Only billionaires need apply.

• Position: DRAWING CONCLUSIONS

Five Colorado billionaires cracked this year's Forbes 400 list of richest Americans, led again by Charlie Ergen. The DISH Network chairman and founder's estimated net worth of $17.2 billion placed him 26th in the ranking. Other Coloradans on the list, released in advance of Forbes' October issue:

No. 40: Philip Anschutz, investor in energy, real estate and entertainment ($11.1 billion);

No. 60: John Malone, Cable TV magnate ($7.6 billion);

No. 90: James Leprino of the Leprino Foods cheese empire ($3 billion);

No. 324: Pat Stryker, from the Stryker Corp. medical equipment maker, and the only Colorado woman on the list ($2 billion).

Microsoft's Bill Gates topped the Forbes ranking for the 21st straight year with estimated...