Haslam Brothers Ranked Among Wealthiest Americans
The former Pilot owners join the 2026 Forbes 400 list, highlighting wealth shifts for private equity-backed business founders.
Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Jimmy and Bill Haslam have been named to the 2026 Forbes 400 list, which tracks the net worth of the wealthiest people in the U.S. This ranking follows the 2024 sale of their family business, Pilot, to Berkshire Hathaway.
Why it matters
The list reflects broad economic shifts, as the total combined wealth of the 400 individuals reached $8 trillion in 2026, up from $6.6 trillion in 2025. Monitoring these trends helps operators understand the capital concentration within the private sector.
Jimmy Haslam holds a net worth of $12.2 billion, while Bill Haslam is valued at $6.3 billion. The top 20 individuals on this year's list collectively control $4 trillion of the $8 trillion total wealth identified among the 400 participants.
The players
Jimmy Haslam
Majority owner of the Cleveland Browns since 2012 and co-founder of the family business Pilot.
Bill Haslam
Former two-term Tennessee governor and Knoxville mayor with a background in leading the family business Pilot.
Berkshire Hathaway
A multinational conglomerate known for its diversified portfolio and major acquisitions of private companies.
The details
The rankings are derived from annual assessments of net worth across the U.S. population. The Haslams' presence on the list follows the divestiture of their family enterprise, Pilot, which was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway in 2024. These figures serve as a benchmark for capital accumulation in the post-acquisition environment for major business operators.
Timeline
September 15, 2026: Forbes released the 2026 400 list.
June 2026: The Haslams donated $130 million to the University of Tennessee.
2024: Pilot was sold to Berkshire Hathaway.
2011-2019: Bill Haslam served as Tennessee governor.
2003-2011: Bill Haslam served as Knoxville mayor.
Market Landscape
The Haslams' inclusion in the 2026 Forbes 400 follows the 2024 sale of Pilot to Berkshire Hathaway. This transaction represents a notable shift in private equity and family-held asset liquidity within the broader U.S. economy.
Operators should monitor shifts in capital concentration as indicators of broader market liquidity and merger activity. Tracking changes in the net worth of major industry players provides signals on where institutional capital may move following major business exits.
The takeaway
Large-scale wealth metrics provide useful context for understanding capital consolidation in the domestic market. Operators should watch the ongoing impact of the Haslams' $130 million donation to the University of Tennessee as a marker of how liquid proceeds from major exits are recycled into institutional infrastructure.
Further reading
For more on the intersection of wealth and institutional giving, visit Philanthropy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Knoxville News Sentinel.
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