Abigail Johnson Is the Richest Person in Boston
Forbes has released its list of the richest people in America’s 50 largest cities. The most well-heeled Hub resident is Abigail Johnson, CEO of Fidelity Investments and board member of the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership.
“Thirty-one of the 52 forged their own fortunes. Ten inherited them, and nine got a healthy start from their families but have worked to grow the fortune significantly,” wrote Forbes‘ Dan Alexander. “Just 10 are women, and all but two inherited their entire fortunes. Abigail Johnson of Boston got some of her money from her family, but she is actively working to grow the fortune as CEO of Fidelity.”
The Milton resident’s wealth is estimated at $12.3 billion, according to Forbes, with an estimated 24-percent stake in Fidelity. Her grandfather Edward C. Johnson II founded the company in 1946, while her father Ned remains its chairman. Johnson received her bachelor’s degree in art history from Hobart and William Smith before earning her MBA at Harvard Business School. She worked summers at Fidelity through college, and came aboard full-time in 1988 as an analyst.
Johnson, 54, is no stranger to Forbes rankings. Last year, she was named the 34th richest person in the U.S., 85th on the magazine’s list of the world’s billionaires, and the 19th most powerful woman in the world—two spots ahead of Beyonce, and 19 spots higher than former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Also representing New England were Providence’s Jonathan Nelson, CEO of Providence Equity Partners with $2 billion, and Mark Bertolini, CEO of Aetna with $180 million.
You can check out Forbes‘ ranking of the richest people in America’s 50 largest cities here.
