George SorosDespite the crisis that struck the hedge fund industry last year, alternative investments titans remain well-represented on Forbes magazine’s list of the richest Americans.

Fifty-one members of this year’s Forbes 400 are involved in the alternative investment industry. Hedge fund and private equity billionaires are even better represented in the top 100, with 17 entrants.

Of course, a lot of them lost money, many of them a lot of money. But so did they other Forbes 400ers, who lost a combined $300 billion over the past 12 months. It’s only the fifth time in more than 25 years that the richest people in the U.S. actually lost money.

George Soros is America’s richest hedgie, appearing in 15th place with $13 billion. Buyout kingpin Carl Icahn finished in 22nd place with $10.5 billion, followed by Ronald Perelman in 23rd place with $10 billion. Also in the top 50 were Renaissance Technologies’ James Simons ($8.5 billion), John Paulson ($6.8 billion), SAC Capital Advisors’ Steven Cohen ($6.4 billion) and The Blackstone Group’s Steven Schwarzman.

Of course, given the wretchedness of the past year for many a hedgie, not all were able to hold on to their coveted spots on the list. Clarium Capital Management’s Peter Thiel dropped off after just a year among the 400. Private equity honcho J. Christopher Flowers was also de-listed. And then there is R. Allen Stanford, the accused hedge fund fraudster, whose allegedly illusory wealth also disappeared, as did he from the Forbes 400.

Hedge Fund and Private Equity Executives
on the Forbes 400 List of Wealthiest Americans