America, America, America. We all know it as the land of the free, the home of the…billionaires? The country is booming with young entrepreneurs, but most of the wealth in the country is “old money”, which means it comes from families who have been rich down the line. However, these rich and influential families tend to be extremely secretive as well. Although we know of the Hiltons and the Kardashians, many wealthy clans prefer to stay out of the limelight altogether. Check out the 2019 list of America’s richest families!
These Are The 25 Richest American Families Of 2019
The Wynns – $3.4B
There are only a handful of families that have both been catapulted to fame and then fallen from grace as spectacularly as the Wynn family. Steve Wynn, the patriarch, attained billionaire status in Las Vegas. He has been credited with the erection of the most famous casinos and hotels in the Strip. If the Mirage and the Bellagio sound familiar, he is the person behind them. After this success, he launched Wynn Resorts, his flagship company. This influential empire constructed numerous luxury hotels in different parts of the world. The company began to take on water when the shares began to hit record lows. It took some serious restructuring before profits rose to original heights.
The Wynns – $3.4B
The Bezoses – $137B
Jeff Bezos has made a name for himself as one of the most successful and famous CEOs of this day and age. This is why he and the rest of the family have gone on to become the richest elites on the planet. Of course, he is the founder and CEO of the streaming and e-commerce giant: Amazon. However, not many know of his humble beginnings. His mother got pregnant when she was only a teenager, while his father was just a small bike shop owner. Aside from this, they divorced when young Jeff was just four. After this, his mom got married to a Cuban immigrant named Mark Bezos. The future billionaire studied at Princeton and received numerous offers from tech companies after his graduation. He was a hedge fund manager on Wall Street during the ‘80s and only founded Amazon in 1994. Initially an online bookstore, it has expanded into selling just about whatever you can imagine!
The Bezoses – $137B
The Rineys – $3.5B
The Rineys continue to command the Scottrade empire. Rodger O. Riney was the founder and originally developed it, though it was later sold to TD Ameritrade. Born in the ‘40s, his first experience with the stock market happened when his grandparents gifted him ten shares of stock. He then went on to matriculate at the University of Missouri. After the deregulation of the brokerage industry during the ‘70s, he decided to shoot his shot by launching Scottsdale Securities, which provided trades at low commission rates. A decade later, he opened the second location in St. Louis. In 1996, the company moved onto the internet and started an online trading platform of its own. Eventually renamed Scottrade, the company has a reputation for being a good company to be employed by.
The Rineys – $3.5B
The Lauders – $24.3B
The Lauders first earned a fortune thanks to their cosmetics company of the same name: Estee Lauder. The empire was launched by the husband-wife duo Joseph and Estee Lauder not long after the Second World War. Back then, they ran the shop in New York City and only offered four products: a crème pack, cleansing oil, skin lotion, and all-purpose crème. The products became a huge hit, and they were able to save up enough to launch their first department store on Saks Fifth Avenue. Over the fifteen years that followed, they expanded the product range and introduced new labels like Clinique and Aramis. During the ‘90s, the company started to top international sales! However, the powerful family has managed to retain control of its leadership no matter how many generations it has gone through over the years.
The Lauders – $24.3B
The Spielbergs – $3.7B
The Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg is the highest-grossing movie director in history. It comes as no surprise when you consider that he is the filmmaker behind hit films like Indiana Jones, Jaws, Schindler’s List, and Jurassic Park. Together with his actress wife Kate Capshaw and their numerous progenies, they are estimated to be worth $3.7 billion! The bulk of this comes from their different real estate investments and revenue from his films. Not only is he a director, but he is also a producer. As a matter of fact, he outright owns the DreamWorks studio we all know and love! It is the studio behind hit blockbusters like the Shrek films and the Transformers series.
The Spielbergs – $3.7B
The Ziffs – $14.4B
A couple of years ago, the highly influential Ziff family shut down their hedge funds and closed both their American and UK branches. However, it hardly matters since the Ziff Brothers Investments firm will forever be remembered for the huge impact they made on Wall Street. This remains true despite the fact that Dirk and Robert Ziff have since gone their own ways to go after different businesses. The family’s wealth dates back to nearly a century ago, when their grandfather William Sr. had a publishing company. The Ziff Davis firm kept growing after William Jr. took over the leadership. The company are best known for these publications: PC Magazine and Car and Driver. Their currently wealth comes from their investments. Dirk is now the owner of a capital company based in New York.
The Ziffs – $14.4B
The Butts – $11B
The Butt family hails all the way from Texas. They are the owners of the popular supermarket chain called H.E.B. Grocery. The grocery store actually had somewhat tragic beginnings. In 1905, founder Florence Butt opened it in the hopes of earning money to pay off the costs to diagnose and cure her husband’s tuberculosis. Much to everyone’s surprise, the company experienced plenty of success. Her son Howard kept growing the company across the state. Charles, Howard’s son, took over when the time came. Charles Butt now chairs this multi-billion empire, which he deserves since the CEO has been working there since 1971. Isn’t it impressive that he started as a bag boy when he was only 8 years old?
The Butts – $11B
The Lucases – $5.5B
Often called the wealthiest celebrity figure in all of history, George Lucas earned a fair fortune after the unexpected success of the film that followed American Graffiti: Star Wars. However, what made it so big was the brilliant special effects in the film, which granted him ownership of the technology forever. The success of the sci-fi film, together with a contract that granted him complete franchise rights from 20th Century Fox, allowed him to begin various successful film companies. THX was one of these, which changed sound technology forever. There was also LucasFilm, which made many of his hit films. But let us not forget about LucasArts, which created video games; Industrial Light & Magic, which released a book modern special effects from the ‘70s onward; and Skywalker Sound, which turned things up when it came to mixing and recording audio.
The Lucases – $5.5B
The Jordans – $1.9B
We all know that it does not get any bigger than Michael Jordan. MJ, Number 23, became a household name when he made a killing on the basketball court with the Chicago Bulls. His sports success also transitioned into all sorts of unrelated ventures. We all know about his brief acting stint, but the most lucrative business decisions he made were his Air Jordan sports shoes line, and his endorsements for brands like Hanes and Nike. The Jordan family now has a whopping $2 billion to their name, mostly thanks to Jordan’s decision to invest in stakes for the Charlotte Hornets. Although the team has yet to achieve the same success he did in court, the ownership is still worth it for the NBA legend.
The Jordans – $1.9B
The Hunts – $13.7B
The Hunt family is well-known among business people as well as among television folks as well. H.L. Hunt, the patriarch, served as the inspiration for the character called J.R. Ewing on the classic show Dallas. He was a wildcatter who made it big in the oil business. He was the founder of an American oil company, though it since expanded to cover different industries as well. His son supervises the oil company ventures of the Hunt empire. Meanwhile, another son owns a different part of the oil and gas part. On the other hand, his daughter launched Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, though she ended up selling it after several years. Lamar, the remaining heir, is the person who coined the name of the Super Bowl and co-founded the American Football League as well as Major League Soccer. What a cool family.
The Hunts – $13.7B
The Cannons – $50 million
Nick Cannon is not only an award-winning actor, rapper, and producer, but he is also one the most elite and richest young person in the country. The bulk of his wealth comes from his popular music. He got his beginnings in the rap group Da G4 Dope Bomb Squad. His popularity reached different heights after he released hit singles like “Can I Live?”, “Teach Me How To Dougie”, and “Nick’s Story”. He went on to launch a rap label of his own and a small record company. He is also married to the legendary pop goddess Mariah Carrey, and they have three kids between them. Although the marriage ended in divorce, they were once considered a power couple. Cannon is currently the chairperson of TeenNick of the Nickelodeon TV network and has an exclusive contract with NBC.
The Cannons – $50 million
The Murdochs – $19.8B
The Murdoch family is one of the biggest titans in the media industry. Rubert Murdoch came from Australia but received American citizenship back in 1985. While the family has been involved in the business even before him, he is the one many people credit for the expansion of their influence. He launched News Corporation after the death of his reporter father. Murdoch refused to join or continue his father’s business and forged a path of his own. News Corp. started to dominate the scene in Australia and New Zealand by the production of both print and TV news. Murdoch then expanded the business into Asia, America, and the UK. In the States, he bought Harper Collins, Fox, and the Wall Street Journal.
The Murdochs – $19.8B
The Nicholsons – $400M
We doubt that anyone will ever disagree when we say that Jack Nicholson, three-time Academy Award winner and twelve-time nominee, is one of the best actors Hollywood has ever seen. Aside from his many profitable film roles, he made the move to invest early on in his career. Although some seemed smart, others were completely bizarre. Did you know that he bought the former home of Marlon Brando for more than $6 million and burned it to the ground? According to him, it was his way of paying tribute to his deceased friend since the asbestos became infected. His five children are due to inherit a dizzying fortune of more than $400 million. Most of this comes from the percentages he makes from the Batman merchandise and spin-offs of the 1989 movie.
The Nicholsons – $400M
The Kochs – $98.7B
The mighty empire is now headed by Charles and David Koch, who are collectively known as the Kock Brothers. They are known not only for handing one of the biggest family empires in the country, but also for their generous support of the Republican party. Although they were pressured to turn the company public, the Kochs have fought long and hard to keep all of the shares within the family. The original patriarch of the family was a chemical engineer by the name of Fred Koch. He launched an oil refinery firm that was the predecessor of Koch Industries. Headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, the company employs more than 120,000 workers across just about every single continent in the world.
The Kochs – $98.7B
The Kardashian-Jenners – $2B
Recently, publications informed the world that Kylie Jenner has attained billionaire status. Now, there is no way we could talk about the richest families in the country without mentioning the Kardashians. This Armenian-American family is most popular for the reality program called Keeping Up with the Kardashians. The long-running reality television series allows us to take a peek at the day-to-day happenings in the Kardashian-Jenner household. The clan also owns side businesses in the fashion and cosmetic industries. We all know that they are effective product promoters who earn a fortune from advertising different products on social media thanks to their millions of followers. Together, the family has a net worth of two billion dollars. Kylie Jenner might be young, but she has already earned billions thanks to Kylie Cosmetics.
The Kardashian-Jenners – $2B
The Jolies – $160M
The Jolie family story is rather complex. Although we can figure out why Angelina Jolie is wealthy, she actually comes from a family that has an impressive fortune to begin with. She is, after all, the daughter of Academy Award winner Jon Voight. She is basically the equivalent of Hollywood royalty, but we daresay that she is a talented actress in her own right. Anyone who has doubts about her acting abilities probably needs another viewing of Girl, Interrupted. Anyway, she has since gone into producing and directing films as well. There is no doubt that this career shift has made it possible for her to accumulate more money over the years. Her sponsorship deals surely help as well.
The Jolies – $160M
The Hearsts – $24.5B
The Hearst family can trace its fortune back to patriarch and publishing emperor William Randolph Hearst. He was the son of a rich miner based in San Francisco and used the family wealth to buy The San Francisco Examiner at the age of 24. He then expanded it into a radio, television, and news empire. He allegedly served as the inspiration for the title character in the Orson Welles film Citizen Kane. His son William II continued to media legacy by becoming a Pulitzer Award-winning journalist. His son now heads the family business, now known as the Hearst Corporation. It is not unreasonable to claim that their influence in the PR and publishing fields remain unrivaled.
The Hearsts – $24.5B
The Cubans – $3.9B
We dare you to give us a bigger name in Hollywood than Mark Cuban. You can’t! This entertainment mogul owns just about everything from film studios to a team on the NBA. If you ask us, nothing makes us admire him more than the fact that he comes from a working-class family. His success was built on his early investments in systems and software. However, he eventually found more success in Hollywood when he founded the film company called 2929 Entertainment. Among the first projects of the company was the film Good Night, and Good Luck. It was an indie darling and bagged six Academy Award nominations. His wealth grew some more after smart investments in documentaries, film projects, and the Dallas Mavericks. He now offers advice on the television series called Shark Tank.
The Cubans = $3.9B
The Dorrances – $17.1B
It might sound a little bizarre, but the Dorrances basically invented soup. It was in 1897 that John Dorrance came up with a formula for the condensation of soup, which launched him into industry stardom. If you ever fell sick at home and heated a can of Campbell’s, you should thank the Dorrances. After all, they are the owners of Campbell’s Soup! Generations after generations have passed, and there are now eleven family members in charge of the day-to-day affairs of the company. Pepperidge Farms, V8, and Prego are all subsidiaries as well. The patriarch’s grandkids and great-grandson are members of the board now. Charlotte, his granddaughter, went into retirement in 2014. Meanwhile, another grandchild called Ippy opted to renounce his American citizenship for Irish citizenship. He even sold his ten percent company shares and left it for good.
The Dorrances – $17.1B
The Duncans – $26B
The Duncan family shows us what it is like to attain the American Dream. Raised by his grandma since the death of his mom and brother at the age of seven, Dan Duncan used to live in poverty in Texas. At one point, he tried his luck in the oil industry. He got lucky and made a fortune when he struck oil and started Enterprise Products Partners. The company took off during the formative years of the American oil industry. To this day, the family’s main source of wealth would be the oil and gas pipelines. They continue to make billions year after year! In 2010, Dan Duncan died at the age of 77. His $10 billion estate was left to his kids Dannine, Milane, Randa, and Scott. Since then, the wealth in the family has doubled! This has been attributed to the increasing stock prices for oil and certain payouts.
The Duncans – $26B
The Marshalls – $12B
The Marshalls also make for another excellent example of American wealth that came from oil. Howard Marshall II was the person who founded this family empire. The patriarch was a shareholder of the Great Northern Oil Company, though he traded them for what ended up becoming a 15% stake in one of the most profitable investment companies in America at the time: Koch Industries. He ended up leaving his shares to just one of his kids: J. Howard II. Unfortunately, he earned a reputation for giving the family various legal problems. He famously married Anna Nicole Smith, a former Playboy model, who was much younger than him. When she ended up with the majority of the empire, the other members of the family sued her in the hopes of reclaiming the fortune.
The Marshalls – $12B
The Gettys – $5B
The Getty clan earned most of the family fortune during the twentieth century thanks to the petroleum industry. The founders are none other than George Franklin and his child, Jean Paul. Originally from Ireland, the father-and-son duo had Irish and Scottish lineage. They traced their roots to Cullavmor, which eventually became what we now know as County Londonderry. George Franklin was a lawyer before he became an oilman. After making it big, he gave the proceeds of the company to his sons and told them to go into oil and gas. They followed his sound advice, and it worked out for the best. In 1916, they started Getty Oil. The mighty oil business is still under the control of the family, and the net worth keeps going up with each generation.
The Gettys – $5B
The Strykers – $35B
The Stryker family has been here since 1941, which means it has dominated the medical technology field in the country for about a half-century now. Homer Stryker is an inventor who came up with new kinds of medical equipment, though none is better known than his mobile hospital bed invention. Eventually, he passed the figurative baton to his son Lee, though he died in a plane crash not long after. Lee had three kids: Jon, Patricia, and Ronda. They took over the family business after he passed away. The Strykers have earned a reputation for supporting socially liberal causes as well as the Democrat party. They also started the Arcus Foundation and the Bohemian Foundation, which advocates for LGBTQ rights and promotes arts and culture respectively.
The Strykers – $35B
The Simmonses – $5.4B
The Simmonses are in possession of such a huge fortune thanks to corporate raiding. The wealth in the family is fairly new as it only started with Harold Simmons, Sr. He worked as a bank examiner and drug store employee before going on to form a capital company of his own. The company began to do corporate takeovers, and one publication even called him a “feared raider”. Whenever a corporation went under, he bought it out, stripped the company, gave it new life, and claimed the money he earned. This was something he did numerous times, mostly to smaller companies since they made for better targets than big conglomerates. He was a philanthropist as well. Did you know he paid out a donation of $200 million to the Southwest Medical Center at the University of Texas?
The Simmonses – $5.4B
The Newhouses – $18.5B
The Newhouse family is among the oldest and most influential clans in the publishing and media industries. Sam Newhouse was the founder of Advance Publications, the family business. When he died in 1979, he left the empire to his sons, Donald and Si. The brothers have since established themselves in the global media world and been called the leading moguls in the business. Advance Publications is now one of the largest magazine businesses in the world. They also own Conde Nast Publications, together with its heavy-hitter subsidiaries like The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and Vogue. Overall, the company publishes print in 25 of the biggest cities in the country. If that has yet to impress you, the Newhouses also invested in the online platform Reddit and own a large stake in Discovery Communications.
The Newhouses – $18.5B
The Marses – $89.7B
Nearly an entire century ago, an invention by Franklin Clarence Mars changed America forever. We are talking about the Milky Way chocolate bar, of course! The success of this candy – which was followed by Snickers, Big Red, M&Ms, Skittles, and Twix – would be the first in the history of the Mars family. These days, Mars Incorporated has crossed over to other industries such as drinks, life science, and pet care. Franklin Clarence Mars founded the company all the way back in 1911, a decade before he made it big with the invention of the Milky Way. He was able to learn the art of hand-dipping candy from his mother. Originally called The Mars Candy Factory, the business initially sold candy wholesale, which proved to be an unsustainable move. Mars had to get a fresh start in Minnesota, which was wise.
The Marses – $89.7B
The Greenbergs – $1.5B
The Greenberg family originated from New York City. Maurice “Mark” Greenberg was the CEO of the American International Group, better known as simply AIG. The insurance and finance company is one of the biggest companies at the moment. It is pretty impressive that it is publicly traded as well. Born in the city that never sleeps, Mark Greenberg was a war veteran who served as an army captain during the Second World War. He had an interesting career with AIG. He took on a high leadership position during his time there. In 2005, he retired but appeared on Good Morning America in 2008 to criticize the directors of AIG. Although he is no longer working, his investments continue to increase his net worth.
The Greenbergs – $1.5B
The Trincheros – $1.9B
The Trinchero family is a wine empire, which sure sounds fancy to us! Trinchero Family Estates is the fourth biggest wine and wine products manufacturer in the country. It has an expansive portfolio that includes over fifty popular brands of wine. Compared to the other businesses here, it is a relatively new company since it was only founded in 1947. That was the year John and Mario Trinchero bought the Sutter Home Winery in St. Helena, California. The brothers kept the company within the family and Mario’s son took over as the lead winemaker after John decided to retire. Bob, Mario’s son, worked on White Zinfandel, which ended up becoming a highly successful brand. The company eventually grew to include Napa Valley, Menage a Trois, and Napa Cellars, among others!
The Trincheros – $1.9B
The Johnsons – $28.5B
The Johnsons were the founders of Fidelity Investments, which is an investing firm that has gone on to become one of the biggest investment empires in the United States. Edward C. Johnson II was the founder of the company and later passed it onto Edward “Ned” Johnson III, his son. Ned passed the baton on to Abigail, his daughter, though he continues to hold the position of chairman emeritus. Abigail is the current official chairwoman, which means she is both the president and CEO of Fidelity. After she took over the company, Fidelity reached new highs as it became an incredible international empire. With 45,000 employees all over the world, you can just imagine how incredible Abigail Johnson’s wealth is. With a net worth of $16.5 billion, she is currently one of the richest women in the world. If you want to hear the specifics, Forbes called her the fifth “Most Powerful Woman” in the world. Whoa.
The Johnsons – $28.5B
The McMahons – $3.3B
The McMahon family was one of the first wrestling families. McMahan’s father actually started the WWE, which is a popular entertainment and wrestling conglomerate. Eventually, the time came for McMahon to take over the business and he is now the CEO and chairman. He is the founder of Alpha Entertainment, the parent company of numerous athletic businesses like XFL Football. Of course, McMahon is also a WWE star himself. After retiring his stage persona Mr. McMahon, he went on to work as an announcer. Aside from his father’s wrestling legacy, his grandfather had been a wrestling promoter too. Linda, Vince’s wife, is the former WWE CEO and the current SBA administrator. Together, they have two kids and six grandkids.
The McMahons – $3.3B
The Ellisons – $59.9B
Larry Ellison co-founded the tech empire called Oracle Corporation, which is how he ended up being in the top ten wealthiest men at the moment. He launched the company from the ground up with an investment of about $2,000. After a decade, it earned a reputation as a top tech pioneer. Oracle makes cutting-edge software, hardware, and products. The wealth he has earned has since been inherited by his kids. David and Megan, his two kids, have invested their fortune in various Hollywood films. You might have seen David’s name if you saw blockbuster hits like Mission: Impossible, Star Trek, and Top Gun. Meanwhile, Megan prefers indie projects such as Vice, Phantom Thread, Her, and The Master.
The Ellisons – $59.9B
The Waltons – $151.5B
These days, the Walton family is known as the richest family in all of America. Sam and Bud Walton founded a company you have definitely heard of: Walmart! It has since gone on to be the largest retailer in the country and ranks as one of the most profitable businesses on the planet. Walmart continues to bring in a revenue of $482 billion every year. The Waltons have reaped the fruits of their labor over the years, pocketing more than a hundred billion dollars for themselves. Through the years, they have kept their company shares constant and now have at 50.4% of it.
The Waltons – $151.5B
The Frists – $11.9B
The richest man in Tennessee is none other than Thomas Frist, Jr. He was born into a family of medical professionals, so it makes sense that he and his father started the Hospital Corporation of America during the late ‘60s. The business went over the billion-dollar mark in only a couple of years. From then on, they chaired massive businesses like IBM. Frist actually made the largest buyout in US history back in 2006. First left the company to Billy back in 2009, but even then he already cemented himself as a leading figure in the modern healthcare system of the United States.
The Frists – $11.9B
The Knights – $33.8B
We will have you know that Phil Knight, the founder of Nike, is a self-made man. The story goes like this: his dad ran a local newspaper but refused to grant Phil a summer job. According to the older man, the young man would learn more this way! It’s a good thing the tough love paid off since this was how Knight discovered sports. He eventually went into the U.S. Army and became interested in Japanese shoes. These things were what motivated him to launch Nike. His own son Matthew died of a heart defect in 2004, which impacted him deeply and caused him to step down as the CEO. Despite these tragedies, the family is certainly one of the wealthiest in the United States.
The Knights – $33.8B
The Kohlers – $8.3B
We are sure you have already heard of Kohler Company if you have ever had to get your plumbing fixed. This Wisconsin-based firm is one of the biggest manufacturers of plumbing supplies, after all. Currently chaired by Herbert Kohler, Jr., he inherited the business after it was passed down from generation to generation of Kohlers. At the age of 33, he was overseeing the day-to-day affairs of this company. The financial success of the firm allowed the family the opportunities to invest in manufacturing, hospitality, and government.
The Kohlers – $8.3B
The Meijers – $7.3B
If you come from the Midwest, the odds are good that you know of Meijer supermarkets. This Michigan-based private company is owned by none other than the Meijer family. It was founded by Hendrik Meijer almost a decade ago after he immigrated from the Netherlands to the U.S. His 14-year-old son ended up becoming one of the first employees at the store. Nearly fifty years later, it ended up becoming one of the biggest supermarket chains in the United States. By the time the ‘60s rolled in, it had billions in revenue. The company is now run by Doug and Hank Meijer, who brought the twentieth century firm to even more success. They have appointed other people to oversee its day-to-day affairs.
The Meijers – $7.3B
The Greens – $7B
During the early ‘70s, David Green spent all the money he had – $600 – to invest in a business idea he came up with. In two years’ time, Hobby Lobby would become the flagship empire of the family. The arts and crafts store chain is privately owned by the Green family, though they have invested in different religious causes in other parts of the globe with their fortune. However, they have not been immune to controversy. Hobby Lobby was infamously caught smuggling various archaeological items from digs in Israel and Iraq in the hopes of using these artifacts for their Bible museum. They received a fine worth $3 million and had to return the items.
The Greens – $7B
The Sobratos = $6.6B
John A. Sobrato might be the owner of a big real estate firm, but the credit should go to his mother. After all, she was the person who spent her inheritance pioneering the real estate industry. When her son turned the right age, he ended up launching a real estate business of his own. The result is the company we now know as the Sobrato Organization, which owns office space, residential properties, and land all over the country. His three kids have since used the family wealth the spearhead successful investments of their own. For example, his son is now a part-owner of the San Francisco 49ers.
The Sobratos = $6.6B
The Loves – $7B
Anyone who has ever embarked on a cross-country road trip across the country can tell that there are many Love’s Travel Stops & Country Store, or simply Love’s, along the way. This is because it is one of the biggest gas and convenience store chains in the United States. It was first founded by the husband-and-wife duo of Tom and Judy Love. Initially a small service station, they were able to expand to different parts of the country after a decade. It must have helped that they bought out their competitors and signed numerous endorsement contracts. They recently partnered with the Oklahoma City Thunder and have locations in 41 states!
The Loves – $7B
The LeFraks – $6B
LeFrak, the real estate empire, is the claim to fame of this mighty family. The parents of the present CEO Richard Lefrak were the founders of the company. The firm is known for essentially reconstructing Jersey City. LeFrak has expanded to different parts of the country in the past three decades, however. They have many projects in Beverly Hills and South Beach are in the hands of the firm. Richard now runs the day-to-day operations as the company chairman. His two sons, Harrison and James, are the vice-chairmen. It remains privately owned, which keeps the earnings firmly in the pocket of the family.
The LeFraks – $6B
The Davises – $5.9B
Although it is not exactly as splashy as Nike, New Balance continues to be a great sports shoes line. Can you believe that the company is actually more than a hundred years old? Originally known as New Balance Arch Support Company, it has turned the progeny of the founder into a billionaire! Jim Davis now runs the line, and it is not possible to deny that his leadership has taken it to new heights. Sales have never been better, and his personal wealth grew further by investing in Major League Lacrosse. Unfortunately, both the man and the brand have received criticism for making donations to far left political causes. As you can imagine, the backlash has caused the company to suffer significantly.
The Davises – $5.9B
The Dolans – $5.7B
It does not get any better than The Wire, Game of Thrones, and Mad Men. Who do these TV shows have in common? The answer is none other than Charles Dolan, a media mogul. He is the person who founded HBO during the early ‘70s. He eventually created Cablevision, his flagship firm, and later founded cable channels like IFC, the Sundance Channel, and AMC. Although he no longer owns HBO nor Cablevision, we can’t deny how big of an impact he had on the entertainment industry. His kids have since bought major sports teams like the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Indians. One of his sons is now a news network president, while another is the chairman of the Madison Square Garden Company.
The Dolans – $5.7B
The Bechtels – $3.3B
The Bechtels have made a fortune from their highly successful construction company, the Bechtel Corporation. It was founded more than a century ago by Warren Bechtel, a cattle farmer. After a couple of decades, Bechtel was already making railroads across the country! However, the biggest moneymaker of the firm is none other than a historic project we all know of. We are referring to the erection of the Hoover Dam during the ‘30s. Soon enough, the Bechtels were making pipelines, malls, metros, and even nuclear reactors on an international level. The current owner is Stephen Bechtel Jr., who is the grandson of the original owner. He is now in charge of the day-to-day operations with Riley, his own son.
The Bechtels – $3.3B
The Kravises – $5.8B
If you are interested in investments, you should probably look up the profile of the firm called Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. It is one of the largest companies in the field, and they manage extensive portfolios with more than an annual revenue of more than a billion dollars. Co-founded by Henry Kravis, the company was launched by Bear Sterns alumni. The biggest risks they undertook was buying Nabisco during the late ‘80s. Smart acquisitions eventually made up for less-smart purchases. They have since expanded overseas and recently bought German media firms and a motion picture studio. Cool.
The Kravises – $5.8B
The Gallos – $10.7B
Here is another American wine family dynasty! The Gallos have been dubbed “America’s First Family” in this field, which is true when you consider they have been doing this for almost a century now. Giuseppe Gallo, the original patriarch, came from Fossano, Italy during the early 1900s. When he first got to America, he took on various menial jobs. When he got into the vintner industry, he founded his own winery. After his death, the winery came under the supervision of Julio and Ernest, his sons. Together, they founded the E. & J. Gallo Winery. Meanwhile, their other brother Joseph made cheese!
The Gallos – $10.7B
The Filos – $4.9B
During the mid ‘90s just before the Internet boom, David Filo became the co-founder of a small business that eventually became an empire. Filo had a special software code that served as the backbone of the search engine we now know as Yahoo! Needless to say, it turned him into one of the important figures in Silicon Valley. After the majority sale to Verizon Communications back in 2017, his net worth skyrocketed. The company made a fortune out of various microsites, web hubs, and portals over the years. At the moment, they have about 9,000 employees in different parts of the world.
The Filos – $4.9B
The Busches – $13.4B
Nearly a hundred years ago, the Busch family formulated Budweiser beer. The brew was first made by Adolphus Busch in 1876. When they introduced the Prohibition, the company nearly went under. They resorted to selling ice cream and soda to offset the losses. The twentieth century has taken them through lots of lows and highs. The company suffered a takeover by various Belgian investors, which led to the family selling a quarter of it in the ‘90s and 2000s before forcing a $52 billion buyout. The family started a smaller company called William K. Busch Brewing, which operates in Texas.
The Busches – $13.4B
The Penskes – $2B
Do you know anything about auto racing? There is a good chance that you know the name Penske. They are among the largest transportation service corporations on the planet. The company is privately owned by Roger Penske since it started in the late ‘60s. Penske was one of the most recognized auto racer in history, so it makes sense. He was the perfect person to design custom auto maintenance services and parts. They get billion dollar in revenue each year!
The Penskes – $2B
The Yangs – $2.6B
Jerry Yang is a Taiwanese American engineer who met David Filo at Standard. Together, they worked on a small web portal that eventually brought them more money than they could have imagined. That was how Yahoo! Was founded. Yang was in charge of the business side of the company and spearheaded many important buys for the company. He has since left the company, but he has launched many successful hedge funds and firms. He is currently working for Alibaba.
The Yangs – $2.6B
The Huizengas – $2.6B
The Huizenga clan is of Dutch descent, though the family moved to the States during the mid 1890s. Different ventures in hotels and waste management gave them the opportunity to establish themselves in their new home country. However, Wayne Huizenga was the one who struck gold when he acquired Blockbuster Video in 1987. After several years, it turned them into a very wealthy family. The fortune grew even more when he founded AutoNation. He now owns the Florida Panthers and Florida Marlins. He died in 2018, but the family wealth is still going strong.
The Huizengas – $2.6B
The Kroenkes – $8.5B
The Korneke family is among the greatest sports dynasties in the US. Collectively, its members own several leading teams that span different professional sports. The dividends go to Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. These days, Stan and Ann Kroenke own the Los Angeles Gladiators, the Colorado Avalanche, the Colorado Rapids, the Los Angeles Rams, and the Denver Nuggets. Wow.
The Kroenkes – $8.5B
The Milkens – $3.7B
Michael Milken will probably be infamously wealthy forever. We used that adjective because he has been implicated in the insider trading scam that rocked Wall Street. He is seen as the junk bonds architect, which are high-yield and poorly rated bonds made by financiers to dupe investors and creditors. It jumpstarted a domino effect during the late ‘80s. Mikken pled guilty to the charges and received a two-year prison sentence. He has since turned to cancer research and survived cancer.
The Milkens – $3.7B
The Goreses – $4B
The Gores come from Nazareth in Israel, though they moved to the US in the ‘70s and went into the buyout business. Tom Gores founded Platinum Equity, their flagship company. Based in Beverly Hills, it has a global reach. It specializes in buyout investments and has reaped almost a billion dollars in revenue. He bought the Detroit Pistons at some point and donated to help the people in Flint as well.
The Goreses – $4B
The Samuelis – $3.8B
Tech gurus likely recognize Broadcom Corporation. This tech brand offers some of the best semiconductors and electronics in the world. Owned by Henry Samuel, it was set up for $10k but the company saw success in only a couple of years. It went public during the late ‘90s and turned it into a very valuable firm. Samueli also bought the Anaheim Ducks and relocated it to San Diego!
The Samuelis – $3.8B
The Kordestanis
Omid Kordestani is an Iranian-born tech genius who started out running the sales and business development side of Netscape. Google soon hired him and made him the Chief Business Officer. He is credited for turning Google into a powerhouse in the late 2000s. Since 2015, he has been the Executive Chairman of Twitter. You can easily see how he was able to raise so much money over the years!
The Kordestanis – $1.4B
The Parasols – $1B
If you play poker online, you must know about PartyPoker and PartyGaming. These gaming empires are actually the source of wealth of the Parasol family. Ruth Parsol worked as an engineer before she launched an online casino during the late ‘90s. When it saw success, she rebranded it to PartyPoker.com. However, the family’s net worth suffered after the divorce and a federal investigation. Nonetheless, the online poker continues to receive hundreds of millions in revenue each year.
The Parasols – $1B
The Golisanos – $3.1B
Younger business owners likely know about Paychex, which is owned by Tom Golisano. It is one of the leading payroll service providers in the country with half a billion users. It was founded in the 1970s on just a couple of thousand dollars. Within the same decade, it became an enigma. In 2010, it hit the $2 billion marker. Although he no longer runs the company on a daily basis, he is busy as the owner of the Buffalo Sabres and the Buffalo Bandits.
The Golisanos – $3.1B
The Coxes – $33.6B
The fortune of this family goes back to 1898, which was the year James M. Cox bought the local publication The Dayton Evening News. He gradually expanded it until it turned into a telecom empire with television, cable, radio, and internet holdings. It is now better known as Cox Enterprises. They truly shaped the telecom sector in America during the Internet age. The family acquired DealerTrack as well at some point. It seems they are eager to enter the automotive race as well!
The Coxes – $33.6B
The Careys – $300M
Mariah Carey and her family has nothing to worry about in the financial sense for all the years to come. Her record sales have made her join the ranks of the top-selling artists in history. Her tour revenues, music licenses, and sponsorship contracts also helped increase her fortune. Don’t you just wish you were her child? We sure are jealous of them! It would have been higher if it weren’t for her divorces.
The Careys – $300M
The Goldmans – $13.7B
The Goldmans might have a ginormous empire, but they started from the bottom. Sol Goldman was born to a grocer during the early 1900s. He decided to go into real estate when the Great Depression hit. He earned money on various foreclosed properties by buying dirt-cheap and waiting until the end of The Depression. It was a smart move. After partnering with Alex DiLorenzo, they managed to buy more than 600 buildings over the years! Long-term leases proved to be a good source of income for him.
The Goldmans – $13.7B
The Pitts – $300M
What we wouldn’t give to be the children of Brad Pitt. The child of a trucker, Brad Pitt became a household name when he went into Hollywood back in the 1990s. He started out as an actor but later produced films of his own. He has bought vineyards and real estate, among other things. He has shared custody of his six kids with Angelina Jolie. We bet they have trust funds we can dream only of.
The Pitts – $300M
The Cargill-MacMillans – $42.3B
The Cargill-MacMillan clan comes with fourteen billionaires. Whoa. Not only are they among the richest families in the United States, but they are also one of the richest in the whole world. The flagship family business was launched by William W. Cargill in 1865. They produced palm oil and grain as well as traded in transport, energy, and steel. It is also responsible for raising livestock, feed ingredients production, and feed production. It is the largest privately-owned company in America, which means they do not disclose financial information. Perhaps they are even richer than we already think!
The Cargill-MacMillans – $42.3B
The Powell-Jobses – $10.2B
We all know who Steve Jobs is. The iconic Apple CEO and co-founder will forever be remembered even though he passed away in 2011. He and Steve Wozniak launched Apple from the ground in 1976 with the goal of selling a personal computer. It was the Apple II, however, that took them to new heights. The company eventually grew to the mega-conglomerate we now know it to be. What a legend!
The Powell-Jobses – $10.2B
The Du Ponts – $14.3B
The Du Ponts are a legendary American family. They have been among the richest clans since the mid-19th century. They initially earned a fortune from their gunpowder business, which grew during the World Wars. The Du Points later expanded to the automotive and chemical industries. They own many properties all over the country, including parks, museums, and gardens. The Du Pont family is huge with over 3,500 family members sharing all that wealth.
The Du-Ponts – $14.3B
The Carters – $1.3B
Well, you can expect this family to be here since it is the synthesis of two of the greatest musicians in the world. This power couple has one of the highest combined net worth in the country. The Carters have a total of $1.3 billion to their name. Much of it comes from Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s own record company. After all, it did release some of the biggest albums of the past decade!
The Carters – $1.3B
The Wests – $1.5B
There are certain theories about Kanye’s net worth. Although he has sold a higher number of records than any other music artist, his business ventures have been rather turbulent. Since last year, however, Yeezy had an estimated value of more than $1 billion. It is the same number Kim gives when asked about his net worth! No one actually knows, but a good estimate would be around $1.5 billion for now.
The Wests – $1.5B
The S.C. Johnsons – $28.2B
The S.C. Johnson family should not be mistaken for the other Johnsons on the list! Perhaps you have not heard of this company, but you can bet they have influenced your home in certain ways. S.C. Johnson, the household goods manufacturer, was founded in 1886. Back then, they only dealt in parquet flooring. They eventually developed a great floor wax before going to various products like Glade, Pledge, and even Ziploc! Legal drama ensued when Herbert Johnson died and did not leave a will.
The S.C. Johnsons – $28.2B
The Hastingses – $2.2B
Reed Hastings is the best-known member of this family. After all, he is the person who started Netflix. The Boston native was in the Marines and Peace Corps at some point, but he found success in tech. Although he had a number of tech jobs and ventures in the past, his stroke of luck came when he launched Netflix, then a movie rental site. While successful in the late ‘90s, it only became an empire with the advent of internet television.
The Hastingses – $2.2B
The Beveridges – $2.5B
The Beveridge family made their wealth in a rather ironic way. Yup, you guessed it – they made a fortune out of drinks! Specifically, they made it big when Bert “Tito” Beveridge, the family patriarch, founded Tito’s Handmade Vodka. The company was located in Texas and became instantly successful. They sold almost 45 million bottles of it! He went into oil and gas and mortgage industries as well.
The Beveridges – $2.5B
The Vandersloots – $3.4B
This family has a long history of bringing family members into businesses. The brother-in-law of Frank Vandersloot was the founder of Oil of Melaleuca. The company used to sell tea tree oil, but it did not prove to be successful. They also got in trouble with the FDA thanks to accusations that they inflated medical stats to make their product seem better. He eventually rebooted it to sell cleaning supplies, nutritional supplements, and homecare products. It did way better than the first time around!
The Vandersloots – $3.4B
The Kibars – $2.8B
The Kibar family, under the leadership of Osman Kibar, is important in the biotech industry. He founded a biotech firm called Samumed, which zoomed in on anti-aging drugs. The firm has a value of $12.4 billion! He managed to raise $438 million in the summer of 2018 and went on to found two more companies, though he did not go into a management position this time around. Although originally owned by Pfizer, Samumed is now independent after a falling out.
The Kibars – $2.8B
The Vultaggios – $3B
Don Vultaggio is quite the character. This billionaire is an Arizona Beverages co-founder. His first job was to sell beer and soda out of a van in Brooklyn. He profited over there because no one wanted to sell in those seedy streets during the ‘70s. He launched Arizona in 1992 in the same area and outran the competition soon enough.
The Vultaggios – $3B
The Bundrants – $3B
The Bundrants un Trident Seafoods, which is the biggest vertically-integrated fish business. The company harvests and then processes both fresh and frozen seafood. It also controls its marketing on on its own. What makes Trident so lucrative is when it sells to chains such as Costco, Long John Silver’s, Safeway, and other fast food restaurants. The company went global and started operating in China, Germany, and Japan. It went into boating as well at some point!
The Bundrants – $3B
The Asnesses – $3B
The Asnesses, headed by Cliff Asness, is a family of financiers with plenty of experience in venture and capital organization. Cliff apparently went after his Ph.D. professor, the market theorist Eugene Fama when talking about profit-making in business. After finishing his doctorate degree, he started working at Goldman Sachs before founding a capital management company and becoming an activist. He is known to speak out in protest of high hedge fund management fees and “crony capitalism”.
The Asnesses – $3B
The Shahs – $5.6B
The Shahs are led by Rishi Shah, their youngest son. He opted out of college and launched a business called Outcome Health, which is a leading company in healthcare media. It is in charge of the integration of new technology in waiting rooms such as putting touchscreens and tablets in waiting rooms and offices. The company is currently valued to be worth $5.6 billion.
The Shahs – $5.6B
The Ashkenazys – $4B
The Ashkenazy family has made a fortune via real estate. Ben Ashkenazy, the family patriarch, started out in real estate at the age of seventeen. Then a teenager, it was his dream to start a fast food joint in the Bronx. He decided it would be better to lease it when he thought the place he was considering was below market value. That was the time he got inspired to launch a real estate venture called Ashkenazy Acquisitions. It was successful and now boasts a portfolio worth about twelve billion dollars. It comes with real estate transactions globally and domestically.
The Ashkenazys – $4B
The Jacksons – $2B (estimated)
Although the King of Pop is no longer around, his family keeps getting wealthier and wealthier. This is because fans started to buy his records more after he died in 2009. His estate now gives his family members millions of dollars. Neverland Ranch is still one of the costliest real estate properties in the country. Although he suffered lots of controversies over the years, his influence in everything from pop culture to music is simply undeniable.
The Jacksons – $2B (estimated)
The Mellons – $11.5B
The Mellons have traced their roots to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1869, the Mellon Bank was founded by the family. This was the beginning of their wealth, although it only truly skyrocketed after their investment in Gulf Oil, now known as Chevron-Texaco. They also invested in New York Shipbuilding, Alcoa, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and Carborundum Corporation. The family is known for its philanthropy as well. The Mellons actually have Scottish-Irish roots and arrived in the country when Thomas Mellon, the original patriarch, immigrated from Ireland. Do you think he knew how well he would end up doing for himself in the beginning?
The Mellons – $11.5B
The Krafts – $6.6B
Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, is one of the wealthiest sports owners ever. His family tree is rather wealthy, as you can imagine. This businessman got his start in packaging when he worked at the company owned by his father-in-law. He soon entered paper products, where he found success by launching Forest Products. This firm offered paper packaging products to brands like Avon, Quaker Oats, and Kodak! Kraft started to buy sports teams when millions were coming in. Isn’t it cool that he bought an e-sport team as well? He sure sounds like a perfectly well-rounded guy to us!
The Krafts – $6.6B