Bass Pro's Johnny Morris moves up on Forbes' 'World's Billionaires List' for 2022
Greta Cross
The richest people in the world were identified by Forbes magazine earlier this week, and one Springfield businessman made the list, climbing a few hundred spots from last year.
Johnny Morris, founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops, is ranked No. 424 on Forbes' "World's Billionaires List" for 2022. According to the magazine, Morris' net worth is $6.3 billion, as of Friday. His ranking is up from No. 705 on last year's billionaires list, when the magazine put his net worth at $4.1 billion.
Bass Pro hasn't always been a billion-dollar company. Morris got started in 1972, selling fishing tackle in the back of his father's liquor store in Springfield. Over the years, the company has grown to more than 170 stores nationwide. In 2017, Morris purchased Cabela's for $5 billion, doubling the company's size.
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Also in 2017, Morris unveiled Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium. Morris obtained the space in 2007 after the original museum closed and more than quadrupled its size. The 350,000-square foot museum and aquarium includes more than 34,000 types of aquatic life and about 1,000 other animals.
In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Bass Pro recently brought back the World's Fishing Fair, a five-day event held in Springfield. The fair included live music, fishing seminars, bargains and opportunities for guests to meet fishing professionals. The first Bass Pro World's Fishing Fair was held in 1988.
This year marks Forbes' 36th annual ranking of the world's billionaires, with 2,668 people on the list. Collectively, they're net worth reaches $12.7 trillion. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk topped the list this year at a net worth of $219 billion.
Missouri's highest ranking individual Pauline MacMillan Keinath is ranked No. 235 on the list. She is one of the largest shareholders of Cargill, a global food corporation. Keinath's net worth was listed at $9.4 billion, as of Friday.
Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com