Solar magnate once again New Mexico’s richest person in 2025

New Mexico’s richest person isn’t very rich compared to the richest in several other states. In fact, it is somewhat more difficult to be rich in a state that has so few publicly traded companies (3 at last count) and is generally hostile to business. But, one might at least think that with New Mexico in the midst of an unprecedented oil and gas boom that the richest person in the State might be from that industry.

You’d be wrong. According to Forbes, Ron Corio of Array Solar is not only New Mexico’s richest person, he’s also the State’s first-ever billionaire. You can find the full list here.

Considering the hostility of so many New Mexico elected leaders to earned wealth you probably haven’t heard them say anything about Corio as he is in a “favored” industry. Will the solar marketplace survive the elimination of so many of its subsidies thanks to the Trump Administration’s (and Congress’) Big Beautiful Bill (and Trump’s additional Executive Order)?

Only time will tell. Solar electricity isn’t going anywhere. There IS a market for it and many states subsidize or mandate it (like New Mexico). So, we’ll see in a year or two how Mr. Corio and his company are doing.