Forbes Israel’s 2026 Jewish Billionaires List presents for the first time this year three Israeli citizens who have broken into the top 20 wealthiest Jews in the world. This isn’t the only record broken in a record-breaking year.
The global list published simultaneously counts three Israelis among the world’s 100 richest people—and 52 billionaires holding Israeli citizenship in total. This represents a new record for Israeli billionaires featured on the prestigious list, compared to 50 Israelis on last year’s list and 42 in 2024.
They’re worth more today than ever. The combined net worth of Israelis on the list totals approximately $308 billion—a 24% increase from 2025 (approximately $250 billion) and a 50% surge compared to the 2024 list (approximately $206 billion).
As mentioned, at the top of the list are three Israeli citizens ranked among the world’s 100 richest people. Miriam Adelson still holds the title of “richest Israeli in the world” and ranks 56th globally, with a fortune of $37.5 billion.
From Football to Formula 1
Adelson has held the title since inheriting half the shares in Las Vegas Sands, the casino and hospitality empire founded by her late husband, Sheldon Adelson. She currently holds more than half of Las Vegas Sands’ shares, a stake that constitutes the lion’s share of the family fortune (an increase of $5.4 billion from last year).
She is also the principal controlling shareholder of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, holding approximately 70% of the team’s shares after purchasing a 30% stake for $3.5 billion. Adelson also publishes the daily newspapers Israel Hayom and Makor Rishon.
Idan Ofer, who only a year ago entered the ranks of the world’s 100 richest for the first time, is currently ranked 61st globally with a total net worth of $34.6 billion—representing a stunning wealth accumulation of over $12 billion in the past year.
The dramatic leap in Idan’s asset values in recent years is attributed to his holdings in Quantum Pacific Group—the private holding company under his control, which has become one of the dominant players in the global shipping industry in recent years. At the heart of the group’s operations is EPS (Eastern Pacific Shipping), the operational shipping arm based in Singapore, which operates a fleet of approximately 210 vessels and holds stakes in two additional shipping companies, XT Shipping and Ace Tankers—and is considered one of the world’s largest private shipping companies.
Idan is also the controlling shareholder of holding company Kenon Holdings and controls the Israel Corporation, which in turn controls OPC Energy and ICL (formerly Israel Chemicals). Additionally, he is a partner in Formula 1, controls a Portuguese football club, and until recently held approximately one-third of the shares in Spanish elite club Atlético Madrid.
This year, Idan surpasses his brother, Eyal Ofer, who like him inherited their late father Sammy Ofer’s shipping empire. While both brothers indeed inherited substantial wealth after their father’s death in 2011, each, in his own domain, succeeded in multiplying that inheritance many times over.
A Fleet of 190 Ships
The eldest Ofer brother, Eyal, built the shipping division of the family business alongside his father in the 1970s. He later succeeded in independently expanding his operations and transformed the group he heads—Ofer Global—into an international conglomerate currently active primarily in shipping, real estate, energy, and technology.
The Zodiac shipping group, which he heads and is based in the UK, currently operates a fleet of approximately 190 vessels and is considered one of the world’s largest maritime shipping companies. He is also the controlling shareholder of Bank Mizrahi-Tefahot, where he holds a 21% stake, and simultaneously serves as a director of Royal Caribbean Cruises, the world’s second-largest cruise company, in which he holds approximately 5%.
Eyal Ofer ranks 62nd on the global billionaires list and holds total assets estimated at $33.6 billion—approximately $5.4 billion more than last year.
Rounding out the five wealthiest Israelis in the world are two high-tech entrepreneurs, the technological entrepreneur brothers Dmitri and Igor Bukhman, who hold Israeli citizenship and currently reside in London. Igor Bukhman and his brother Dmitri were born and raised in Vologda, Russia. During their residence in Israel, the foundations were laid for building Playrix, a mobile game developer, which they turned into one of the world’s largest gaming giants. Playrix created an enormous fortune for the brother duo currently valued by Forbes at nearly $28 billion ($13.6 billion each).
The New Billionaires on the Block
Seven Israelis entered Forbes’ billionaires list for the first time this year – a list Forbes Israel partners in compiling. Accordingly, these new Israeli billionaires are also making their debut on the Jewish billionaires ranking.
One of the most intriguing names on this year’s list is tech entrepreneur Alex Bouaziz, co-founder and CEO of fintech giant Deel, who was selected several years ago for Forbes Israel’s 30 Under 30 list and now enters the billionaires ranking with an estimated net worth of $2 billion.
Bouaziz (32) who immigrated to Israel, founded Deel in 2019 alongside Shuo Wang, an entrepreneur of Chinese descent and his classmate from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). The fascinating startup created by the young entrepreneurial duo developed a platform enabling businesses to hire employees and freelancers worldwide – handling all bureaucratic aspects, from creating contracts adapted to local regulations in 150 countries, through managing payroll and benefits, to processing payments in over 120 different currencies. The critical turning point in the company’s meteoric growth came with the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic, which brought extended lockdowns, paralyzed entire nations, and upended the global labor market.
Deel, based in San Francisco but maintaining strong ties to Israel and employing numerous workers there, has experienced meteoric growth in recent years. From a simple payment application, it has evolved into a comprehensive global HR system that has already crossed the $500 million annual recurring revenue (ARR) threshold and currently employs approximately 5,000 workers across 150 countries. The company was valued at $17.3 billion in its latest funding round in October 2024 – a stunning achievement for a company founded just five years ago.
Alongside Alex Bouaziz, six new names join the list this year – all from the insurance and finance sector. Tali Griffel and Niva Gurevitch, who jointly hold approximately 63% of insurance company Menora’s total share capital, are each currently worth $2.9 billion according to Forbes. Over the past year, the company’s stock surged 200%, boosting the sisters’ shareholdings – inherited from their late father, Menachem Gurevitch – by $2 billion in a single year.
The net worth of the Hamburger family siblings – Yair Hamburger, Gideon Hamburger, and Nurit Manor – who jointly hold approximately 46% of insurance company Harel’s share capital, is currently estimated by Forbes at approximately $1.8 billion each. Alfred Akirov, founder and controlling shareholder of real estate company Alrov, also makes his list debut with a total net worth of $1.6 billion. The company’s stock also benefited from the insurance sector boom thanks to a roughly 14% stake in insurance company Clal, which surged 100% over the past year and multiplied the real estate company’s net profit thirtyfold in the first three quarters of 2025.
Israeli Tech’s Billionaire Factory
Alongside the new names, additional prominent Israeli billionaires feature on the list – many of whom made their fortunes in Israel’s booming high-tech sector. Alongside young billionaires that Israel’s tech production line continues to generate annually, the list features veteran, experienced tech entrepreneurs – like Gil Shwed, for instance, considered one of the pillars of Israeli cyber. Shwed’s net worth is currently estimated by Forbes at $4.5 billion, nearly $2 billion less than last year’s valuation ($6.4 billion). His primary wealth source stems from his holdings in Israeli cyber giant Check Point, which he founded over 30 years ago and where he holds a significant stake of approximately 25%. Over the past year, the company’s stock was cut by roughly 30%. During 2025, Shwed liquidated approximately 2.5 million shares in an estimated value of approximately $533 million (pre-tax).
The flagship of local high-tech has generated numerous billionaires over the years. The fortune of Shlomo Kramer, who alongside Shwed co-signed Check Point’s founding, is currently estimated at $2.4 billion (unchanged from last year). The fortune of Marius Nacht, also one of the three “founding fathers,” the company’s former chairman and currently a serial tech investor, is currently estimated at $1.8 billion (approximately $400 million more than last year). Nir Zuk, another “Check Point alumnus” who joined in its early days in the 1990s and left in a door-slamming departure only to establish its biggest competitor – Palo Alto Networks – is currently valued at approximately $1.4 billion.
