The Lauder family is worth more than $24 billion.Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
- The US may not have any rich royals, but it does have rich families with net worths in the billions.
- These billionaire clans have accumulated their fortunes in vastly different ways, from publishing and cosmetics to retail and hotels.
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See the top 25 richest families in the US, ranked by net worth, starting at $10 billion.
America may not be home to any rich royal families, but that doesn’t mean some families haven’t created their own sort of empire.
In fact, the United States has quite a few billionaire clans who accumulated their fortunes in vastly different ways. There are the publishing powerhouses that built the Hearst and Newhouse family fortunes; a cosmetics giant, which laid the foundation for the Lauder family fortune; and the families that created their wealth out of household names, like Walmart for the Waltons and Hyatt Hotels for the Pritzers.
But not all of America’s richest families began as entrepreneurs — some were also savvy investors.
Below, meet the richest families in the US, ranked from lowest net worth to highest net worth, starting at $10 billion. Rankings were determined by the most up-to-date estimated net worths available from Forbes and Bloomberg.
25. The Gallo family
Net worth: $10.7 billion
Source of wealth: E & J Gallo Winery
The Gallo family fortune is derived from a few avenues. Brothers Ernest and Julio Gallo founded the world’s largest winemaker in Modesto, California. Their other brother, Joseph, assisted with the family business until he opened his first dairy and sold cheese as “Joseph Gallow Cheese.” His children currently run Joseph Farms, while the descendants of Ernest and Julio run E & J Gallo Winery, which generates estimated annual revenues of $3.8 billion. The company sells more than wine these days having added liquor to the list.
24. The Rockefeller family
Susan Rockefeller, David Rockefeller Sr., and Ariana Rockefeller.Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Net worth: $11 billion
Source of wealth: Standard Oil
John D. Rockefeller became America’s first billionaire after founding Standard Oil in 1870, which eventually controlled a majority of the country’s oil refining. He and his son, John Jr., donated more than $1 billion in philanthropic efforts. The family’s fortune is split among 174 members.
23. The Butt family
An H-E-B grocery store.Courtesy of H-E-B
Net worth: $11 billion
Source of wealth: H.E. Butt
Florence Butt founded H-E-B grocery store in Texas in 1905, which her son Howard expanded throughout the state when he took over the company in the 1920s. His son, Charles, is the majority shareholder and currently runs the company, which has 400 stores in Texas and Mexico and generates $25 billion in annual sales. Charles’ siblings and two nephews also have stakes in the business.
22. The Mellon family
The late Matthew Mellon and his former wife Nicole.Andy Kropa/AP Images
Net worth: $11.5 billion
Source of wealth: Mellon Bank
The Mellon family fortune originated when Thomas Mellon invested in coal and real estate in the 1860s — he was so successful he used the investment money to found Mellon Bank. He left his fortune to his children to grow. Between his direct descendants and future generations, they did just that, investing in companies that later became ALOCOA and Gulf Oil (now Chevron) and owning companies in media and the railroad industry.
Matthew Mellon was the face of the family until his untimely death in April 2018.
21. The Marshall family
The Marshall family has spent millions in a legal battle over their fortune.Minerva Studio/Shutterstock
Net worth: $12 billion
Source of wealth: Investments
The Marshall family’s wealth is diversified. J. Howard Marshall II traded his Great Northern Oil Company shares for an estimated 15% stake in the Koch Industries. He passed on the stock to his son, E. Pierce Marshall, which then went to his wife and children when he died. The family has spent millions of their fortune on lawyers for J. Howard II, who had a short-term marriage to Anna Nicole Smith.
20. The Brown family
Owsley Brown III.Noam Galai/Getty Images
Net worth: $12.3 billion
Source of wealth: Brown-Forman Corp.
The Brown family is behind Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve, and Old Forester, among other alcohol brands. An estimated 25 family members own more than half of Brown-Forman Corp., which began with pharmaceuticals salesman George Garvin Brown in 1870.
19. The Sackler family
Madeleine Sackler.Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Net worth: $13 billion
Source of wealth: Purdue Pharma
The Sackler brothers — Arthur, Mortimer, and Raymond — founded Purdue Pharma in the 1950s. The business skyrocketed when it began selling OxyContin in 1995. By 2002, Purdue was generating $1.6 billion worth of the painkiller.
The company has spent hundreds of millions settling various lawsuits over mis-branding OxyContin and generates $3 billion in annual sales today. The Sackler family still completely owns the company and the fortune is shared among some 20 family members.
18. The Busch family
Haley Busch.Paul A. Hebert/Getty Images
Net worth: $13.4 billion
Source of wealth: Anheuser-Busch
The Busch family fortune’s roots in beer date back to 1876 when Adolphus Busch created what is now known today as Budweiser. While the company passed through each family generation, an estimated 25% of the business was sold between 1989 and 2008, and it was fully bought out for $52 billion in 2008.
Part of the family launched back into the business with William K Busch Brewing. Roughly 30 members of the family split the fortune.
16 (TIE). The Goldman family
World Trade Center.Sirinyim/Shutterstock
Net worth: $13.7 billion
Source of wealth: Solil Management
The Goldman family’s wealth comes from real estate — they own 400-plus properties in New York City, including a 17% stake in the World Trade Center developments. Sol Goldman began Solil Management when he began buying foreclosed properties at bargain prices in the 1950s.
Today, his daughter Jane Goldman, runs the company. She and her siblings own 25% of the company, with assets worth an estimated $12 billion. Sol’s nephew Lloyd Goldman runs the family’s real estate firm, BLDG Management, which has another 17% stake in the World Trade Center.
16 (TIE). The Hunt family
Caroline Rose Hunt.Amanda Edwards/Getty Images
Net worth: $13.7 billion
Source of wealth: Hunt Oil Company
H.L. Hunt laid the foundation for his family’s fortune with Hunt Oil Company. His many heirs (he had 14 children) command several fortunes, from Hunt Oil and Petro-Hunt to Rodewood Hotels & Resorts. His children spend their billions on real estate, like the 6-million-square-foot underground business park SubTropilis, and sports teams — they own the Kansas City Chiefs and have a minority stake in the Chicago Bulls.
15. The du Pont family
The DuPont logo.Laurent Gillerion/AP Images
Net worth: $14.3 billion
Source of wealth: DuPont
The du Pont fortune is one of the oldest and most widely shared fortunes on this list. Chemicals giant DuPont was founded in 1802 as a gunpowder manufacturer. Over time, it evolved into producing everything from dynamite to plastics and invented nylon and Teflon. About 3,500 family members share the chunk of substantial shares in the company, although none actually run the company.
14. The Ziff family
Dirk Ziff (right).Getty/Scott Olson
Net worth: $14.4 billion
Source of wealth: Ziff Davis Inc.
William Ziff Jr. sold the magazine publisher his father created, Ziff Davis Inc., which published PC Magazine, for $1.4 billion in 1994. His sons, Daniel, Robert, and Dirk, grow their inheritance through Ziff Brothers Investments and reportedly invest some of their billions with managers who use to work at their hedge funds.
The brothers also own several homes in Aspen and have put their money toward philanthropic efforts.
13. The Dorrance family
Campbell’s Soup.Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Net worth: $17.1 billion
Source of wealth: Campbell’s Soup
An estimated 11 members of the Dorrance family own more than 50% of Campbell’s Soup, which John T. Dorrance invented the formula for in the late 1800s. Today, the company owns more than soup, including brands V8 and Pepperidge Farm, generating more than $8 billion in annual revenue. Two of Dorrance’s billionaire grandchildren and one great grandchild are board members.
12. The Newhouse family
Donald Newhouse and his sister-in-law Victoria Newhouse.Ben Gabbe/Getty Images
Net worth: $18.5 billion
Source of wealth: Advance Publications
The Newhouse family’s wealth derives from the publishing giant Sam Newhouse created. Advance Publications owns Condé Nast Publications and more than 25 newspapers in America, as well as Reddit and a stake in Discovery Communications. In April 2016, Sam’s sons sold cable TV company Bright House Networks for $11.4 billion in cash and stock.
11. The Lauder family
Leonard Lauder and his family.Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Net worth: $24.3 billion
Source of wealth: Estée Lauder
In 1947, Estée Lauder received her first major order for $800 of skincare products from Saks Fifth Avenue. Today, the company, which includes 30 brands of makeup including MAC and Clinique, generates $12 billion in revenue from the sale of cosmetics and fragrances.
The Lauders are active philanthropists, and sons Leonard and Ronald are major art collectors. Leonard donated $1 billion worth of paintings and sculptures to the Met. The family also owns a lot of real estate.
10. The Hearst family
Cousins Amanda and Lydia Hearst.Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
Net worth: $24.5 billion
Source of wealth: Hearst Corporation
About 67 family members share the fortune that William Randolph Hearst created when he took over the San Francisco Examiner in the late 1800s. Soon after, Hearst acquired other newspapers and forayed into radio and TV, creating the foundation for today’s media giant, Hearst Corporation, which owns 46 newspapers, 340 magazines, TV and radio stations, and stakes in cable TV channels.
Hearst used to own what is now one of the most expensive homes in America.
9. The Duncan family
Dan L. Duncan’s daughter, Randa Williams (left), with husband and mother-in-law.Bob Levey/Getty Images
Net worth: $26 billion
Source of wealth: Enterprise Products Partners
Dan L. Duncan founded gas and oil company Enterprise Products Partners in 1968 with just $10,000. After he died in 2010, the company remained under family control and his four children inherited a $10 billion estate. The family fortune has since more than doubled.
8. The SC Johnson family
Herbert Fisk Johnson III.Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Net worth: $28.2 billion
Source of wealth: SC Johnson
The Johnson family is behind SC Johnson, which produces cleaning products such as Pledge, Glade, and Windex. The company was founded by its namesake in 1882 and was eventually taken over by son Herbert Fisk Johnson. Herbert died in 1928 without a will, and the family reportedly feuded over the inheritance until it was eventually divided between his two children, Herbert Fisk Jr. and Henrietta Johnson Louis. Fifth-generation Herbert Fisk Johnson III acts as the current CEO and chairman of the company.
7. (Edward) Johnson family
Abigail Johnson.Brian Snyder/Reuters
Net worth: $28.5 billion
Source of wealth: Fidelity
Edward C. Johnson founded the world’s second-largest mutual fund company, Fidelity, in 1946, which has been run at the hands of three Johnson generations since. It’s currently helmed by his granddaughter, Abigail Johnson. The family owns 49% of the company, which is shared among four members.
6. The Pritzker family
Penny Pritzker.Pool/Getty Images
Net worth: $33.5 billion
Source of wealth: Hyatt Hotels
A.N. Pritzker and sons Jay, Donald, and Robert created the family’s wealth by founding the Hyatt Hotel chain and investing in holdings, such as Marmon Group. Today, the fortune is split among 13 family members, 11 of whom are billionaires. They reportedly spent much of the 2000’s arguing over trusts, ultimately dividing up the fortune at the end.
Members of the Pritzker family have also been involved in politics. Penny Pritzker, Donald’s daughter, is the former US Secretary of Commerce. Her brother, J.B. Pritzker was the national co-chairman of Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign and the Democratic candidate in the 2018 Illinois gubernatorial election.
5. The Cox family
James Cox Kennedy.AP Photos
Net worth: $33.6 billion
Source of wealth: Cox Enterprises
Cox Enterprises has touched a number of industries — cable and broadband (Cox Communications), newspapers and radio stations (Cox Media Group), and automotive. It generates about $20 billion in revenue.
Founder James Cox‘s five grandchildren share the family fortune.
4. The Cargill-MacMillan family
Martha MacMillan.Jemal Countess/Getty Images
Net worth: $42.3 billion
Source of wealth: Cargill Inc.
William W. Cargill founded agribusiness giant Cargill Inc. in 1865. Today, 23 members of the Cargill-MacMillan family own 88% of the company, which generates $108 billion in annual revenues. Of this clan, 14 are billionaires. The family reportedly keeps 80% of Cargill Inc.’s net income inside the company for reinvestment annually.
3. The Mars family
Jacqueline Mars and her granddaughters.Pool/Getty Images
Net worth: $89.7 billion
Source of wealth: Mars Inc.
Jacqueline and John Mars inherited a stake in the candy empire Mars Inc., which invented M&Ms, Milky Way, and Mars Bars, when their father passed away in 1999. Jacquelyn’s son, Stephen Badger, is the current chairman of Mars Inc., which brings in more than $35 billion in annual revenue.
The siblings run the Mars Foundation, which donates to educational, environmental, cultural, and health-related causes.
2. The Koch family
David and Julia Koch.Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Net worth: $98.7 billion
Source of wealth: Koch Industries
Brothers Charles and David Koch expanded their father’s oil refinery firm into conglomerate Koch Industries after their other brothers, Frederick and William, left the business following a failed takeover. Today, Koch Industries generates roughly $100 billion in revenue annually.
David Koch, who stepped down from a leadership position in the company in 2018, has pledged to contribute more than $1.2 billion to cancer research, hospitals, education, and cultural institutions through the David H. Koch Charitable Foundation. Both brothers reportedly secretly funded some of the biggest summer films of 2017, including “Wonder Woman.”
1. The Walton family
Siblings Jim, Alice, and Rob Walton.Rick Wilking/Reuters
Net worth: $151.5 billion
Source of wealth: Walmart
Sam and Bud Walton founded Walmart in 1962. Following its success, they founded Sam’s Club in 1983. Today, Walmart reports sales of $500 billion, making it the largest retailer by revenue in the world.
The Walton family fortune is dispersed among seven family members, including co-founder Sam Walton’s three children, Rob, Jim, and Alice, who is the richest woman in the world with a $43.7 billion fortune.
