NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Forbes 35th annual billionaire list says a New Mexico businessman is the state’s first billionaire. Array Technologies founder Ron Corio made this year’s billionaire list with a net worth of $1.1 billion.

Forbes says the 59-year-old sold several hundred million dollars worth of stock when the company, which makes solar tracking systems, went public last year. Corio founded Array Technologies in 1989 with just $16,000 in startup money and has since stepped down as CEO but remains on the board.

Before Corio rose to billionaire status, New Mexico was one of only seven states without a known billionaire and now that there is one here, who earned a lot of green in the green energy business, people hope he sets a good precedent.

The next wealthiest New Mexicans are oilmen. Internet reports have both Mack Chase and Peyton Yates worth more than $700 million. They’re both from Artesia.

According to the list, the number of people on it grew to an unprecedented 2,755 people, which is 660 more billionaires than last year. Forbes also reports altogether these billionaires are worth $13.1 trillion, which is up from $8 trillion on the 2020 list.

Forbes Ranks Top 10 Billionaires

NameCompanyNet Worth
1. Jeff BezosAmazon$177 billion
2. Elon MuskTesla$151 billion
3. Bernard ArnaultLVMH$150 billion
4. Bill Gates Microsoft$124 billion
5. Mark ZuckerbergFacebook$97 billion
6. Warren BuffetBerkshire Hathaway$96 billion
7. Larry EllisonSoftware$93 billion
8. Larry PageGoogle$91.5 billion
9. Sergey BrinGoogle$89 billion
10. Mukesh AmbaniReliance Industries $84.5 billion