Wealth is power; we have seen both in history and in the modern world that the most powerful people in the world are the ones with the most wealth. With the rise of social media, and authentic magazines like Forbes it is easier than ever to find out how much money other people have. Social media shows you what celebrities are up to, and sometimes we can’t just stop and wonder how wealthy some of these people really are. We have gathered a list of some of the wealthiest families in the world. From oil tycoons to heirs of iconic brands like Walmart or Chanel, we will be discussing 51 families that made their fortunes in a variety of different ways.
51. The Xu Family – China
Net Worth (Approximately): 13.4 Billion
Before moving up in the real estate world, Xu Jiayin (pictured) worked at a steel factory for ten years. After that, Xu started small and set up the Evergrande group. At that time, he used to pick up low-value properties in markets. His first project was Jinbi Garden. After working hard for years, he amassed a fortune of more than $30 billion by 2020. But since the pandemic, the Xu Family’s net worth has gone down due to debts and market closures. His son holds an MBA and is currently the Vice President of Evergrande.
50. The Safra Family – Lebanon and Brazil
Net Worth Approximately: $16.2 billion
Vicky Safra (pictured) was only 17 years old when she got married to Jacob Safra. The name ‘Safra’ means gold in Arabic, making it a suitable surname for a family who is worth billions. While the Safra family has long been involved in gold trading and banking, their real rise to fortune came when she shifted operations to Beirut, Brazil, Switzerland, and eventually to the US. The family’s generational wealth comes from Jacob Safra who founded the one of the most successful banks in the world back in 1920. Nine decades later, the Safra family still guards a huge fortune.
49. The Rausing Family – Sweden
Net Worth Approximately: $27.1 Billion
The three Rausing siblings Finn, Jorn and Kirsten hold a collective wealth of $27.1 billion. They are one of the wealthiest families in Sweden. Stefan Persson may be the richest person in Sweden but when it comes to the collective wealth of the Rausing Family, no one can beat the Rausing Family. The patriarch of the family Ruben Rausing founded the company Tetra Pak in 1943. His son took the reins of the company after his death in 1983. Hans looking to pursue other things sold his share of the company to Gad. Gad’s three children Finn, Jorn and Kirsten are the current owners of the company.
48. The Lee Family – South Korea
Net Worth (Approximately): $30 Billion
When Patriarch Lee Byung Chull founded his trading company in 1938, he never thought his family would turn into billionaires. But as they say, hard work always pays off. South Korea is famous for many things today. One of them is Samsung. As it happens, Lee Family owns the company. Samsung was formed when the original company set up by Byung Chull was divided due to feuds between family members. Pictured above is Jay Lee, who is the vice- chairman of Samsung. Last year his father died, leaving the fortune to him, his two sisters, and his mother. Besides that, the Lee Family owns three other groups in South Korea too. But most of the family wealth comes from Samsung.
47. The Adelson Family – United States of America
Net Worth (Approximately): $30.1 Billion
It is no surprise that Nevada’s wealthiest family made its fortune by gambling. Sheldon Adelson (pictured with wife), who passed away in June this year, is the former patriarch of the family. He got into the casino business in 1988 after buying the Sands Hotel and Casino. After that, he continued to expand his business empire and opened The Venetian in 1999. The Sheldon Family also support Trump during his elections. Now, after his death, his wife Miriam Adelson owns more than half of the gambling empire, which is worth at least $48 billion. Besides his wife, Sheldon is survived by four children and eleven grandchildren.
46. The Chearavanont Family – Thailand
Net Worth (Approximately): $30.2 Billion
The wealth of the Chearavanont Family is distributed between four brothers Dhanin (pictured), Jaran, Montri, Sumet, and few other cousins. The family’s wealth originated when the father of the four siblings co-founded the Charoen Pokphand Group in the 1920s along with his brother. The Chearavanont Family is most affluent in Thailand after the royal dynasty. Dhanin chaired the CP group until 2017. In that year, he stepped down as chairman while his eldest son assumed the vacant position. Dhanin’s youngest is the CEO of the group. Meanwhile, he is still the senior chairman of the business. The family is one of the largest livestock and animal feed producers in the world.
45. The Bolkiah Family – Brunei
Net Worth (Approximately): $31.4 Billion
There are only a few royalties in the world who are richer than Queen Elizabeth II, and the Bolkiah family from Brunei seems to be one of them. These royalties happen to live in the largest palace in the world, known as the House of Bolkiah. The family’s main source of wealth has been through profits from the oil and gas industry, all thanks to Brunei’s large natural oil reserves. Some reports suggest that the Bolkiah family owns more than 600 Rolls-Royce, which is just one of the examples of their vast wealth. Even the reigning monarch’s son, Prince Haji Abdul Azim, has personal wealth amounting up to $5 billion.
44. The Lee Family – Hong Kong
Net Worth (Approximately): $32.3 Billion
While Lee grew up in a poor family who could barely afford to eat meat once a month, he knew that he had to give his children a different life. While Lee Shau-Kee’s earliest business interests included both currency trading and metal parts, he did not stick with either of those careers. Instead, he cofounded a successful real estate company in Hong Kong and China under the name Sun Hung Kai. What truly gave Lee Shau-Kee and his descendants a fortune is property giant Henderson Land Development that was founded by Lee himself back in the 1970s. Lee is also known for his careful investments over the years, as well as his dedication towards philanthropy.
43. The Johnson Family – United States of America
Net Worth Approximately: $36 Billion
The Johnson family made its fortune in the banking and finance sector. Edward C Johnson II founded Fidelity in the 1940s, a mutual fund that went on to become one of the largest business organizations in the world. The family always ensured that ownership was passed on to the rightful heirs to preserve their wealth, from Edward Johnson III to Abigail. Fidelity has had impressive yearly revenues for a few decades now, making them one of the most successful mutual fund organizations in the States.
42. The Pritzker Family – United States of America
Net Worth (Approximately): $36.5 Billion
The Pritzker Family is a powerful family of Chicago. Their wealth originated in 1957 when brothers Donald and Jay founded the Hyatt Hotel chain. During the 2000s, the heirs fought over the trusts, and the fortune was eventually divided between 11 members of the clan. Four of the heirs are Jay’s children, while three are Donald’s children, including JB (pictured). Currently, Thomas Pritzker is the chair of Hyatt, while his son is a board member. JB became Illinois governor in 2019 while his sister Penny served in the White House during the Obama administration. Other members of the family are handling their own businesses and are well-known in their respective fields.
41. The Johnson Family – United States of America
Net Worth (Approximately): $37 Billion
What began as a simple floor wax soon turned into a billionaire’s fortune. S.C. Johnson had his own flooring company back in 1886 and only hoped to make a few extra dollars by making his own floor wax product to sell to customers. Over time, the Wisconsin-based billionaire developed more cleaning products and gave birth to his very own dynasty. Despite some disputes amongst the family regarding who should get the throne, the Johnson family in the US still has an impressive net worth of $37 billion. As of 2021, the fifth generation of the family runs SC Johnson – a cleaning products giant all over the world.
40. The Ferrero Family – Italy
Net Worth Approximately: $37.3 Billion
The Ferrero Family is the richest family in Italy. Michele Ferrero was one of the most successful business owners in the world. He completely revolutionized his father’s small bakery into a multibillion dollar business. He was the owner of Ferrero SpA which is Europe’s 2nd largest confectionary company. You also have Ferrero to thank for that yummy Nutella spread at your home. His son Giovanni is now the sole owner of the company after the death of his father in 2015 and his brother in 2011. Giovanni along with his mother have a collective net worth of $37.3 billion.
39. The Hartono Family – Indonesia
Net Worth (Approximately): $37.6 Billion
Brothers Robert and Michael Hartono (pictured) are the richest and second richest men in Indonesia. Not only that, but the Hartono Family is one of the leading families in the country. Their wealth originated from Djarum, a clove cigarette firm set up by their father. In 1963 the company plant suffered from a fire, so the siblings stepped in and saved the business. Even their father died the same year. Today the Hartono Family is still the largest maker of clove cigarettes. Besides that, the brothers also expanded the family fortune by investing in Bank Central Asia. They also own an electronics brand, a gaming startup, and much more.
38. The Kwok Family – Hong Kong
Net Worth (Approximately): $38 Billion
When a family has such a vast collective net worth, one can easily assume that they belong to the world of real estate. The same is true for Asia’s second richest family – the Kwoks. Their era of wealth began with Kwok-Tak Seng cofounding Sun Hung Kai Properties back in 1963. The rest just seems to be history as Sun Hung Kai Properties still stands strong as the second largest real estate firm across the world. Despite the wealth, the Kwok family has their fair share of dramatic flair with secret mistresses, sibling feuds, kidnappings, mental illness, and even public allegations of corruption.
37. The Mulliez Family – France
Net Worth (Approximately): $38.4 Billion
The Mulliez Family has been in the retail business since the 19th century. They rose to prominence when the family head Louis Mulliez founded the clothing line Phildar. Today his grandson Gerard Mulliez (pictured) continues the family legacy. He founded the Auchan chain of departmental stores in 1961 and has only looked forward since then. The firm is owned by the family and is continuously expanding. Besides that, his holding AFM controls Leroy Merlin, Decathlon, Kiabi, Flunch, and much more. Many members of the family are stakeholders in the AFM holding. As a result, hundreds of Gerard’s cousins are millionaires too.
36. The Li Family – Hong Kong
Net Worth (Approximately): $38.8 Billion
Business Li Ka Shing (pictured) is not only the richest man in Hong Kong, but he is also the most influential personality in Asia. The Li includes Patriarch Li Ka Shing and his two sons Victor (pictured) and Richard. The total net worth provided here does not have Victor, so the figure is most likely to be a bit higher. Li Ka Shing is more famously known as Superman in Asia. He set up Cheong Kong plastics in 1950 using loans and savings. Due to his hard work, the company has now evolved into CK Hutchison Holdings. Li retired as chairman in 2018, but he still serves as a senior advisor at his holdings. Victor is currently the chairman of the conglomerate, and his brother Richard is the chair of Pacific Century, a vehicle investment company.
35. The Cox Family – United States of America
Net Worth (Approximately): $39 Billion
James Cox founded the Cox Empire nearly a century ago. He was already a famous entity in the media world but decided to step into the automotive industry. With hard work, he expanded the business and formed what is now called the Cox Enterprises. The company is the leading source of wealth for the family members is run by James’s grand and great-grandchildren, including James Cox Chambers (pictured). Jim Kennedy, a third-generation member of the family, is the chairman of Cox Enterprises and was previously CEO too. Meanwhile, Alex C. Taylor is now the president and CEO. He is the great-grandson of James Cox.
34. The Boehringer-Von Baumbach Family – Germany
Net Worth (Approximately): $42 Billion
Boehringer Ingelheim was founded by Albert Boehringer in 1885. At first, the company used to supply tartaric acid to the food industry, but Albert expanded the business by stepping into pharmaceuticals. Unlike most companies, the Boehringer is wholly owned by the family descendants. In 2018 the company became one of the world’s largest pharma companies. It has the title of largest private pharma company too. It is led by Hubertus Von Baumbach (pictured). Besides him, some extended family members also closely take part in business. Today Boehringer Ingelheim has 146 affiliates globally and has more than 50,000 employees.
33. The Ma Family – China
Net Worth (Approximately): $46.2 Billion
The Ma Family is headed by Ma Huateng, who is famously known as Pony Ma. The family includes him, his wife, and their daughter. He co-founded the tech company Tencent in 1998, along with three other people. He is the chairman of Tencent, which is the largest gaming company in the world. Not only that, but Tencent controls most of the social media platforms in China, including the messaging app WeChat. The group also listed its music subsidiary on New York Stock Exchange in 2018. Ma has played a vital role in the success of Tencent. That is why the fortune of the Ma Family continues to increase every year.
32. The Cargill-MacMillan Family – United States of America
Net Worth (Approximately): $47 Billion
Many people know that Cargill is the world’s largest food company in the world. As a result, Cargill-MacMillan Family is also one of the wealthiest families on this planet. But what many of you may not know is that it took about two centuries to reach this place. The family started their business in 1865 by opening a grain warehouse. But it still took them many years to create the Cargill Company. Today approximately 90% of the business is still owned by the family descendants. And there are 12 billionaires in the Cargill- MacMillan Family, including Martha MacMillan (pictured). However, the wealth is shared between more than 20 people.
31. The Dell Family – United States of America
Net Worth (Approximately): $50.4 Billion
We love hearing stories of self-made billionaires. The story of Michael Dell’s fortune began with his parents lending him a $1,000 investment to start his own computer hardware firm at the age of 19. Since then, Michael Dell used his expertise and skill to develop a PC in 1985 to eventually becoming one of the world’s largest technology firms. Michael Dell now enjoys the position of CEO of Dell Technologies – a company that was formed after the $60 billion merger between Dell and EMC. Apart from his own company, Michael Dell also has a significant amount of wealth from MSD Capital, his side-business of a private investment firm.
30. The Quandt Family – Germany
Net Worth (Approximately): $50.7 Billion
The Quandt Family’s wealth originated when family patriarch Gunther Quandt set up his firm in the 1910s. Little did he know that his company would turn into a huge success. Today the firm is known as BMW, and its descendants have about 42.7% shares in the company. Susanne Klatten (pictured far right) owns 19.1% of BMW, while her brother Stefan (pictured left) owns 23.6%. Both of the siblings are also on the supervisory board of the group. Stefan also serves as the deputy chairman. Meanwhile, Sussane is also the sole owner of Atlanta. Together these siblings make up the family fortune to roughly $50.7 billion.
29. The Pinault Family – France
Net Worth (Approximately): $50.9 Billion
Even if you own a wood and materials company, you can still turn into a billionaire. Francois Pinault changed the dynasty of his family in 1999 through an intelligent decision to purchase controlling interest in the Gucci Group. Over time, Kering went from a materials company to a fashion empire by having brands like Alexandar McQueen, Saint Laurent, and Stella McCartney under its umbrella. The empire is currently headed by Pinault’s heir, Francois-Henri. The family’s wealth also comes from their ownership of a 3,000-piece art collection including the iconic work of Picasso and Koons. As of 2021, the Pinault family aims to inaugurate their own Pinault Collection Museum in Paris.
28. The Thomson Family – Canada
Net Worth (Approximately): $51.3 Billion
The Thomson family is Canada’s richest family. Their wealth originated in the early 1930s when the patriarch Roy Thomson started a radio station. Over the years, he expanded into newspapers and soon became a leading entity in the country. After his death, the wealth passed on to his son Ken Thomson. He controlled the family business until his death in 2006. Following that, David Thomson (pictured) became the chair of their company Thomson Corporation. The firm merged with Reuters in 2008, and now the company is called Thomson Reuters. David and his brother own at least a 55% stake in the company through their investment firm Woodbridge. The family also holds a stake in various media firms such as Globe and Mail newspapers.
27. The Bloomberg Family – United States of America
Net Worth (Approximately): $59 Billion
Pictured above is Michael Bloomberg with his wife and daughters. They are one of the wealthiest families in America. Michael co-founded media company Bloomberg LP in 1981. He was the primary funder of the business back then, and today he owns 88% of it. Bloomberg started his career on Wall Street in 1966 but was fired after 15 years. Now, after working hard for years, he has managed to secure his family’s future financially. Bloomberg is a prominent philanthropist. That is why he has donated at least $5 million to causes such as climate change, gun control, and much more. He ran for president in 2019 but dropped out by early 2020.
26. The Chakri Family – Thailand
Net Worth (Approximately): $60 Billion
When it comes to royal families, everybody instantly assumes that they must be incredibly rich and lavish. The same is true with Thailand’s ruling family – the Chakri. The family has successfully continued their dynasty for over 238 years and continue to be treated like royalty wherever they go. Apart from being heirs to the throne, the Chakri family gets their fortune from accumulated assets. The family is known to own a huge chunk of properties in Bangkok as well as a large number of shares in hotel group Kempinski.
25. The Knight Family – United States of America
Net Worth (Approximately): $61.2 Billion
Phil Knight (pictured with son Travis) was a track player at the University of Oregon. In 1964 he and his coach Bill Bowerman set out to create Blue Ribbon Sports (now known as Nike). They each invested $500 to start the business, which has now become a global empire. In 2016 after working spending 52 years at Nike, Knight retired as chairman of Nike. CEO Mark Parker succeeded him. Phil had two children, one of whom died in a scuba diving accident. His surviving son Travis runs the animation company Laika, which the family set up. Phil serves as the chairman of the Laika. He has also donated billions of dollars to the education institutes he graduated from.
24. The Dumas Family – France
Net Worth (Approximately): $63 Billion
Owners of the brand Hermes, the Dumas Family, is one of the wealthiest families in France. As per Bloomberg, their fortune has built up to approximately $63 billion. The company was founded in 1837 by Thierry Hermes. Initially, it was a harness workshop, and it took years to turn Hermes into a famous brand. Currently, Axel Dumas (pictured) is acting as the CEO of the company. Not only that, but he’s also the chair of Hermes. Meanwhile, his cousin Pierre-Alexis Dumas served as a co-chair in the past and is now the artistic director of the company.
23. The Albrecht Family – Germany
Net Worth (Approximately): $66.7 Billion
Aldi, one of the largest retail firms, was set by brothers Karl (pictured) and Theo Albrecht in 1946. However, after a disagreement, Aldi was divided into two individual groups, namely Aldi Nord and Aldi Sud. Karl got Aldi Nord while Theo got Sud. Both companies went on to expand internationally after the split. Although both achieved success, Aldi Nord became more successful Sud. Today Aldi Nord is controlled by Karl’s children Karl Jr. And Beate Heister. Meanwhile, Aldi Sud is owned by Theo’s son and heirs of his brother Berthold. The individual net worth of Aldi Nord and Sud is $44.8B and $21.9B, respectively.
22. The Wertheimer Family – France
Net Worth (Approximately): $68 Billion
If you have an interest in high-end fashion and makeup, then you must have heard of Chanel and Bourjois. Paul and Pierre Wertheimer came from a legacy of good decision-making that got them their wealth. Their father acquired Chanel decades ago, and the two brothers got their hands on a successful French makeup company called Bourjois. Together with these fortunes, Pierre’s two grandsons currently enjoy controlling interest in Chanel which gives them enough wealth for generations to come. The grandsons also seem to have an interest in creating a dynasty of their own by acquiring both vineyards and racehorses across the globe.
21. The Slim Family – Mexico
Net Worth (Approximately): $78.4 Billion
The Slim family still has first generation ownership on their fortune. Back in 2010, Carlos Slim Helu was crowned the richest person in the world with his impeccable fortune. While the ranking has fallen since then, the Slim family still has a huge collective net worth through their company Grupo Carso. Slim has six children in total, with one of his sons being the current chairman of the family company and associated subsidiaries.
20. The Ortega Family – Spain
Net Worth (Approximately): $79 Billion
Amancio Ortego made a fortune for himself along with the help of his ex-wife in 1975. The clothing retailer that we know today as Zara was then known as Zorba, opened by Ortego in northwestern Spain. Over the years, the Ortega family’s interest in fashion evolved and they expanded their horizons with the Inditex Group. The family now owns many fashion retailer brands including Massimo Dutto, Pull & Bear, and Bershka. Since each of these fashion brands are incredibly popular, they keep adding to the Ortega family’s fortune every year.
19. The Ambani Family – India
Net Worth (Approximately): $85.6 Billion
Dhirubhai Ambani, an Indian business tycoon, founded Reliance Industries in 1965. And soon after, he turned his textile into a large conglomerate. Today Ambani’s are considered the wealthiest family in India. The majority of the business is led by Mukesh Ambani (pictured with his wife and brother). He is the current MD and chairman of Reliance Industries. His brother Anil Ambani was once a billionaire, but in 2020 he admitted in a UK court that his net worth had gone down to zero due to debts. Anil Ambani didn’t take part in the family business as his brother. Instead, he runs his separate business called Reliance Group.
18. The Bettencourt Family – France
Net Worth (Approximately): $91.4 Billion
The Bettencourt Family consists of Françoise Bettencourt Meyers and her children (pictured). She became the richest woman in the world after when her mother Liliane died in 2017. She is the granddaughter of the founder of the cosmetics brand L’Oreal. The Bettencourt Family currently owns 33% stock of L’Oreal. She was the brand’s board member since 1997 and is now the chairwoman of the family company. Françoise is also the president of her family’s foundation. In 2019, the Bettencourt Family and L’Oreal donated $226 million to repair the Notre Dame Cathedral. Meyers also writes bible commentaries and works actively to improve Christian-Jewish relations.
17. The Mars Family – United States of America
Net Worth (Approximately): $94 Billion
If you have ever wondered who owns Snickers or M&Ms, then we are happy to inform you that it is the Mars family. Mars, Inc. was founded in 1911 as a candy and pet food company and has been passed on to younger generations since then. While the Mars family has avoided the limelight as long as possible, they are only starting to make public appearances ever since the empire got passed on to the third generation of owners including Jacqueline, Forrest Mars Jr. and John Mars. The family’s plethora of wealth comes from their ownership of various fan-favorite brands including Snickers, Uncle Ben’s and Dolmio.
16. The Ballmer Family – United States of America
Net Worth (Approximately): $96.1 Billion
The Ballmer Family comprises Steve Ballmer (pictured), his wife (pictured), and three sons. Ballmer acted as the CEO of Microsoft from 200 to 2014. However, he joined the company in 1980 after dropping out of Stanford. After retiring from Microsoft, he bought a basketball team called Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion. In 2018 he purchased a 4% stake in Twitter and invested $59 million in Social Solutions. Ballmer actively works to help out his countrymen as much as he can. That is why he has transferred $2 billion to a donor-advised fund. He aims to relieve as many Americans as he can from poverty.
15. The Koch Family – United States of America
Net Worth (Approximately): $100 Billion
When you hear the words oil refining, you can instantly assume that the owning family are billionaires. The story of the Koch family is somewhat similar, with Fred C Koch developing an oil refining firm for himself and his future descendants. What began as a simple oil refinery became Koch Industries in the 1940s, and was passed on to Fred C Koch’s four sons when the founder himself passed away. However, the Koch family has had their share of drama with brothers Charles and David suing the other two, Frederick and Bill. After multiple legal battles, brothers Charles and David were able to secure a larger net worth for themselves. However, when combined, the Koch family still has one of the largest fortunes in the world.
14. The Buffett Family – United States of America
Net Worth (Approximately): $103.9 Billion
Everyone has something to learn from the legendary Warren Buffet. Buffet has been the chairman of Berkshire Hathaway since 1970 and has acquired his great fortune from his genius investments. While the Buffet family is currently one of the richest families in the world, it may not last too long. Warren Buffet has already promised to donate up to 99% of his wealth to charitable organizations at the time of his death. This means that unlike other billionaires, Warren Buffet isn’t planning on leaving generational wealth to his children after all. Even during his life, Buffet enjoys living a rather modest life instead of spending money on lavish pleasures.
13. The Ellison Family – United States of America
Net Worth (Approximately): $116.3 billion
Born in New York City, Larry Ellison always had an edge for technology. He knew that he wanted to achieve something remarkable in his life, and so he did. By cofounding the Oracle Corporation, Ellison was able to create a dynasty for his family. However, both of Ellison’s children did not choose to take the same career path in technology. Instead, they ended up in the film industry with Ellison’s daughter working as a hit producer and son founding Skydance Media on his own.
12. The Brin Family – United States of America
Net Worth (Approximately): $118.8 Billion
Head of the Brin Family, Sergey Brin (pictured), is the co-founder of Google, which came into being in 1998. Not only that, but he was also president of the parent company Alphabet till 2019. However, he is still a board member at the company. Not only that, but he is also the major shareholder in the firm. In 2019 Brin was absent from many events of Alphabet. It is reported that he is working on an advanced technology airship project. But the business tycoon is yet to confirm this news. He shares his fortune with his wife and children.
11. The Page Family – United States of America
Net Worth (Approximately): $123.1 Billion
Larry Page is a tech genius that we all know about. Along with one of his friends from Stanford, Page founded Alphabet Inc. – the parent company of Google. There is no denying that Larry Page is one of the masterminds of this era, especially due to the remarkable technological innovations that he made. As a result, he was able to acquire a significant fortune for himself, his wide, and two children. While Page has already stepped down as the CEO of Alphabet Inc., we believe that he has enough wealth for his future generations to sit back and relax.
10. The Zuckerberg Family – United States of America
Net Worth (Approximately): $134 Billion
If Mark Zuckerberg didn’t give us Facebook, we don’t know if we would even have social media sites today. As co-founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg is currently one of the richest people in the world with his family also owning the fortune. Zuckerberg has two daughters with his wife Priscilla Chan, all of whom share a good proportion of the family fortune. However, like other billionaires in the world, Zuckerberg is also planning on donating a large portion of his wealth to charitable organizations.
9. The Gates Family – United States of America
Net Worth (Approximately): $137.6 Billion
Without Bill Gates, we would’ve never had Microsoft and all of the wonderful apps that come under the company. Gates cofounded Microsoft back in 1975 and has enjoyed an uphill of success ever since. Even though Gates himself stepped down from the Microsoft board back in March 2020, he still had 1% of the company’s shares. Apart from Microsoft, the Gates’ family wealth also comes from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which is the world’s largest private charity. While the couple announced their divorce in May 2021, it is still uncertain how this decision would affect the Gates’ family fortune.
8. The Al Nahyan Family – Abu Dhabi
Net Worth (Approximately): $150 Billion
If Dubai has a royal family, then so does Abu Dhabi. The House of Nahyan comes from the same tribe as the Al Maktoum’s from Dubai. The Al Nahyan family has had control over the throne of Abu Dhabi since 1793, and they don’t plan to give it up any time soon. The reason why Middle Eastern dynasties stay in the family is probably because they have hundreds of male members, such as the Al Nahyan family having 200 male heirs. As for their wealth, the Al Nahyans have control over Abu Dhabi’s oil reserves as well as multiple investments across the world. In fact, the head of the family Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed is the current chair of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority – a company that has billions of dollars in assets.
7. The Arnault Family – France
Net Worth (Approximately): $177.1 Billion
France is known for all things luxurious. The Arnault family from France own LVMH, which is a company that owns a wide range of luxury goods. Brands like Givenchy and Dior fall under the umbrella of LVMH, giving the Arnault family lots of wealth to enjoy. The Arnault family wealth is still in control of the first generation as Bernard Arnault only founded LVMH in 1987. Currently, Arnault still takes an active role in running the family business through his position of both chairman and CEO. His daughter Delphine and sons Antoine and Alexandre are given ownership of other companies that fall under LVMH.
6. The Musk Family – South Africa/Canada/ USA
Net Worth (Approximately): $185.7 Billion
CEO of Tesla Motors, Elon Musk, is one of the richest men in the world. He is also the founder, Chief Engineer, and CEO of SpaceX. The billionaire aims to revolutionize the transport world. Currently, he owns 21% of Tesla if we take his debts into account. In 2018 he stepped down as chairman due after making some false statements about Tesla. Musk has been married twice and has seven children altogether. He was born in South Africa and then immigrated to Canada when he was seventeen. From there he made his entry into the US as a transfer student.
5. The Bezos Family – United States of America
Net Worth (Approximately): $190.9 Billion
Jeff Bezos started Amazon as an online book store back in 1994. However with time, he completely evolved the company into an online retail store where people could sell their goods and earn money. With a valuation of around $1.7 trillion. It is the biggest company in the world. Amazon’s success has skyrocketed Jeff Bezos net worth to around $190.9. However as Jeff Bezos owns around 10.3% share in Amazon, his net worth changes with a slight change in the stock price. So one week he is the richest guy in the world and the week he falls to the second position. Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife Mackenzie Scott got 4% stake in Amazon as part of their divorce which is also considered as the most expensive divorce in history. Mackenzie Scott has a net worth of around $56 billion dollars, and most of it is because of her stake in Amazon. So if the couple were to still together, they would have a net worth of around $246 Billion. In the coming years, the Bezos family might even beat the Walton Family, for the spot of the richest family in the United States of America.
4. The Walton Family – United States of America
Net Worth (Approximately): $254.1 Billion
The Walton Family is one of the most well-known families in the United States. Individually, all members of the family may be far behind the richest person in their country but collectively they are the wealthiest family in America. Brothers Sam and James Walton founded the business back in 1962. The older brother, Sam Walton is the one who is usually credited with founding and running the business. They turned a small retail store business into one of the largest businesses in the world. At one time, Sam Walton was the richest man in the US. Sadly Sam Walton passed away in 1992 and James Walton passed away in 1995. The wealth was divided between their children who are still running the business to this day. Today 7 members of the Walton Family are billionaires and they have also managed to increase the family’s wealth to a whopping $254.1 billion.
3. The Al-Thani Family – Qatar
Net Worth (Approximately): $335 Billion
The Al-Thani family has been ruling over Qatar since the 1800s. It is one of the strongest and the wealthiest families in the Arab world. The Al-Thani dynasty is speculated to have around 7000 to 8000 living members. The family has invested in assets all over the world. Some of the more popular investments of the family include Harrods, The Shard (the tallest skyscraper in the UK), Volkswagen and many other companies.
2. The Al-Sabah Family – Kuwait
Net Worth (Approximately): $360 Billion
The Al-Sabah dynasty is one of the wealthiest families in the Arab world. Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad is the current emir of Kuwait head of the Al-Sabah family. The family has been ruling over Kuwait for almost 270 years. The family’s main source of wealth is financial assets like shares and stocks, most of which are held in the US.
1. The Saudi Royal Family – The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia
Net Worth (Approximately): $1.4 Trillion
The Saudi Royal Family is hands down the richest family in the world. This is why their number 1 rank on this list may not surprise many. With thousands of dynasty members, most of them millionaires and billionaires, it doesn’t come as a shock that the family has accumulated so much wealth over the years. Their main source of wealth is oil. After the discovery of oil in the Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia, the country transformed from a centuries old feudal setup to a rich state. As it is a kingdom, the Royals took a large amount of share in profit for the export of the oil. The money did help to improve the infrastructure in Saudi Arabia but it also helped fill the personal bank accounts of members of the Saudi Family.