Steve Jobs Ranked 43rd on Forbes 400 List of Richest Americans

In its annual list of wealthiest Americans known as the Forbes 400, Forbes magazine has ranked Apple CEO Steve Jobs in 43rd place with a net worth of approximately $5.1 billion. Despite a decline in net worth of approximately $600 million, Jobs moved up from last year's 61st spot to claim his highest ranking yet, topping his 49th place showing in 2007.

The report notes as Jobs' best investment his purchase of Pixar from George Lucas in 1986 for $10 million. With Disney's acquisition of Pixar in 2006, Jobs became the largest individual Disney stockholder with a stake currently worth $3.9 billion.

Jobs' $5.1 billion net worth marks a significant turnaround from just six months ago, when Jobs checked in as the 178th wealthiest person in the world with an estimated net worth of only $3.4 billion. Since that time, Disney's stock price has risen nearly 90% while Apple's has more than doubled, generating significant gains for Jobs.

Jobs has famously received only a $1 annual salary from Apple for over a decade, although he has received stock options and other benefits from the company, including a private jet for which he receives financial compensation when used for company business.

Despite a decline of $7 billion from last year's survey, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates remains at the top of the list for the 16th consecutive year with a net worth of approximately $50 billion.