.
In addition to her 49ers ownership, York also previously served as president of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, which her father owned from 1977 to 1991.
On the Self-Made Score, York rates as a “3,” which falls under the category of “inherited fortune and helping to increase it marginally,” per Forbes. She also rates as a “1″ on the Philanthropy Score, meaning she has given away less than 1% of her wealth.
Wexner’s No. 176 ranking and $6 billion net worth, and York’s No. 182 ranking and $5.8 billion net worth, places them ahead of notable figures such as Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban (No. 211, $5.2B), filmmakers George Lucas (No. 227, $4.9B) and Steven Spielberg (No. 238, $4.8B), and basketball legend Michael Jordan (No. 379, $3B), who became the first athlete to make Forbes’ 400.
