Three c-store owners make Forbes world’s billionaire list

Three convenience store retailers have once again landed spots in Forbes magazine's 2016 The World's Billionaires.

Tom and Judy Love, operators of convenience store network Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores and with a net worth of $5.9 billion, have clinched the highest spot among the c-store retailers.

The couple’s ranking has leaped from No. 418 in 2015 to No. 205 this year. They also hold the No. 72 spot among United States’ billionaires, reported Convenience Store News.

Canadian Alain Bouchard of Alimentation Couche-Tard has made it to No. 638 slot with a net worth of $2.7 billion, an improvement from last year’s No. 737. Bouchard is also the 13^th richest Canadian in 2016, according to Forbes.

The Laval, Quebec-based company has expanded significantly in the recent years through acquisitions of competitors such as Circle K convenience store chain, Scandinavian retail Statoil, The Pantry Inc. c-stores, and Ireland’s Topaz Energy Group.

The third c-store operator that has made it to Forbes world’s richest is Jimmy Halsam, CEO of Pilot Flying J, the largest travel-stop company operator in North America.

With $2.3-billion net worth, Halsam holds the world’s No. 771 spot and No. 277 in the U.S.

Bill Gates holds the No. 1 spot with a net worth of $75 billion.