Forbes does not publish an official list of “the richest Christians.” It ranks wealth, not worship.Still, several people on the Forbes 400 and World’s Billionaires lists are openly Christian — and some have built their companies around that faith. Their story is not that money proves holiness. It is that a few of the world’s wealthiest people still say God owns it all.
The Most Explicit Christian on the List
David Green, founder of Hobby Lobby, is the clearest example.A preacher’s son who started with a $600 loan and a tiny Oklahoma City shop, Green built one of America’s largest craft retailers. Forbes has long listed him among U.S. billionaires. He still says the company belongs to God, not to him.Hobby Lobby stores close on Sundays. The family has given large sums to Bible translation, the Museum of the Bible, and gospel-centered ministries. Green has said he plans to give most of the company away. His line has not changed for years:“God owns it all.”That is rare language on a wealth ranking.
Other Widely Known Christian Names on Forbes Lists.
These people appear on Forbes billionaire rankings and have publicly identified as Christian or built companies with explicit Christian convictions. Fortunes move with the market; the faith claims are public record.David Green & family — Hobby Lobby. Open evangelical faith, Sunday closing, large gospel giving. Dan Cathy & the Cathy family — Chick-fil-A. The chain remains closed on Sundays and has long been associated with the family’s Southern Baptist faith.The Walton family (Alice, Rob, Jim) — Walmart heirs. Raised in a Christian home; among the richest Americans in 2026, with Alice Walton again America’s richest woman. Their public identity is more philanthropic than evangelical.Foster Friess (estate / family legacy) and other evangelical donors have appeared on older lists; living evangelical operators like Green remain the sharper faith-and-business story.Patrick Gelsinger — former Intel CEO, now in faith-tech; a publicly outspoken Christian, though not in the top-tier billionaire ranks.Pastors such as Joel Osteen or Kenneth Copeland are often called “rich” online. They do not appear on the Forbes 400. Forbes tracks company equity and investable assets, not estimated church income.What the List Cannot Measure
The 2026 Forbes 400 is led by names like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Larry Page, and Michael Dell. Some of those figures have spoken about God, church, or prayer at times. That is not the same as a public Christian identity or a company built on the gospel.The Christian story on the Forbes list is smaller and quieter:A few billionaires still tithe.A few still close on Sunday.A few still say the fortune is not theirs.In a year when the top of the list is measured in hundreds of billions, the most interesting Christian entry may not be the largest number. It may be the owner who keeps repeating Psalm 24:1 — the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.Wealth can make a list.Stewardship is the testimony.