8 Austin billionaires make Forbes 400 list and more popular stories

This week in Austin features several noteworthy stories, including the recognition of eight local billionaires on Forbes’ 2026 list of richest Americans. The collective worth of America’s billionaires has reached $8 trillion in 2026, reflecting a remarkable $1.4 trillion increase from the previous year, according to Forbes. Among the notable figures is a Polish-American billionaire living in Austin with connections to Elon Musk and SpaceX.

In local business news, artsy couple Kyle and Noah Hawley are expanding their stationery store Letterpress Play into an independent bookstore and coffee bar this October. Additionally, chef Laila Bazahm is set to open her third Austin restaurant—a unique Indian smokehouse—following her previous ventures, the Spanish restaurant El Raval in 2023 and the Southeast Asian restaurant Siti in 2025.

The New York Times recently highlighted the local dining scene, placing Paprika, a taco spot in Austin, on its 2026 list of favorite restaurants, alongside El Paso’s Elemi Taqueria. Finally, an Austin restaurateur has introduced a new Italian-American restaurant in Hyde Park, taking over the spot previously occupied by Umarell, where he was formerly a partner.