71. BRYAN FAMILY
Richmond. Patriarch D. Tennant Bryan, publisher of Richmond Newspapers Inc., and founder of Media General Inc., died in December 1998 at 92. Children include Mary Perkins of Richmond, Florence Fowlkes of Chevy Chase., Md., and J. Stewart Bryan III of Richmond. Bryan, 61, is chairman and CEO of Media General, whose holdings include this magazine, 21 daily newspapers, 26 TV stations and newsprint mills. Sold its cable operations in Fairfax and Fredericksburg to Cox Communications for $1.4 billion last year. Company has been on a buying spree. Paid $710 million in 1997 to Park Communications for 10 TV stations, 28 dailies and 82 weeklies. Virginia holdings include Roanoke TV station and newspapers in Richmond, Charlottesville and eight other cities. Also owns the Tampa Tribune in Florida and the Winston-Salem Journal in North Carolina.
Net Worth: $130 million
Confidence: A

72. WINKLER FAMILY
Alexandria. Mark Winkler died in 1970, leaving most of his fortune to his wife and three children. Daughter Tori Thomas heads Mark Winkler Co.
Net Worth: $130 million
Confidence: C

73. WILTON FAMILY
Richmond. E. Carlton Wilton Sr., 78, developed much of Richmond’s western suburbs. He remains chairman of The Wilton Cos. His son, E. Carlton Wilton, is president. Much of his wealth comes from the 1991 sale of Regency Square Mall for an estimated $120 million in 1991.
Net Worth: $125 million
Confidence: A

74. JOHN H. FAIN
Virginia Beach. 51. Co-founder and CEO of Virginia Beach-based Metro Informa-tion Services. The 21-year-old company provides information technology consulting services through 44 locations throughout the U.S.
Net Worth: $122 million
Confidence: A

75. JEFFREY J. STEINER
Upperville and New York. 63. Chairman of Fairchild Corp., spends more time in Virginia since purchasing Foxlease, a 936-acre farm in Upperville. Fairchild makes aircraft fasteners and distributes aviation parts. Had no earnings last year due to a slowdown in aircraft construction. The stock price remains depressed. An emigre from Austria, Steiner climbed the corporate ladder at Texas Instruments and became a corporate raider in the 1980s with help from junk-bond king Michael Milken.
Net Worth: $120 million
Confidence: A-

76. PATRICIA CORNWELL
Richmond. 43. Since her first book in 1990, "Postmortem," became the only work of fiction to win all five major national book awards in one year, Cornwell has become one of the nation’s most successful crime writers. Born in Miami, spends much of her time traveling to gather research for her books. A frequent contributor to law enforcement causes.
Net Worth: $120 million
Confidence: C

77. JOHN GRISHAM
Oxford, Miss., and Charlottesville. 45. "The Brethren," Grisham’s latest — and 11th — book is on The New York Times bestseller list. Grisham says one of the best things he’s done with wealth is build Little League baseball park in Charlottesville. Grisham is league commissioner. "I own it and I get to run the place. It’s now five years old and it’s been a wonderful experience to spend that much time with kids." Another novel, "A Painted House," is being serialized in The Oxford American magazine.
Net Worth: $120 million
Confidence: C-

78. JOHN D. PHILLIPS
Albemarle County, Atlanta and Sea Island, Ga. 58. Grew up in Hampton Roads. Built Advanced Telecommunications Corp., which was acquired by WorldCom in 1992. Was head of John Kluge’s Metromedia International Group until 1996. Now chairman, president and CEO of World Access Inc., an Atlanta-based international telecommunications firm. Company sold off manufacturing operations for $600 million and has purchased or is planning to purchase $1.6 billion in new telecom businesses in 13 European Community countries. Owns historic Airslie Estate and adjoining Findowrie Farm in Keswick.
Net Worth: $116 million
Confidence: A

79. DELASKI FAMILY
Great Falls. Father and son Donald deLaski, 60, and Kenneth E., 42, co-founded Deltek Systems Inc. in 1983. Company started with accounting software package for government contractor clients. Acquisition of Harper and Shuman expanded Deltek’s customer base to include architectural, engineering and construction firms. Also serves biotechnology, computer services and environmental industries. Before starting business, Kenneth was an auditor at Arthur Anderson & Co. In 1962, Donald founded his own CPA firm.
Net Worth: $116 million
Confidence: B

80. VAN METRE FAMILY
Burke. Van Metre Cos. is one of Northern Virginia’s most successful, multidisciplinary real estate organizations. Founded by Albert G. Van Metre, 74, 45 years ago, company has built or sold more than 10,000 homes in hundreds of communities. Responsible for construction, operation and management of shopping centers, office buildings and thousands of apartment units.
Net Worth: $115 million
Confidence: A