SUMNER REDSTONE
Net Worth: $8.3 billion, down 6.7%
Last Year: $8.9 billion
Age: 81
Residence: Beverly Hills
Source of Wealth: Media, entertainment
Background: Chairman and chief executive of third-largest U.S. media company, Viacom Inc., which includes CBS, MTV, Paramount Pictures and Infinity Broadcasting. Married former schoolteacher Paula Fortunato in April 2003 and took up residence in a $14.5 million Beverly Hills home purchased from Sylvester Stallone (gloats that he paid $1.5 million less than Sly). Viacom shares are down 9 percent from last May at roughly $35 a share – and significantly off summer 2000 high of $70. Company spun off poor-performing Blockbuster last October. Redstone also won a power struggle with Mel Karmazin, who was replaced in the number two spot by co-chief operating officers Tom Freston and Les Moonves. Redstone plans to remain chairman of Viacom, but announced his intention to step down as chief executive by December 2007. His pay reached $56 million last year, including a salary of nearly $5 million, a $16.5 million bonus and stock options valued at north of $34 million. Daughter Shari is taking a more active role in the company, serving as president and director of National Amusements Inc. Born in Boston to drive-in-theater owner, Redstone earned a Harvard undergraduate degree in two and half years, also got his law degree there in 1947. Served in World War II Military Intelligence Division breaking Japanese code. After brief law career, joined father’s National Amusements Inc. in 1954 and built it into 1,425-screen movie theater chain, acquiring a controlling interest in Viacom in 1987. Can be seen on occasion at Dan Tana’s. Active in Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society; supported John Kerry’s presidential bid.

KIRK KERKORIAN
Net Worth: $8.1 billion, up 9.5%
Last Year: $7.4 billion
Age: 87
Residence: Beverly Hills
Source of Wealth: Investments
Background: Billionaire investor recently purchased 22 million shares of General Motors stock and offered to buy another 28 million for $868 million. Says the investment, which would amount to 8.8 percent of the struggling automaker’s stock, is passive. But Kerkorian has a history as an active investor who can be patient when he wants to. In the 1990s, he pressured Chrysler Corp. to increase its dividend by launching a hostile takeover bid. He eventually reached a détente with Chrysler management and supported its merger with Daimler-Benz – only to sue later. He is appealing a U.S. District Court ruling last month against him in a $1 billion lawsuit over the 1998 merger between Chrysler and Daimler-Benz. Kerkorian has also bought and sold Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. three times, most recently selling to a consortium led by Sony Corp. last year, for $4.9 billion (netting over $2 billion). Still controls MGM Mirage Inc., which acquired Mandalay Resort Group last year and now owns more than half the hotel rooms on the Las Vegas Strip. MGM Mirage shares have risen more than 50 percent in the past 12 months. The Fresno-born son of Armenian immigrants started peddling newspapers in Los Angeles at age nine, became an amateur boxer, flew in the Royal Air Force during World War II, pocketing a small fortune for flying dangerous missions. He began amassing a serious fortune in 1947 with purchase of charter airline in Los Angeles. Owns stakes in both GM and MGM through his private investment company, Tracinda Corp., based in Beverly Hills.

BARBARA DAVIS AND FAMILY
Net Worth: $6.4 billion, up 6.7%
Last Year: $6 billion
Age: Would not disclose
Residence: Beverly Hills
Source of Wealth: Oil, real estate, entertainment
Background: Marvin Davis died in September at the age of 79, leaving wife Barbara – they were high school sweethearts – and five children. (Family would not disclose details of how Davis’ assets were distributed to his heirs.) She did sell the couple’s legendary Beverly Hills home, “the Knoll,” for $46 million, after it was originally listed for $70 million. Family owns several radio stations. Son Gregg runs Texas-based energy companies Davis Petroleum Corp., Davis Petroleum Pipeline and Davis Offshore, holding lucrative leases in Texas and the Gulf of Mexico. He has plans to re-enter the Colorado market where Marvin Davis first struck it rich in oil and real estate (later moving to Los Angeles). Son John is a producer, running Davis Entertainment Co. and Davis Entertainment Television, with titles including “Daddy Day Care” and “Dr. Doolittle.” Barbara Davis long has been active in charitable causes. After daughter Dana was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes in 1977, she founded the Children’s Diabetes Foundation and the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes in Denver. Also founded the Nancy Davis Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis in 1993 after daughter Nancy was diagnosed with the disease. Donates prolifically and often anonymously. Known for hosting the Carousel of Hope gala fundraiser for diabetes research.

ELI BROAD
Net Worth: $4.8 billion, down 9.4%
Last Year: $5.3 billion
Age: 72
Residence: Brentwood
Source of Wealth: Homebuilding, insurance
Background: May not be the richest, but generally regarded as the most influential Angeleno. Broad has made a goal of reshaping the city, and puts his money where his mouth is. Led efforts to turn around Museum of Contemporary Art and Los Angeles County Museum of Art with major donations of his own art pieces. Placed LACMA on the contemporary art map and reshaped its board; brought in architect Renzo Piano for $156-million refurbishing project, including $60 million from Broad for new LACMA wing housing the Eli Broad Contemporary Museum. New project replaces Rem Koolhaas’ highly contested proposal. Made his fortune co-founding homebuilder KB Home and financial services firm SunAmerica. Sold SunAmerica to insurer American International Group Inc. in 1998 for $18 billion. Broad has lost $700 million in AIG holdings after the stock plummeted on talk of earnings being manipulated. Put the brakes on a furious pace of philanthropy, giving away $100 million last year, compared with $409 million in 2003. Jump-started then-floundering Walt Disney Concert Hall, now leads massive redevelopment project along Grand Avenue.

DAVID MURDOCK
Net Worth: $4.5 billion, up 50%
Last Year: $3 billion*
Age: 82
Residence: Los Angeles
Source of Wealth: Real estate, agriculture
Background: It’s been a good year for the owner of Dole Foods Co., which Murdock took private in March 2003. Earnings are up and debt leverage is down. Added to fresh and frozen fruit holdings last year by acquiring Coastal Berry and J.R. Wood. Real estate holdings also growing; Castle & Cooke’s residential group delivered over 1,800 homes and lots last year in Hawaii, California, Arizona, North Carolina and Florida. Owns 98 percent of Hawaiian island Lanai, the largest privately owned island in the United States. Combined companies employ more than 67,000 in more than 90 countries. High school dropout who made, lost and made fortune again in California real estate development and through acquisition and reorganization of undervalued companies. Healthy eating advocate, he is constructing a wellbeing complex that will include medical facilities, television production facilities and a five-star hotel next to Dole headquarters. Breeder of more than 200 Arabian horses. Has orchid collection with 30,000 plus plants. Big Republican Party supporter.
*Revised

JEFFREY SKOLL
Net Worth: $4.5 billion
Last Year: Not on list
Age: 40
Residence: Los Angeles
Source of Wealth: Internet
Background: First president of eBay Inc. and one of its largest shareholders. Retired from company in 2001. Intensely private, Skoll splits his time between Los Angeles and the Bay area. Has more than $4 billion in volatile eBay stock, which has fallen to the mid-$30s range from nearly $60 in January. Started Skoll Foundation in 1999 with about $380 million to support social entrepreneurship around the globe; serves as chairman. Foundation gave away more than $25 million last year to budding entrepreneurs in the U.S. and developing countries. Founded film production company Participant Productions that finances documentaries and feature films with socially conscious themes. Endowed the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the Said Business School at Oxford University, donated $7.5 million to University of Toronto. Born in Canada, went to University of Toronto before going to Stanford Business School, class of 1995.

DAVID GEFFEN
Net Worth: $4.3 billion, up 22.9%
Last Year: $3.5 billion
Age: 62
Residence: Malibu
Source of Wealth: Entertainment
Background: Co-founded DreamWorks Studios with Spielberg and Katzenberg in 1994. Studio spun off animation unit last year before release of “Shrek 2,” which helped Dreamworks Animation SKG gross over $1 billion in 2004, more than tripling 2003’s grosses. Stock in animation company took a hit with lower-than-expected first-quarter earnings, but is still above IPO price. Vivendi Universal SA bought DreamWorks Records for $100 million, after Geffen sold the music unit’s Beverly Hills office for $33 million. Born in Brooklyn to working-class parents, Geffen dropped out of college to pursue career in entertainment, starting out in the William Morris Agency mailroom. Founded Geffen Records in 1980 and sold it a decade later to MCA, netting $710 million when MCA sold it to Matsushita. Avid art collector, sold a rare drip painting by Jackson Pollock for $52 million to Steven A. Cohen. Donated $200 million to UCLA School of Medicine in 2001. In 1991, invested $200 million with hedge fund manager Eddie Lampert. Stake could be worth more than $5 billion today, but Geffen won’t elaborate. Must pay legal bills after losing battle to privatize beach in front of his Malibu beachfront property.

PATRICK SOON-SHIONG
Net Worth: $3.6 billion, up 157.1%
Last Year: $1.4 billion
Age: 52
Residence: Los Angeles
Source of Wealth: Pharmaceuticals
Background: Hit it big when the Food and Drug Administration approved Abraxane cancer drug, sending shares of American Pharmaceutical Partners Inc. through the roof and confounding Wall Street short sellers. Drug is a more effective form of the best-selling breast cancer drug Taxol and a big addition to the drug maker’s cabinet of generics. Soon-Shiong founded and owns 80 percent of the privately held biotech firm American BioScience, which in turn owns 68.4 percent of public American Pharmaceutical Partners. Analysts project sales of Abraxane will top $250 million next year. The South African-born doctor joined UCLA medical school faculty in 1983. As surgeon, he helped pioneer procedure to transplant pancreatic cells to treat diabetes in 1986. Co-invented 30 patented compounds that form basis for Abraxane and other possible drugs. Went on to start VivoRx with brother Terrence to pursue diabetes research but company wound up in nasty dispute with brother and another pharmaceutical company. Formed American BioScience for cancer research.

STEVEN FERENCZ UDVAR-HAZY
Net Worth: $3 billion, up 15.4%
Last Year: $2.6 billion
Age: 59
Residence: Beverly Hills
Source of Wealth: Aircraft leasing
Background: The chairman and chief executive of International Lease Finance Corp. took a hit when stock in embattled insurance giant American International Group plummeted (with Leslie and Louis Gonda, he sold the jet leasing company to AIG in 1990). But he has more than made up for that loss; claims $750 million in non-AIG equity stakes, $380 million in securities and about $130 million in real estate. Values collections of art, autos, antiques and planes at $54 million. Founded jet leasing company in 1973 and took it public a decade later. Director of Skywest Inc. and certified jet pilot. Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum dedicated the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in 2003, in recognition of his $60 million donation. Gives to UCLA, the L.A. Science Center Museum, Stanford University and the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Born in Budapest, Hungary in 1946, immigrated to U.S. in 1958.

EDWARD ROSKI JR.
Net Worth: $2.8 billion, up 12%
Last Year: $2.5 billion*
Age: 66
Residence: Toluca Lake
Source of Wealth: Real estate
Background: Roski’s Majestic Realty, the largest commercial developer in Southern California, put up Staples Center with Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz. Portfolio grew to 58.7 million square feet last year and Majestic is developing another 3 million or so square feet. Roski made it big not in corporate boardrooms, but in gritty places like City of Industry, Commerce and Chino. His business parks in Industry – Crossroads, Fairway and Grand Crossing – regularly sign leases for warehouse and distribution space in the tens of millions of dollars. Has branched into gaming, owns Silverton Casino in Las Vegas and adjacent 100 acres off Strip; casino undergoing $150-million expansion. Also developing 424-acre Beltway Business Park in Las Vegas with Thomas & Mack Co., and Northern Beltway, a 103-acre business park for heavy manufacturing and warehouses. Raised in Westchester, played football at USC, served in Marines before joining family business in 1960s. Part owner of L.A. Kings hockey team and has small stake in L.A. Lakers, the most valuable team in the NBA at $454 million. Working off and on with Anschutz and Casey Wasserman to bring NFL team to Los Angeles.
*Revised

BRADLEY WAYNE HUGHES & FAMILY
Net Worth: $2.7 billion, up 35%
Last Year: $2 billion
Age: 71
Residence: Malibu
Source of Wealth: Storage facilities
Background: The chairman of Glendale-based Public Storage Inc. got a boost as stock climbed 50 percent over the course of the past year. Started Public Storage with one property in 1972; merged 18 affiliated real estate investment trusts into Public Storage from 1994 to 1998. Today, REIT has interests in nearly 1,400 storage facilities in 37 states. Drew $60,000 salary as chief executive until retirement last year. Owns two adjacent beachfront properties in Malibu of two acres each. Longtime racehorse owner, bought 773-acre Kentucky thoroughbred nursery Spendthrift Farm last June. Had four horses nominated this year for the Triple Crown; owns fourth-place Kentucky Derby finisher Don’t Get Mad.

STEVEN SPIELBERG
Net Worth: $2.6 billion, up 8.3%
Last Year: $2.4 billion
Age: 57
Residence: Pacific Palisades
Source of Wealth: Entertainment
Background: Director of top-grossing films “Jaws,” “E.T.” and “Jurassic Park”; received best director Oscars for “Schindler’s List” and “Saving Private Ryan.” Started DreamWorks SKG with Geffen and Katzenberg in 1994 with the hopes of building a full-fledged studio, but only the movie division has really prospered. Will capitalize on spinoff animation company, which went public last year. Says he gets to much credit for being an astute businessman, but he does have a way of locking up lucrative deals. Reportedly collects 2 percent of gross sales at Universal parks in Florida, as well as a piece of Universal Studios Japan receipts for consultant work – part of a deal set up in the 1980s to reward his creative success. Continues to direct and produce major blockbusters. Upcoming films include “War of the Worlds,” a remake of the H.G. Wells classic starring Tom Cruise that will be released this summer. Future projects include “Indiana Jones 4” (directing) and “Jurassic Park IV” (producing). Founded Shoah Visual History Foundation to preserve memory of the Holocaust using video testimony. Received numerous honors, including being knighted by British Empire.

JOHN SHEA & FAMILY
Net Worth: $2.4 billion, up 118.2%
Last Year: $1.1 billion
Age: 78
Residence: Pasadena
Source of Wealth: Homebuilding, apartments
Background: Family patriarch John F. Shea started company as plumbing wholesaler in Oregon in 1881. Evolved into multi-division J.F. Shea Co., nation’s largest privately held homebuilder. Helped build Washington, D.C., subway system, Golden Gate Bridge, Hoover Dam. Divisions include Shea Properties (develops and manages commercial and apartment properties), Shea Homes (designs and builds homes and planned communities), and Shea Mortgage (home financing unit). Shea Properties holds portfolio exceeding 15 million square feet, worth $1.3 billion. John owns 50 percent, his cousins Peter and Edmund share the rest. Homebuilding is newest activity, with operations in California, Washington state, Arizona and North Carolina; autonomous operation of those units, ability to respond to local market credited with homebuilding division’s growth from to $3 billion last year from $1.3 billion in 1999.