Things to Do
Things to Do

Forbes names richest person in each state. In Georgia, it’s Jim Kennedy

By Shelia Poole
May 26, 2016

Who’s the richest person in the Peach State?

It’s Cox Enterprises Chairman Jim Kennedy with an estimated net worth of $10.5 billion, according to Forbes, which released the second annual “Richest Person in Every State 2016” list on Wednesday. Kennedy is cited for media holdings, which Forbes said is “inherited and growing.”

The listing identifies the wealthiest person in 50 states.

Some people were born into their fortunes. Most built their empires.

Here’s what Forbes had to say about Kennedy, the former CEO of privately-held media giant Cox Enterprises.

Cox Enterprises is an Atlanta-based communications, auto services and media company, whose holdings include The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“Cox continues to add to the automotive part of its business, buying Dealertrack, a maker of software for car dealerships, for $4 billion in 2015. Cox Enterprises also owns Manheim car auctions and Kelley Blue Book,” according to Forbes.

Even Kennedy’s wealth, though, is dwarfed by a guy from Medina, Wash.

The richest person overall is Bill Gates with a net worth of $76 billion.

About the Author

Shelia has worked at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for more than 30 years. Previously, she worked at The Lexington Herald-Leader and The Louisville Defender. Her beat is a bit of a mixed bag that includes religion and spirituality, culture and trends, race and aging. She earned degrees from Spelman College and Northwestern University.

Follow Shelia Poole on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Teams install the red carpet at the Dolby Theater before the Oscars in Los Angeles, on Feb. 21, 2025. Steve Olive, who has worked in the event carpet business for more than three decades, is the man the Academy trusts to get its iconic rug just right. (Jennelle Fong/The New York Times)

Credit: NYT

Who makes the red carpet? Steve. (With some Georgia help)

Owner of Event Carpet Pros, with facility in Dalton, is who the Oscars rely on.

Get St. Patrick’s Day spirit early with beer run at Suwanee’s Beer Chaser 5K

The best individual and group costumes will earn prizes at this fun run in Gwinnett County.

This is how Roberta Flack played cupid for one of Atlanta’s most iconic couples

Valerie Jackson met her husband, former Atlanta mayor Maynard Jackson, at singer Robert Flack's house. Flack died on Feb. 24 in New York.

The Latest

Teams install the red carpet at the Dolby Theater before the Oscars in Los Angeles, on Feb. 21, 2025. Steve Olive, who has worked in the event carpet business for more than three decades, is the man the Academy trusts to get its iconic rug just right. (Jennelle Fong/The New York Times)

Credit: NYT

Who makes the red carpet? Steve. (With some Georgia help)

Where can I find it: costume jewelry appraisal and gun appraisal

5 marathon training tips to get you across the finish line

Featured

Peachtree Center in downtown Atlanta is seen returning to business Wednesday morning, June 12, 2024 after a shooting on Tuesday afternoon left the suspect and three other people injured. (John Spink/AJC)

Credit: John Spink

Pedestrian death at Peachtree Center renews crosswalk safety debate

Merchant killed by car at faded crosswalk after previous road safety measures were reversed.

OPINION

MURPHY: Who really needs the CDC anyway?

Instead of instilling “efficiency” at the CDC, the Trump administration seems only to have only injected blind decision-making and incompetence to the critical agency.

CeeLo Green says Spelman instructor who died on Lake Oconee was like a sister

Atlanta rapper says he grew up with Spelman College professor who died in Georgia lake