Orange County is known across the country for its affluence, and many millionaires and billionaires call it home year-round, as this week’s list of OC’s wealthiest residents shows. Thirty-seven individuals and a couple collectively have $48.8 billion to their names. And for part of the year, they are joined by similarly rich people who like to cool their heels here between work schedules, taking advantage of the famously fair weather, the beaches and OC’s many other amenities.
• Warren Buffett, chairman, chief executive, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., “Oracle of Omaha”
• Magic Johnson, five-time NBA champion with Los Angeles Lakers
• Hiro Matsushita, grandson of Panasonic Corp. founder
• Russell Goldsmith, chief executive, City National Bank
• Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, chief executive, Air Lease Corp.
• Eddie Van Halen, guitarist, cofounder, rock band Van Halen
• David Merage, cofounder, Chef America Inc., brother of Paul Merage (see No. 10 on this year’s OC’s Wealthiest, page 50)
• Bruce Becker, chairman, casino operator, Becker Gaming Inc.
• Mitchell Chait, entertainment entrepreneur
• Frank Fertitta, principal owner, Las Vegas Station Casino, Ultimate Fighting Championship
• Blake Sartini, chairman, chief executive, Golden Gaming Inc.
• Joel Laub, chief executive, Astoria Homes LLC
• Gary Primm, former chairman, chief executive, Primadonna Resorts Inc.
• Charles Mathewson, chairman emeritus, International Game Technology
• Ken Sullivan, cofounder, principal, Centra Properties LLC
• Alan Simon, chairman, Omaha Steaks International Inc.
• Steven Mihaylo, founder, Inter-Tel Inc.
• Paxson Offield, president, Santa Catalina Island Co.
• Benson Ford Jr., great-grandson of Henry Ford
• Jim Easton, chairman, chief executive, Easton Sports Inc.
• Scott Blum, founder, Buy.com, ThinkTank LLC
• Steve Johnson, founding partner, chief executive, Sage Hill Partners; cofounder, Johnson-Grace Co.
