Sioux Falls, S.D.

Denny Sanford
73

How'd he get so rich? After graduating from the University of Minnesota, Sanford went into the construction business. In 1986 he purchased First Premier Bank and then introduced Premier Bankcard, one of the largest subprime credit cards. He located the company in Sioux Falls because of lenient anti-usury laws. He has vowed to die broke and has been generous with giving away his $1 billion fortune. The biggest recipient so far? In 2008 he donated $400 million to the South Dakota Sioux Valley Hospitals & Health System.

Learn more about First Premier Bank.

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