Wealthiest Angelenos: 26, Alec Gores

27

Net Worth: $2.32 billion, up 10.5 percent

LAST YEAR: $2.1 billion

AGE: 63

RESIDENCE: Beverly Hills

SOURCE OF WEALTH: Private equity

THE MONEY: Net worth increased thanks to positive private equity growth last year. His Gores Group sold West Chester, Pa.-based immunotherapy company Therakos to Dublin, Ireland, pharmaceutical firm Mallinckrodt for $1.33 billion.

THE BUZZ: Gores Group holds $3.2 billion assets under management. In addition to Therakos sale, other recent major deals include $1.5 billion Stock Building Supply-BMC merger in June and sale of financial technology firm Etrali to IPC in February. He has supported both Republican and Democratic political candidates, including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and John McCain. Gaming aficionado, British newspaper the Times reported in April that Irish racehorse owner J.P. McManus won $17.5 million off Gores in game of backgammon. According to legal filings, Gores withheld $5.22 million of winnings, paying money to IRS instead to cover potential federal tax liabilities. McManus is suing IRS, claiming money belongs to him. Gores founded Gores Group in 1987. Gave younger brother, Tom, start in private equity business; parted ways in 1995, when Tom left to found Platinum Equity. Alec has degree in computer science from Western Michigan University, where he played football.