T. Denny Sanford Cause of death: Chief bank boss, SD’s richest man, net worth $2.1 billion, died at the age of 90
T. Denny Sanford, First Premier Bank of south dakotaDied at the age of 90. South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden announced the banking giant’s death via a press release on Saturday, July 18. cause of death No announcement.
In 2025, Forbes announced that T. Denny Sanford became the richest man in South Dakota with a net worth of $2.1 billion. As of July 2026, his net worth is $2.4 billion, According to Forbes.
A quote from Governor Rowden is included in Statement from the Office of the Governor of South Dakotaread: “It is with great sadness that Sandy and I mourn the passing of T. Danny—who made such a generous and intentional investment in the great state of South Dakota.
“His contributions will not be forgotten and South Dakota will forever be impacted by his legacy. Simply put, he was the greatest philanthropist in South Dakota history.”
The release also includes a series of significant donations T Danny Sanford has made to South Dakota over the years.
Sanford Health CEO Bill Gassen also released a statement regarding the passing of T. Denny Sanford. The statement did not mention the cause of his death. Before his death, there were no reports that the 90-year-old was suffering from any illness. T. Denny Sanford has donated millions of dollars to Sanford Health over the years.
“We are forever grateful that Danny chose us and our community to deliver a transformative gift that would change lives for generations,” Garson said. “He was a driving force in modern medicine, empowering researchers and clinicians to think big and pursue bold, innovative endeavors at a pace that would otherwise be impossible.
“Because of his generosity, we are able to provide care to more patients in their time of need.”
T. Denny Sanford Net Worth: How Rich Is He and How Does He Make Money?
T. Denny Sanford earned much of his wealth as the founder of the First Superior Bank of South Dakota. The bank specializes in issuing credit cards to high-risk borrowers. The bank is headquartered in Sioux Falls and has only 18 branches, according to Forbes. Despite this, they are still one of the largest issuers of MasterCard credit cards in the United States.
According to a Sioux Fall Business blog post, T. Denny Sanford joined the billionaire club around 2005-2006. The article pointed out that the main source of T. Denny Sanford’s wealth is his credit card company PREMIER Bankcard, which is owned by United National.
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The bank’s success continued and T. Denny Sanford’s personal wealth grew exponentially. His net worth peaked in the post-COVID-19 market, which saw a severe credit crunch. In 2022, his net worth reached $3.1 billion, a record high. That same year, he donated $350 billion to Sanford Health.
Over the years, he has donated millions of dollars to philanthropic causes in Sioux Falls. Governor Rodden provided a complete list in his press release.
T. Denny Sanford was married to Colleen Anderson Sanford from 1995 to 2005. Although they divorced, they remained friends and maintained a friendly relationship until Colleen Anderson Sanford’s death in February 2025. Sanford has two children.
