Three Louisiana Residents Made 2026 Forbes 400 List
Todd Graves, Gayle Benson, and William Goldring were ranked among the 400 wealthiest Americans this year.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Three prominent Louisianans appeared on the 2026 Forbes 400 list, which tracked the wealthiest individuals in the United States as of September 4. The list includes Todd Graves, Gayle Benson, and William Goldring, who collectively represent the state's significant wealth concentration.
Why it matters
The Forbes 400 list highlights the primary financial drivers behind major regional employers and philanthropic figures in Louisiana. These rankings reflect broader trends in the valuation of private enterprises and high-net-worth individual holdings.
Todd Graves ranked 57th with $20 billion, Gayle Benson ranked 139th with $11.2 billion, and William Goldring ranked 181st with $9 billion. These figures are part of the total 400-person list analyzed by Forbes.
The players
Todd Graves
He is the founder of the restaurant chain Raising Cane's.
Gayle Benson
She is the owner of the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans.
William Goldring
He leads the family that owns the Sazerac Company, which manages over 450 alcohol brands.
The details
Forbes determined these rankings by analyzing interviews, government documents, and court filings to estimate individual net worth. Private company valuations were calculated by pairing revenue or profit estimates with ratios from comparable publicly traded corporations.
Timeline
The Goldring family acquired the Sazerac Company during the 1940s.
Todd Graves launched the restaurant chain Raising Cane's in 1996.
Gayle Benson inherited the Saints and Pelicans sports teams in 2018.
The valuation date for the Forbes 400 list was September 4, 2026.
The 2026 Forbes 400 list was released in September 2026.
Market Landscape
This report follows the standard annual reporting pattern established by the 2026 Forbes 400 methodology to track wealth distribution among industry leaders. These rankings underscore the dominance of major private entities in Louisiana's economy compared to national peers.
These rankings provide insight into the financial health of the figures behind major regional brands and sports teams. For consumers, the stability of these entities often correlates with continued local investment and employment opportunities.
The takeaway
The presence of these residents on the list reflects the concentration of wealth within specific industries like hospitality and spirits. Understanding these figures provides context for the economic levers influencing major business developments in the state.
Further reading
Explore more news regarding charitable and wealth-based initiatives in Louisiana Philanthropy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NOLA.
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