The Richest Families In America Today

In 1870 salesman George Garvin Brown founded Brown-Forman, and it’s blossomed from a $5,500 startup to become one of the world’s premier liquor suppliers. Plus, following the success of flagship whisky brand Old Forester, the family firm grew further after it acquired Jack Daniel’s in 1956. But approximately how much money does the family have today?

In addition to Old Forester and Jack Daniels, the Brown-Forman Corporation also owns Woodford Reserve whiskey. Nowadays, Brown’s descendants – including his great-grandson George Garvin Brown IV, the company chairman – have a whopping $12.3 billion fortune. We'll raise a glass to that!

The Sackler family's mega-success in business may have been relatively recent, but members of the Sackler family have still managed to amass a huge estimated net worth. In fact, after 40 years with Purdue Pharma, brothers Arthur, Mortimer, and Raymond Sackler eventually hit big with the release of OxyContin in 1995.

Yes, you read that correctly: OxyContin, also known as the pharmaceutical that has majorly contributed to the opioid crisis in the U.S. Despite the Sackler family's controversial standing, their estimated net worth is astounding at $13 billion and growing. Today, their fortune is split among approximately 20 members of the family.

For 130 years, the Busch family was responsible for Budweiser, one of the world’s most popular beers. However, its company Anheuser-Busch – last controlled by August Busch IV – was sold in 2008, leaving the 30-strong family unit out of the game. That doesn't mean the family is struggling to make ends meet, however.

Back in the '20s, Prohibition pushed Budweiser to the brink of bankruptcy. And although the company made a roaring comeback in the decades that followed, the Anheuser-Busch family continued to flirt with buyouts. When they finally made the plunge in 2008, they were left with about $13.4 billion. This fortune means the clan sits comfortably on this list.

Patriarch Sol Goldman purchased his first property in the 1930s at the height of the Great Depression. What may have sounded like a huge financial blunder at the time ended up paying off spectacularly: the Goldmans have become one of America’s wealthiest real-estate families, if not the wealthiest.

Following Sol’s death in 1987, his grown-up children Jane and Allan assumed control of Solil Management, his company. Luckily for them, they seemed to inherit their father's business acumen. Nowadays, they possess an estimated net worth of $13.7 billion. Not too shabby for the family who once owned the Chrysler Building.

Although H. L. Hunt established a legacy as one of Texas’ richest oil drillers, he’s perhaps best known as the inspiration for J. R. Ewing of Dallas fame. Indeed, the impish oil baron sired 15 children in his lifetime, including heir and Hunt Consolidated executive chairman Ray Hunt.

Of course, a sharp business sense and a brood of children aren't the only similarities Hunt shared with the TV legend. Both ended up becoming unbelievably rich! Hunt's 15 children all have a stake in the family’s $13.7 billion wealth. Let's just hope the Hunt family's life is a little less dramatic than J.R.'s.

With over 3,500 members around the globe, the Du Pont family certainly is one of America’s largest. Despite the family's long industry history — they've had their hands in the gunpowder, automotive, and chemical industries — the clan is perhaps best known for the horrific actions of heir John Eleuthère Du Pont.

Du Pont was convicted for the 1996 murder of wrestler Dave Schultz. Even with a terrible crime staining the family's legacy, Du Pont's story inspired the 2014 movie Foxcatcher, and in the end, the family has still earned about $14.3 billion by selling DuPont chemicals. And they say crime doesn't pay...

Dating back to 1927, the Ziff family originally made its money from publishing. Today, however, the family predominantly deals in investments via Ziff Brothers Investments and Ziff Capital Partners, which have landed its members some serious wealth.

Currently, the family’s fortune — overseen by brothers Daniel, Dirk, and Robert, who are the grandsons of patriarch William Ziff Sr. — stands at an estimated $14.4 billion. This is especially impressive (or at least noteworthy) considering how the brothers defied their father's wishes by not continuing on in the publishing business.

If the name Dorrance doesn’t ring a bell, then perhaps the name Campbell will. In 1897 John T. Dorrance created condensed soup, and so the famous tinned food company we know and love was born. 120 years later, Campbell's Soup is still a staple in most pantries. That kind of success must have resulted in a huge net worth, right?

The proof is in the pudding — or in this case, in the chicken noodle soup. The Dorrance family are collectively worth around $17.1 billion. Some of John T. Dorrance’s descendants – including his grandson, Bennett – still sit on the board of Campbell’s Soup.

With over 30 newspapers and publications like Vanity Fair to the Newhouse name, this family is one of the most respected in America’s publishing industry. Plus, Advance Publications, led by brothers Donald and Si, has continued to prosper since they took over in 1979. Still, you may be wondering if the family survived the transition into the digital age...

Needless to say — they're on this list, after all — the Newhouse family has navigated the digital age with relative ease. Not only do they own a part of Discovery Communications, but savvy digital acquisitions like Reddit have helped maintain the family’s $18.5 billion fortune.

One of the biggest companies in fashion happens to have one of the biggest families behind it. In fact, Estée Lauder’s 1946-founded cosmetics company is currently run by her sons Leonard and Ronald as well as her grandchildren William, Aerin, and Jane. But in the wild world of cosmetics, have the Lauders retained their high standing?

When they opened a store on Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City, the iconic Estée Lauder name solidified itself as a cosmetics powerhouse. The brand has continued to flourish, if the family's estimated net worth of $24.3 billion is any indication. And to think, it all started with a bottle of lotion!

The Hearst family is known for broadcasting news, but its members are just as capable of making it. Indeed, the 1974 kidnapping of heiress Patty — granddaughter of publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst — is still discussed today. Is the Hearst family still newsworthy these days?

Despite their rocky history, the family’s eponymous empire of nearly 400 publications remains intact. We should've known that the company that started with print media and smoothly transitioned to magazines and TV would survive the digital age. This has resulted in a $24.5 billion fortune for its 68 members.

While the Duncans are now worth billions, the enterprising family members haven’t always been so fortunate. Born without a penny to his name, patriarch Dan Duncan only amassed his wealth after striking oil in 1968. He quite literally struck it rich! But just how rich, you ask?

By 2010, Duncan's net worth was a staggering $9 billion. After his passing the same year, his children, including former CEO of Enterprise Products Randa Williams, received billions in inheritance. And despite Duncan's passing, the company's net worth has only grown, and now hits somewhere around $26 billion.

You may not have heard of S.C. Johnson, but you probably have the company's products in your kitchen right now (if you're in the U.S., that is). The company owns Pledge, Glade, Raid, Saran, Windex, and Ziploc, and those are only a few of the brands under S.C. Johnson's ownership.

When Samuel Curtis Johnson Jr. passed in 2004, his children Fisk and Helen took control of the respective companies. In fact, this eventually landed the S. C. Johnson & Son clan a $28.2 billion fortune! One of the oldest family businesses in the U.S., S.C. Johnson really is, as the tagline claims, "a family company."

Spanning three generations of the Johnson family, Fidelity Investments has grown to become the world’s fourth-biggest mutual fund. In 1946 Edward Johnson II founded the company, and son Edward III and granddaughter Abigail have successfully managed it since. Indeed, Abigail Johnson recently reached a significant milestone.

Forbes called Abigail Johnson one of the most powerful women in finance in 2021. Since Fidelity Investments now controls over $2 trillion of assets, it's easy to see how Johnson earned such a title. The Johnson family has earned around $28.5 billion, and now that Abigail has ventured into cryptocurrency, the family is sure to get even richer.

As the owners of the internationally successful Hyatt hotel chain, the Pritzkers are rolling in billions. While Thomas Pritzker, son of founder Jay, remains the only family member actively involved in the business, other relatives have succeeded on their own terms...and in unconventional ways.

Gigi, for example, produces movies, while Penny, herself worth around $3.2 billion, was the 38th U.S. Secretary of Commerce. So even if they're no longer part of the family business, the Pritzkers definitely understand money, and clearly, they still benefit from their family's hotel business: the Pritzkers' net worth has reached a whopping $33.5 billion.

Throughout its century-long run, Cox Enterprises has stayed ahead of the curve by embracing new trends in technology. Indeed, the company — which began selling newspapers — now makes its fortune through smart homes and digital technology. They haven't shied away from technological advancements, and their estimated net worth proves that.

Cox Enterprises was founded in the '20s by James M. Cox, a former Governor of Ohio who once tried to run for president with a young Franklin D. Roosevelt as his running mate. Nowadays, his grandson James C. Kennedy is in charge, and the company has amassed the Cox family a windfall of $33.6 billion.

The Cargill-MacMillan family’s wealth dates back to the Civil War in Iowa, when William W. Cargill began selling grain. Grain turned into steel, steel turned into transport, and transport turned into energy, resulting in the family's mind-boggling financial success to this day.

Nowadays, Cargill Inc. — which has generated around $42.3 billion for the family — handles a quarter of America’s grain exports. Though Whitney MacMillan was the last Cargill-MacMillan to actively lead the company, the family still owns 88 percent of its shares, making them one of the richest families in the U.S. and the world.

Anyone who’s ever enjoyed a Snickers or a Milky Way has the sweet-toothed Mars family to thank. Frank Mars founded Mars Inc. in 1911, but today descendants Jacqueline and John own it, while Frank’s great-granddaughter Victoria is its chair. Business is sweet for the Mars family, and sharp instincts have helped them stay on top.

Mars’ smart purchase of the Wrigley Company in 2008 did much to boost revenue. Indeed, the family’s fortune now stands at approximately $89.7 billion. Forget cryptocurrency and technology! Clearly, the chocolate business is where the real money is.

Though their fortune is in the billions, members of the Koch family have had to contend with much internal strife. In fact, the family was divided in 1983 when brothers William and Frederick acrimoniously split from Koch Industries, leaving their "controlling" siblings Charles and David behind.

Despite its difficulties, though, the petroleum and chemicals conglomerate remains one of America’s biggest private companies. The company has fought to remain family-run over the years, and as of writing, the Koch family is still in control of the company — and their estimated $98.7 billion. Wowza.

They may not have John-Boy or Mary Ellen, but the other Walton family have had a similarly large influence on American culture. Individually, siblings Jim, Rob, and Alice rank as the 11th, 12th, and 13th-wealthiest people in the U.S. respectively. Can you guess which company their father founded? Hint: it's in their name...

That's right: Jim, Rob, and Alice's father, Sam Walton, founded the retail behemoth Walmart. The family's combined $130 billion of wealth means that the Waltons are America’s richest family, a title they probably won't relinquish anytime soon. In fact, some sources estimate that the Waltons' net worth is actually somewhere in the 200 billions! Astonishing, isn't it?