Forbes first published its Forbes 400 ranking of America’s richest people in 1982.
The Forbes 400 was created to rank the 400 wealthiest Americans by estimated net worth. Its first edition appeared before Forbes launched the international World’s Billionaires list in 1987.
The ranking focuses on U.S. wealth and has become an annual reference point for changes in American business, technology, finance and inheritance. Forbes estimates fortunes using public records, interviews and financial analysis, so the figures are estimates rather than audited personal balance sheets.
The Forbes 400 should not be confused with the annual global billionaire list. A person may appear on both, but the two rankings have different geographic scopes and different eligibility rules.