Naples’ David Hoffmann rises on Forbes billionaires list

Naples businessman David Hoffmann moved up sharply on Forbes’ 2026 World’s Billionaires list, ranking No. 1,611 with an estimated net worth of $2.6 billion as his family investment firm expanded its reach in media, real estate and professional sports. 

Forbes’ 2026 list included a record 3,428 billionaires worldwide with a combined net worth of $20.1 trillion. 

For Hoffmann, 73, the new ranking is the latest milestone in a rise that began only a few years ago. His fortune is traced to an executive search business and the investments that followed. He founded DHR Global in 1989 after taking out two mortgages on his home, according to Forbes, and later turned that success into a sprawling portfolio of businesses and real estate under the Naples-based Hoffmann Family of Companies. 

That company has become one of the most prominent family-owned enterprises with ties to Southwest Florida. It includes more than 200 acquired brands and properties, more than 22,000 employees, more than 400 locations and operations in 30 countries. 

Its holdings span eight sectors — real estate, media and marketing, hospitality and entertainment, financial and professional services, marine, manufacturing, agriculture and aviation and transportation. 

Leadership of the business has increasingly shifted to Hoffmann’s sons. Geoff Hoffmann oversees private equity, Greg Hoffmann leads real estate, and David Hoffmann remains founder and chairman. 

The company’s growth has been especially visible in recent months. Hoffmann deepened his stake in local journalism with a $50 million investment in newspaper chain Lee Enterprises, a move that made him chairman of the publisher’s board. 

In December, the company also announced an agreement to acquire a controlling interest in the Pittsburgh Penguins, pending NHL approval. The Penguins would become the first major professional sports franchise in a portfolio that already includes the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. 

Hoffmann was not the only billionaire with Naples ties to appear on Forbes’ 2026 list. Naples resident Shahid Khan, the auto parts entrepreneur and owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, ranked No. 193 with an estimated fortune of $15 billion. Reinhold Schmieding, founder of North Naples-based Arthrex, ranked No. 694 with $6 billion. Paychex founder and Naples philanthropist Tom Golisano ranked No. 869 with $4.9 billion. Richard Schulze, chairman emeritus of Best Buy and a Naples resident, ranked No. 1,011 with $4.2 billion. 

At the top of the global ranking, Forbes placed Elon Musk, chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX, at No. 1 with an estimated net worth of $839 billion. He was followed by Google co-founders Larry Page at $257 billion and Sergey Brin at $237 billion, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos at $224 billion and Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg at $222 billion.