3 Oregonians make Forbes' list of 'The Richest People in the World'

Two sportswear company leaders and one coffee chain CEO from Oregon were named in the Forbes list.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Oregon’s three billionaires are featured on Forbes’ annual list of “The Richest People in the World.”

This is the 38th year the business media company has ranked the top earners across the globe.

“A record year for ten-figure wealth has left the billionaire class bigger and richer than ever,” Forbes said of its 2024 report.

Nike co-founder and chairman emeritus Phil Knight, along with wife Penny and their children, was the highest-ranking Oregon earner at No. 30. As of Apr. 2, the family was worth $40.9 billion.

The Knights’ net worth has consistently dropped since 2021, when it was $49.9 billion.

In addition to the Forbes mention, the family was previously named one of The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s top donors of 2023. Last year, Phil and Penny Knight gifted $400 million to an initiative that will boost North Portland’s historically-Black Albina neighborhood.

At No. 1496, Columbia Sportswear CEO and President Timothy Boyle was Oregon’s next entry on the Forbes list. The businessman has a net worth of $2.2 billion, a slight drop from the $2.3 billion recorded the previous year.

Boyle’s outdoor gear and apparel brand announced layoffs earlier in February. The company’s operating income significantly declined in 2023, and net sales are expected to drop by up to 4% through 2024.

Dutch Bros CEO and executive chairman Travis Boersma was the final Oregonian named in the report. He ranked at No. 1623, with a net worth of $2 billion — a small decrease from the $2.1 billion recorded in early April 2023.

Boersma’s coffee chain has also undergone some changes this year. Its main headquarters is located in Grants Pass, but in January, the company announced 40% of corporate staff would relocate to the Arizona office due to the strong Phoenix market.