Top 10 Richest Families in America

The history has seen various rich families that dominated the world in one way or the other. The pre-dynastic or dynastic period with its roots from pharaohs to Greek-Roman rulers, was the one which so many rich emperors, owning almost half of the world’s wealth. They used to spend this wealth for the welfare of their families and trading arrangements, as well as to build their own territories. The use of money and physical powers to achieve success isn’t good at all. Today, not the rich persons are the only ones who dominate but the multinational companies and corporate houses as well. In this modernized era when American and British families urge to become economically stable, there are only a few ones that have sky-rocketed their businesses.

Here are the top 10 richest families in America.

10. Mars family

Mars family has inherited its wealth from the real life Willy Wonka, Frank C. Mars. He was the person who laid the foundation of the confectionery giant Mars Inc. The family is currently making over $30 billion annual profits from its sales. Mars is 3^rdbiggest private company of USA, as per the reports of Forbes. Another interesting phenomenon is that world’s famous energy bar, Pedigree, is also owned by Mars Family. Fortune magazine, in 1988, titled this family to be the richest of America, with all members having around $60 billion fortunes.

9. Koch family

Koch family has inherited its so much money from Fred C. Koch. He is the person who founded the Koch Industries in America, and started developing his own setup years ago. This oil refinery company refines heavy oil into gasoline. Koch Industries is one of the largest private companies of USA to produce oil. Charles G. Koch and David H. Koch of this family individually own 42% shares of Koch Industries worth of $45 billion. The family also owns a non-profit organization, Koch Family Foundation which was set-up in 1953. Forbes claims that the family has around $90 billion.

8. Hearst family

Hearst family has gotten its wealth from William Randolph Hearst. He laid the foundation of biggest ever mass-media group, Hearst Corporation. It is a famous communications media house, with 15 daily, 36 weekly and 300 magazines worldwide such as Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Elle, The Oprah Magazine and Harper’s Bazaar. It also has a sub-group, named Hearst Television, which is operating over 25 television stations such as A+E Networks and ESPN. George Randolph Hearst, William Randolph Hearst III, William Randolph Hearst Jr, Lisa Hearst Hagerman, Virginia Hearst Randt and Anissa Boudjakdji Balson are the five main members of the family, owing around $35 million.

7. Walton family

Walton family has inherited the fortune from Sam Walton, who laid the foundation of Walmart. This giant retail company was founded in 1962, and is its more than 10,000 stores in 30 countries in the world. The company mainly deals with the clients Asda in United Kingdom and Seiyu in Japan. The shareholders of Walmart have around $150 billion. Three of its members, Rob, Jim, and Alice have been able to secure their positions in the Forbes’ richest list since 2001. Jim alone has $34 billion.

6. Cargill family

Cargill family has inherited its money from William W. Cargill, who laid the foundation the Cargill Inc. in 1865, immediately after Civil War in Iowa State. The company currently has $136.7 billion revenue and $2.31 billion earnings, and is one of the biggest private corporations in USA. This company mainly deals in agricultural commodities and trade grains and oil. The family has 905 shares of Cargill Inc. worth $45 billion. The notable members of this USA family James Cargill and Margaret Cargill had around $2 billion before their death in 2006.

5. Cox family

Cox family has gotten so much wealth from James M. Cox, who laid the foundation of Cox Communications. James M. Cox was 46^th and 48^th Governor of Ohio and the Democratic candidate in 1920 Presidential election of America. He also published the Dayton Daily News in Ohio in 1898, and bought the Atlanta Georgian and the Journal in 1939. Cox Communication is 7^th biggest telephone carrier in America having over 6 million customers, 3 million digital cable subscribers, and around 3 million telephone subscribers. The company is being operated by Anne Cox Chambers and James C. Kennedy, who earn around $16 billion annually. All family members have around 434 billion fortune.

4. Johnson family

Johnson family received its wealth from Edward Crosby “Ned” Johnson, who founded the Fidelity Investments and Fidelity Worldwide Investment. Ned has been a great and inspirational living legend, and is 43^rd richest American, as per Forbes. His daughter, Abigail Johnson, has around 24% shares of Fidelity worth 411 billion. Fidelity Investments today has become a pioneer funding company of USA with over 18 million investors, $4 trillion assets under admin, and over $2 trillion assets under management. The family collectively has over $40 billion fortunes.

3. Duncan family

Duncan family has inherited its wealth from Dan Duncan, who laid the foundation of the Enterprise Products. This company is known to produce natural gas and crude oil, and has acquired GulfTerra in 2004, and Enterprise GP Holdings in 2010. Dan Duncan was the 3^rd richest person of Texas in 2007, Forbes says. He has left behind over $10 billion for his 4 children, Randa Duncan Williams, Milane Frantz, Dannine Duncan Avara and Scott Duncan. The family members collectively have $25 billion.

2. S.C. Johnson family

S.C. Johnson family inherited the welath from Samuel Curtis Johnson. He is the person who founded Johnson Family Enterprises. One of its major components, S. C. Johnson & Son is manufacturing household cleaning items, and consumer chemicals. The company sells its products in over 70 countries in the world, and has various sub-groups like Johnson Financial Group, Johnson Outdoors and Diversey Inc. The family members currently have over $30 billion fortunes.

1. Pritzker family

Pritzker family has gotten its wealth from Jay Pritzker. He is the person who founded the Hyatt Hotel chain with his brother Robert Pritzker, and both worked hard to build sixty industry corporations, including various service industries. Currently the family is operating Marmon Group, Superior Bank of Chicago, TransUnion credit bureau and Royal Caribbean cruise line. Forbes 400 claims that the member of this family collectively own around $40 billion fortunes.