Since last year’s Forbes 400 list, we have said goodbye to six billionaires, including casino mogul Sheldon Adelson and investor Eli Broad.
Six members of the 2020 Forbes 400 list have died in the past year. That includes casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, investor Eli Broad and Public Storage founder B. Wayne Hughes.
All were in their late 80s or early 90s, having accumulated wealth over long lifespans. Each of them held onto their billions until their final days, and would still be wealthy enough to appear on this year’s Forbes 400. Here we remember their accomplishments and contributions to their respective industries.
Sheldon Adelson
Forbes 400 2020 Net Worth: $29.8 billion
Source of Wealth: casinos
Died: January 11, 2021
Adelson, who died at age 87 after a battle with cancer, left behind the $14 billion (sales) gambling empire Las Vegas Sands. He didn’t get into the casino game until 1989, when he and other investors purchased the Sands Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for $128 million. Now, his empire spans Las Vegas, Singapore and Macao, China. He is survived by his wife, Miriam, four children and 11 grandchildren. Adelson first appeared on The Forbes 400 in 1995.
Eli Broad
Forbes 400 2020 Net Worth: $6.9 billion
Source of Wealth: investments
Died: April 30, 2021
Broad died at age 87 after a six decade career that spanned homebuilding and insurance. He founded Kaufman & Broad in 1957, which went on to become one of the nation’s largest suppliers of affordable tract homes. Between his two foundations, he made pledges and grants to charity of over $4 billion and opened a contemporary art museum, The Broad, in downtown Los Angeles. He is survived by his wife, Edythe, and their two sons, Jeffrey and Gary. Broad first appeared on The Forbes 400 in 1989.
Randall Rollins
Forbes 400 2020 Net Worth: $6.9 billion
Source of Wealth: investments
Died: April 30, 2021
Before Rollins died at age 88, he was chairman of Rollins Inc., a firm founded by his father and grandfather. In 1964, Rollins Inc. purchased pest control company Orkin, now its most well known brand. Rollins is survived by his brother Gary—the CEO of Rollins and No.182 on this year’s Forbes 400 list—plus his wife, Peggy, and their five children. Rollins first appeared on The Forbes 400 in 2014.
B. Wayne Hughes
Forbes 400 2020 Net Worth: $2.8 billion
Source of Wealth: self storage
Died: August 18, 2021
Hughes made his fortune from Public Storage, which he founded in 1972 and built into a $3.6 billion (2020 revenues) company. When he died this year at age 87, he owned less than 1% of the business, having gifted most of his stock to his son, billionaire B. Wayne Hughes Jr. and his daughter, Tamara Gustavson (who ranks No. 108 on this year’s Forbes 400). In 2004, Hughes bought Spendthrift Farm, a thoroughbred horse farm in Kentucky, which is home to Kentucky Derby winner Authentic. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, his two children and four grandchildren. Hughes first appeared on The Forbes 400 in 1996.
Sheldon Solow
Forbes 400 2020 Net Worth: $4.4 billion
Source of Wealth: real estate
Died: November 17, 2020
Solow made a name for himself in New York real estate during the 1970s, when he risked everything to build 9 West 57th Street, an office building with views of Central Park and the Plaza Hotel. Ultimately he made billions through that building and other developments in the area. When he passed away in November 2020 at age 92, he was demolishing a site across the street to make way for a 52-story skyscraper. He is survived by his wife, Mia, and his son Stefan Soloviev, who has taken over the family business. Solow first appeared on the inaugural Forbes 400 in 1982.
Walter Scott Jr.
Forbes 400 2021 Net Worth: $4.2 billion
Source of Wealth: utilities, telecom
Died: September 25, 2021
Scott appears on this year’s Forbes 400, at No. 269, because he died in late September, after Forbes had finalized the list rankings. At age 90, he was worth $4.2 billion thanks to a fortune he made primarily from construction giant Kiewit and Berkshire Hathaway Energy, the utilities subsidiary of Warren Buffett’s company. Scott and Buffett were high school friends who went on to collaborate in business for most of their lives. He is survived by six children, nineteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Scott first appeared on The Forbes 400 in 1996.
