Robert Johnson Rejoins Oprah on Forbes 400 List

The collective net worth of the America's wealthiest climbed $120 billion, to $1.25 trillion, compared with $1.13 trillion last year. 

Black Entertainment Television founder Robert Johnson (#374), America's first black billionaire, rebuilt his fortune with investments in real estate and restaurants, to return to this year’s list. He bought 100 hotels for $1.7 billion in August. Johnson is also the first black person to hold a controlling interest in a professional sports team. Forbes puts his net worth at $1 billion.

The only other black on the list is talk show queen Oprah Winfrey (#242), embarking on her third decade ruling daytime television. Oprah's net worth grew this year to $1.5 billion.

Surging real estate, oil and other asset prices paved the way for 28 new members and 14 returnees to this years list.

Bill Gates has held the No. 1 spot for the last 13 years, and Warren Buffett has been No. 2 every year since 1994 except 2000, when Larry Ellison of Oracle Corp. held that spot. Buffett who will be giving away most of his wealth to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, saw his net worth jump by $6 billions.

Google Inc. founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page gained about $13 million a day over the last two years, placing them in 12th and 13th place and making them the two youngest people on the list at 33 years old.