Forbes 400 Richest Americans:
The Drop-Offs
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Getty Images | AP
The Forbes 400 is a list of the elite -- it wouldn't mean anything without a little competition, right? With competition, however, comes elimination. Some wealthy Americans from last year's list didn't make it to the 2007 list. Click forward to see who won't be joining the rest this year.
· Read About the Drop-Offs
Next: Howard Schultz -
Howard Schultz
Starbucks CEO
Dropped off this year
Starbucks shares are off 32 percent over the past year as the gourmet coffee chain struggles to maintain strong same-store sales growth. That performance has cost Schultz, who owns 17.7 million shares as of the latest filing, about $229 million. To reverse course, he's banking on more overseas stores and an expanded product line that includes coffee-chocolate drinks.
More on Howard Schultz
Next: Robert Johnson -
Robert Johnson
Black Entertainment Television CEO
Dropped off this year
The BET founder cashed in 1999, when he sold the cable network to Viacom for $3 billion. The deal made Johnson the first black billionaire in American history. And prior to selling out to Viacom, BET was also the first black-controlled company to trade on the New York Stock Exchange. Still worth about $1 billion after an expensive divorce, Johnson has a current portfolio that includes recording studios, hotels and the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats.
More on Robert Johnson
Next: Helen Walton -
Helen Walton
Wal-Mart shareholder
Passed away April 19, 2007
The renowned Walton family of Wal-Mart riches now has one fewer member on the Forbes 400 following Helen Walton's passing on April 19 at age 87. Helen was the widow of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, who passed away in 1992, and mother to his four children, all of whom have appeared on the Forbes 400. At the time of her death, Helen's fortune was worth an estimated $15 billion.
More on Helen Walton
Next: Charles Simonyi -
Charles Simonyi
Charles Simonyi
Former Microsoft developer; space traveler
The former chief software architect at Microsoft who oversaw the development of the enormously profitable software programs Word and Excel, Simonyi has found even wider fame in the past two years as a civilian space traveler and as Martha Stewart's main squeeze. In April, he accompanied a U.S. astronaut and Russian cosmonaut on a 14-day mission to the International Space Station.
More on Charles Simonyi
Next: Leona Helmsley -
Jennifer Graylock, AP
Leona Helmsley
Hotels, real estate
Died Aug. 20, 2007
Dubbed the "Queen of Mean" for her demanding management style, Helmsley saw her fortunes take off when she began managing husband Harry Helmsley's investment properties in the 1970s. Her 19-month prison term stemming from a 1989 tax evasion conviction didn't slow her down much--Helmsley was worth $2.5 billion upon her death.
More on Leona Helmsley
See All Drop-Offs
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