US Foreign-Born Billionaires List: Turkey's Eren Özmen and Fatih Özmen Among Top 144

Forbes has released its latest list of the wealthiest foreign-born billionaires living in the United States, marking the 250th anniversary of the country's founding. The 2026 data shows 144 foreign-born billionaires in the US, with a combined net worth of $2.2 trillion—a significant increase from the $1.3 trillion recorded in 2025. These immigrants represent 15% of all US billionaires and 25% of the total billionaire wealth in the country. Three of the world's top ten richest individuals are US immigrants: Elon Musk, Sergey Brin, and Jensen Huang, who collectively hold 60% of the total net worth of foreign-born billionaires.

India Sets New Record for Foreign-Born Billionaires India has once again topped the list as the country with the most foreign-born billionaires, with 19 names on the list—a record high, up from 12 in 2025. New entrants include venture capitalist Hemant Taneja, co-founders of Astera Labs (Sanjay Gajendra and Jitendra Mohan), and Palantir's chief technology officer Shyam Sankar.

Turkish Billionaires in the US List Eren Özmen and Fatih Özmen have made the list of the wealthiest foreign-born billionaires in the US. However, Chobani founder Hamdi Ulukaya was not included, with his net worth calculated at $12.2 billion, placing him on Forbes Turkey's list instead.

The Story of Staying in the US Many foreign-born billionaires in the US did not initially plan to stay. For example, Jitendra Mohan came to the US to pursue a master's degree after completing his undergraduate studies in India. His original plan was to study in the US, work for five years, and then return home. However, he has remained in the US for 32 years. Billionaires generally believe in the potential to build their own companies. Sanjay Gajendra described his journey to the US as one of big dreams, with the primary goal of starting his own business. Amjad Masad, co-founder of Replit, also highlighted the US as a dynamic and innovative market.

India's leading role in the US foreign-born billionaires list underscores the country's potential in technology and entrepreneurship, further enhancing the US's appeal as a hub for international investment.