The Pulitzer family became one of America's richest by building a media empire. Joseph Pulitzer, originally a poor immigrant, bought and transformed struggling newspapers into highly successful businesses.
His focus on sensational stories drew massive readerships, which increased profits. Over generations, the family expanded their wealth through smart investments and the continued success of their media holdings. This led to the family's net worth growing to $1.6 billion.
The Vanderbilt family built their fortune in the 19th century through Cornelius Vanderbilt's success in railroads and shipping, reaching a peak net worth of $185 billion (adjusted for inflation).
However, lavish spending, lack of financial planning, and the division of wealth across multiple heirs led to the rapid depletion of their fortune. Today, Anderson Cooper, a descendant, has a comparatively modest net worth of $50 million, reflecting the family's loss of its vast wealth.
J.F. Shea Co. was founded in 1881as a one-man plumbing business by John Francis Shea. The company expanded into construction in the 1900s and played a key role in major projects like the Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Over time, J.F. Shea Co. expanded again into real estate, homebuilding, and infrastructure, becoming one of the largest privately held companies in the U.S. This growth and diversification led to the family's $2.5 billion net worth.
The De Young family became one of America's richest through their ownership of the San Francisco Chronicle, which was founded by Michael H. de Young in 1865. The newspaper became highly successful, and the family’s wealth grew over generations.
Nan McEvoy, Michael’s granddaughter, played a key role in managing the family’s assets, particularly after she took over the newspaper in the 1990s. Her leadership helped grow the family fortune to a net worth of $2.5 billion.
Levi Strauss saw a need in the clothing industry for sturdy work pants and founded the famous denim brand Levi Strauss & Co. in 1853. The Haas family, descendants of Strauss, took over the company in the early 20th century.
Under their leadership, Levi's jeans became a global icon, driving massive sales and profits. The company's success and expansion over the years helped the Haas family build a net worth of $3.7 billion.
The Coors family, owning over 10% of Molson Coors, became one of America’s richest through their brewing empire founded by Adolph Coors nearly 150 years ago. Peter H. Coors, Adolph’s great-grandson, led the company and now chairs MillerCoors.
The family also owns CoorsTek, a $1.25 billion advanced materials company. This company, although lesser known, is just as successful, financially speaking. This diversification, along with their brewing success, has grown the Coors family's net worth to $4.0 billion.
Seth Milliken and a business partner founded Milliken & Co., originally Deering Milliken & Company, in 1865. Under Milliken’s grandson Roger, who became president in 1947, the company expanded into a major global textile manufacturer.
Milliken & Co. created products for everything from the art scene to the military. With diverse products and operations worldwide, the company grew significantly. Roger’s death in 2010 left a net worth of $4.4 billion, although he forbade his children to join the company.
The Carnegie family became one of the richest in America at the time in 1889, with Andrew Carnegie's steel empire reaching a net worth of $4.8 billion (adjusted for inflation). However, Carnegie gave away most of his fortune, believing in philanthropy over inheritance.
He famously wrote, "The man who dies rich, dies disgraced," and dedicated his later years to funding libraries, education, and scientific research. His extensive charitable donations significantly reduced the family's wealth, leaving a lasting legacy of giving over personal fortune.
The Durst Organization was founded in 1915 by Joseph Durst, an Polish immigrant who had come to America just 12 years earlier with $3 to his name. The company specialized in New York City real estate and expanded, developing iconic properties like One World Trade Center and a vast Manhattan portfolio.
The family has a current net worth of $8.1 billion. However, Robert Durst, an heir, brought scandal to the family with his 2021 conviction for murder, after decades of suspicion surrounding the deaths of his wife and others. Luckily, in 2006 the family purchased his share of the business for $65 million.
R.R. Donnelley & Sons was founded in 1864. The company started as a small printing business and grew into the largest printing company in North America, producing everything from catalogs to phone books.
Their success in dominating the printing industry and smart business expansions over time built the family's fortune, eventually reaching a net worth of $2.1 billion. This is even after going private in a deal in 2021.
The Kennedy family built their wealth through Joseph P. Kennedy's ventures in finance, real estate, and the entertainment industry during the early 20th century. His successful investments, along with involvement in banking, liquor, and Hollywood, established the family's fortune.
Over generations, the Kennedys became influential in American politics, with John F. Kennedy becoming the 35th President of the United States. The family maintained wealth through real estate holdings and trusts. Today, the family's net worth is estimated at $1.2 billion, though much of their fortune has been distributed among many descendants.
America’s first billionaire was oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller. He co-founded Standard Oil in 1870, and the company dominated the oil industry, generating immense wealth. Rockefeller's business acumen and investments in other industries, including banking and real estate, further increased the family's fortune.
Over generations, the Rockefeller family’s diversified investments and philanthropic efforts have solidified their wealth, reaching a net worth of $10.3 billion. As it stands, over 200 family members currently hold a portion of the Rockefeller wealth.
The Mellon family became one of America's richest through their banking and investment successes, starting with Thomas Mellon’s founding of Mellon Bank in 1869. Thomas had come from nothing, immigrating to America in 1818 from Ireland at age five.
His descendants, including Andrew Mellon, expanded their wealth by investing in industries such as steel, aluminum, and oil. Their financial expertise and strategic investments significantly grew the family's wealth over generations. Today, the Mellon family's net worth stands at $14.1 billion.
The E.W. Scripps family became one of America's richest through their media empire, founded by Edward Willis Scripps. He started Penny Press in 1878 with a borrowed $10,00. This turned into a vast portfolio of newspapers, television stations, and digital media properties.
As print media continues to dwindle, the family made the smart decision to exit the newspaper business in 2015 with a strategic merger. The family's successful management and growth of their media assets have led to a net worth of $8.4 billion.
The Brown family became one of America's richest through Brown-Forman Corporation, founded in 1870 by George Garvin Brown. The company gained prominence with the creation of Old Forester, the first bottled bourbon.
The company later expanded its portfolio to include iconic brands like Jack Daniel's and Woodford Reserve. Strategic acquisitions and global expansion solidified their position in the spirits industry, leading to a family net worth of $16.5 billion.
The Dorrance family became one of America's richest through their ownership of Campbell Soup Company, founded in 1869. The family’s wealth began with John Dorrance, who invented the process for making condensed soup.
His innovation transformed Campbell Soup into a major food company. The family's continued involvement in the company and smart investments over the years helped their wealth grow significantly, reaching a net worth of $17 billion.
The Du Pont family amassed their fortune through the DuPont Company, founded in 1802 by Éleuthère Irénée du Pont. Originally a gunpowder manufacturer, the company evolved into a chemical giant, pioneering innovations in materials like nylon, Teflon, and Kevlar.
Strategic investments and expansions into diverse industries, including automotive, agriculture, and electronics, solidified their wealth, making them one of America's richest families with a net worth of $18.1 billion.
The Busch family built their wealth through Anheuser-Busch, the brewery co-founded by Adolphus Busch in 1857. The company became a leader in the beer industry with iconic brands like Budweiser and Michelob.
Through innovative marketing, including sports sponsorships, and strategic acquisitions, Anheuser-Busch grew into a global powerhouse. The 2008 sale to InBev for $52 billion further boosted the family's fortune, making them one of America's wealthiest families with a net worth of $20 billion.
The Hearst family built their wealth through the media empire founded by William Randolph Hearst in the late 19th century. Starting with The San Francisco Examiner, Hearst expanded into more newspapers, magazines, television, and radio, creating one of the largest diversified media companies in the world.
William Randolph Hearst Jr. stayed in the family business, becoming a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. The Hearst Corporation's vast holdings in publishing, entertainment, and real estate have grown over generations, securing the family's fortune and placing their net worth at $22.4 billion.
The Newhouse family became one of America's wealthiest through Advance Publications, founded by Samuel Irving Newhouse in 1922. Initially a newspaper business, it expanded into magazines with iconic titles like Vogue and The New Yorker.
Later, they ventured into digital media and cable television, owning a significant stake in Discovery and Reddit. The family's control over this vast media empire has led to a net worth of $24.1 billion, maintaining their prominence in the industry.
Cox Enterprises was founded in 1898 by James M. Cox and was the foundation of the Cox family fortune. Originally a newspaper business, it expanded into radio, television, and later cable and telecommunications with Cox Communications.
The company's diversification into media, broadband, and automotive services, including ownership of Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book, fueled its growth. The family's strategic leadership and investments have secured their $34.5 billion net worth across generations.
The S.C. Johnson family built their fortune through S.C. Johnson & Son, founded in 1886 by Samuel Curtis Johnson. The company began with floor care products and expanded into household cleaning and consumer goods with iconic brands like Windex, Pledge, and Ziploc.
As a privately-owned business, it thrived through innovation and global expansion, maintaining family leadership across generations. Today, the S.C. Johnson family holds a net worth of $38.5 billion, making them one of America's wealthiest families.
Cargill, Inc. was founded in 1865 by William W. Cargill. Initially a grain storage business, it expanded into a global agricultural and commodities powerhouse, dominating markets in food production, trading, and logistics.
The family's fortune grew as the company remained privately owned, reinvesting profits and diversifying into sectors like energy and transportation. Today, the Cargill-MacMillan family has a combined net worth of $60.6 billion.
The Mars family is the richest “old money” family in America today. Their fortune got its start through Mars, Inc., founded in 1911 by Frank Mars. The company started with popular candies like Milky Way and Snickers, later expanding into pet care with brands like Pedigree and Whiskas.
Under the leadership of family heirs, Mars, Inc. grew into a global food giant with a diverse portfolio in candy, pet food, and beverages. Today, the Mars family has a net worth of $117 billion, largely due to its privately-owned business.
The Astor family amassed great wealth, peaking at $138 billion (adjusted for inflation), through real estate and fur trading, led by John Jacob Astor in the 19th century. Over time, mismanagement, lavish spending, and inheritance splits diminished their fortune.
By 2015, the remaining $14.5 million sparked a legal battle among descendants after the death of Brooke Astor. This showed just how much of the family's vast wealth went down the drain over generations. The fortune went to Brooke Astor’s son’s wife, Charlene Marshall.
"Old money" families helped lay the foundation of American history, but the "new money" families on the rise today are building a new financial future. The Cathy family became one of America's wealthiest "new money" families through Chick-fil-A, founded by Truett Cathy in 1967.
The fast-food chain, renowned for its chicken sandwiches and customer service, grew rapidly due to its strong brand and franchise model. Under the leadership of Truett's successors, including his son Dan Cathy, Chick-fil-A expanded nationally and internationally, contributing to the family's net worth of $33.6 billion and establishing them as major figures in American business.
The Pritzker family built their fortune through diversified investments, notably founding Hyatt Hotels in 1957, which became a global hospitality giant. Led by patriarch A.N. Pritzker, the family also made strategic investments in manufacturing, real estate, and banking.
Through careful financial planning and the establishment of numerous trusts, they expanded their wealth across multiple sectors. Today, with a net worth of $41.6 billion, the Pritzkers are among America's richest "new money" families, known for both business and philanthropy.
Fidelity Investments was founded by Edward C. Johnson II in 1946. Initially a small mutual fund company, Fidelity grew into one of the largest asset management firms globally under the leadership of his son, Edward Johnson III, and later, his granddaughter Abigail Johnson.
With vast holdings in financial services and investments, the family's net worth rose to $44.8 billion, solidifying their status in modern American wealth.
The Koch family has become one of America's richest through Koch Industries, founded by Fred C. Koch in 1940. Initially an oil refining business, the company expanded into diverse sectors such as chemicals, energy, finance, and consumer goods under the leadership of Charles and David Koch.
Their emphasis on innovation, acquisitions, and maintaining private ownership helped Koch Industries become one of the largest privately held companies in the world, giving the family a net worth of $116 billion.
The Walton family is the richest family in America with a current net worth of $267 billion, more than double the net worth of the Koch family. The Waltons got their fortune through Walmart, founded by Sam Walton in 1962. Walmart revolutionized retail with its low-cost, high-volume business model, becoming the world's largest retailer.
The family retained significant ownership, roughly 45%, of the company, which expanded globally and into e-commerce. Strategic investments and continuous growth of Walmart's operations contributed to the Walton family's success. Family members also own seven sports teams, including the Los Angeles Rams, which contributes to their wealth.
