By Jessica Dunham & Craig Outhier
10 Richest Arizonans by Net Worth
Who among us hasn’t craned to look at a friend’s bank statement, or rubbernecked in a nice neighborhood? Satisfy your pangs by peeking into this dossier of Valley wealth and income.
1. (tie)
DriveTime owner Ernest Garcia II
$3.2 billion
How he made it: Used cars. Lots of used cars.
1. (tie)
U-Haul VP Mark Shoen
$3.2 billion
How he made it: Turning your move into an “adventure.”
3.
Businessman Arte Moreno
$3 billion
How he made it: Billboards and baseball.
4.
U-Haul CEO Joe Shoen
$2.7 billion
How he made it: See Mark Shoen. (Joe owns fewer shares.)
5.
GoDaddy founder Bob Parsons
$2.5 billion
How he made it: Web domains and tax software.
6.
Campbell’s soup Scion Bennett Dorrance
$2.3 billion
How he made it: Soup is good food. Profitable, too.
7.
Investor Stewart Horejsi
$1.9 billion
How he made it: Gave Warren Buffett a few thou in 1980.
8.
University of Phoenix chairman Peter Sperling
$1.4 billion
How he made it: Federally-backed student loans.
9.
Swift Transportation CEO Jerry Moyes
$1.2 billion
How he made it: Movin’ dem trucks.
10.
Arizona Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill
$1 billion
How he made it: NFL gravy train.
Notable Nine-Figure-Naires
Diane Halle
She’s the widow of late Discount Tire founder Bruce Halle, who was worth around $6 billion when he passed in 2018. Didn’t appear on Forbes’ billionaire list in 2019, but she’s gotta be close, no?
John Kapoor
Pharma titan and notorious fentanyl pusher’s former $3.3 billion net worth is currently around $875 million, following his conviction on a variety of racketeering charges.
Jerry Colangelo
The former Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks chieftain is worth around $300 million, according to multiple sources.
Source: Forbes, Celebrity Net Worth
The 5 Priciest Homes in the 5 Ritziest Neighborhoods
Attention, homebuyers
We did the legwork for you. Based on the average estimated Home Value Index (HVI) on Zillow, these are the area’s most valuable real estate markets, including the priciest home for sale in each.
* All data current at time of writing.
Paradise Valley
HVI: $1.8 million
Priciest home for sale: 7046 N. 59th Pl.
Any auto enthusiasts in the house? This little fixer-upper is listed for $19.9 million and boasts 20,000 square feet with six bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and a 20-car garage.
Pinnacle Peak, Scottsdale
HVI: $786,000
Priciest home for sale: 9661 E. Cintarosa Pass
A modern designer home listed for $9.9 million, this house clings to the mountainside showing off its sharp corners, right angles and windows of glass.
Balboa Way, Chandler
HVI: $601,000
Priciest home for sale: 4330 S. Rosemary Pl.
This Tuscan-style villa goes for $935,000 and features a resort-style approach to backyard living: an infinity pool overlooking a lake, a swim-up bar and a commercial-grade outdoor kitchen.
North Scottsdale
HVI: $527,000
Priciest home for sale: 10355 E. Robs Camp Rd.
For $8.75 million, you get two master suites, McDowell Mountain sunrises and golf course views. And not just any ol’ golf course – the home backs up to Silverleaf, the fabled mega-millions community in the McDowell foothills.
Ocotillo, Chandler
HVI: $400,000
Priciest home for sale: 1470 W. Island Cir.
Nestled against the lush greens of a golf course on an island (yes, an island), this $1.3 million château showcases a French country aesthetic, complete with wine cellar and romantic balconies.
Who Makes What?
The mayor of Gilbert vs. the mayor of Chandler. ASU coach vs. Cardinals coach. Dog groomer vs. dog catcher. Compare and contrast these salaries and more with this probing glimpse into Valley income.
Vice Mayor of Surprise
Roland F. Winters
$20,242
Mayor of Phoenix
Kate Gallego
$87,999
Mayor of Tempe
Mark Mitchell
$59,473
Mayor of Peoria
Cathy Carlat
$32,904
Mayor of Mesa
John C Giles
$73,545
Mayor of Gilbert
Jenn Daniels
$43,361
Phoenix City Manager
Ed Zuercher
$334,000
Governor
Doug Ducey
$95,000
U.s. senator
Kyrsten Sinema
$174,000
Suns Backup Point Guard
Jawun Evans
$1,378,242
Phoenix Mercury 5-time Scoring Champion
Diana Taurasi
$117,500
Arizona Coyotes Goalie
Antti Raanta
$5,000,000
Phoenix Rising Goalie
Zac Lubin
$2,000
reserve D-backs outfielder
Yasmany Tomás
$15,500,000
GoDaddy CEO
Scott Wagner
$750,000 Salary
$22,520,839 Total Comp
* Stepped down in August due to poor revenue report.
PetSmart CEO
J.K. Symancyk
$700,000
Freeport-McMoRan CEO
Richard Adkerson
$1,600,000 Salary
$13,781,040 Total Comp
University of Arizona Psychiatrist
$154,480
State of Arizona Psychiatrist
$94,860
Mayo Clinic Psychiatrist
$229,489
Phoenix Park Ranger
$51,156
Environmental Program Coordinator: Pima CC
$51,643
Food and Beverage Coordinator: Mesa Department of Arts and Culture
$52,645
True Food Kitchen Executive Chef
$72,078
Head Football Coach ASU
Herm Edwards
$2,250,000
Head Football Coach U of A
Kevin Sumlin
$2,480,000
Head Football Coach NAU
Chris Ball
$185,000
President of ASU
Michael Crow
$600,000
President of NAU
Rita Hartung Cheng
$390,000
President of U of A
Robert Robbins
$800,000
Chancellor Maricopa Community Colleges
Maria Harper-Marinick
$413,000
Maricopa Community Colleges Presidents
$170,850-$221,482
Teacher, Cave Creek Unified School District
$46,825
Teacher, Tolleson Elementary School District
$51,705
Department of Juvenile Corrections Janitor
$28,195
Avondale Public Works Sanitation Inspector
$86,534
Phoenix Library Assistant
$51,813
ASU Librarian
$56,080
Maricopa CC Librarian
$100,573
Chief Engineer for Valley Metro
$102,510
Schools for the Deaf and Blind Bus Driver
*$15,000
State of Arizona Bus Driver
*$30,000
Phoenix Animal Control Officer
*$50,572
Phoenix Zoo Park Ranger
$28,000
Veterinary Physician
*$88,355
Pest Control Technician
$49,109
City of Phoenix Video Station Manager
$105,414
City of Gilbert Radio Technician
$68,494
Decision Theater Director ASU
$154,500
Radio DJ
*$30,124
TV news anchor
*$81,000
KJZZ reporter
Christina Estes
$55,685
Arizona Highways Editor
Robert Stieve
$114,000
Phoenix Fire Chief
Kara Kalkbrenner
$194,049
Phoenix firefighter
$47,200
Arizona Hotshot Firefighter
$37,875
Phoenix Paramedic
*$42,161
Registered Nurse
*$67,180
Phoenix Police Officer
$51,480
Police Sergeant
$103,917
Phoenix Police Chief
Jeri Williams
$198,000
Phoenix Director of Street Transportation
Kini Knudson
$169,998
ASU Facilities Painter Supervisor
$70,679
Bartender at Talking Stick Resort Arena
$20,000
Trader Joe’s Mate (Manager)
$34.00 HOUR
Real estate agent (Full Time)
$60,000-$1,000,000+
”It’s like they say: 10 percent of the people make 90 percent of the money,” says an anonymous Valley agent, who estimates that a “shi**y” year for a full-time agent working with starter homes would yield a $60K salary, while elite agents routinely eclipse $1 million. “But those people are spending $1 million on advertising, too.”
Purchasing agent Fulton Homes
$80,000
City of Phoenix Gardener
$31,574
Florist
*$32,988
Trash Collector
*$25,202
Public Programs Manager at Phoenix Art Museum
$47,000
Arizona Grand Resort Guest Service Agent
$22,000-$35,000
Hair Stylist
$22,000-$96,000
On one end of the spectrum: for-hire cutters who work hourly or on salary. On the other: independent contractors who rent their chairs and keep the receipts. Given a devoted clientele and a regular 40-hour work week, they “can do really well,” one Valley stylist who begged anonymity says. “Like, maybe as much as a poor doctor.”
Aesthetician
*$29,724
Massage therapist at mynd spa & salon
$18,500
Banner neurosurgeon
$437,000
Banner urgent care physician
$180,000
Psychic
$35,000-$100,000
Marilyn Monroe impersonator
$30,000-$80,000
Booked through happyentertainment.com, top Valley impersonators make $150 for a 12- to 15-minute singing telegram, or upward of $1K for all day appearances.
* Represents average salary, per glassdoor.com
Sources: Arizona Auditor General, ESPN, City of Phoenix, Glassdoor, Arizona Republic
