Every massive fortune starts with a decision—an idea to sell something, invest in something, or take over something most people wouldn’t touch. For these families, those early choices turned into sprawling business empires. Their names appear on candy bars and skyscrapers, but the turns behind their wealth keep the stories compelling.
Walton Family
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The game plan was simple: beat everyone on price and open stores like crazy. By the time competitors caught on, Walmart was too far ahead. Its 2024 revenue topped $648 billion. The family also owns sports teams like the Denver Broncos, just in case groceries weren’t enough.
Mars Family
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Candy built the Mars fortune but didn’t stop at chocolate bars. Frank Mars made sweets in his kitchen, Forrest Mars took those recipes global, and the family later added pet food and veterinary care to the mix. The brand portfolio also includes Snickers and Twix.
Koch Family
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It started with oil, but now Koch, Inc. makes everything from paper towels to fiber optics. Charles and the late David Koch expanded their father's small refinery into an industrial empire with $125 billion in annual revenue. Charles still oversees operations, while his son Chase prepares to take the reins.
Cargill-MacMillan Family
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W.W. Cargill opened a grain warehouse in Iowa in 1865. It was a humble start to what would become a global food empire. The family merged with the MacMillans in the early 1900s, and together they kept the company private while expanding into a worldwide agribusiness titan with $160 billion in revenue.
Johnson (Fidelity) Family
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Three generations of Johnsons have steered Fidelity, each making bold moves. Edward C. Johnson II launched it in 1946. His son Ned transformed it. His granddaughter Abigail now leads the firm, which made over $32 billion in 2024. The Johnsons keep their ownership private but hold nearly half the company.
Pritzker Family
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The Hyatt name is only part of the story. A.N. Pritzker and his sons built their fortune by buying and reshaping companies across a range of industries. Jay Pritzker’s 1957 purchase of the Hyatt House in Los Angeles marked the start of their hotel chain. Over time, 13 heirs divided the wealth, while others carved out paths in politics and business.
Johnson (SC Johnson) Family
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Before they sold Windex and Ziploc, they made floor wax. S.C. Johnson started in the 1880s and stayed in the family for five generations. A messy inheritance dispute in 1928 eventually split the company between Herbert Jr. and Henrietta. Today, Herbert Fisk Johnson III runs the $11 billion business.
Cathy Family
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Truett Cathy opened a diner in Georgia and built it on two things: chicken sandwiches and religious values. Chick-fil-A stayed closed on Sundays, but that didn’t stop it from becoming one of America's most profitable chains. The company remains family-owned, with each generation upholding its famously conservative corporate culture.
Duncan Family
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Dan Duncan launched Enterprise Products with just $10,000 in 1968. Today, it’s one of the largest energy pipeline firms in the U.S., handling gas, oil, and petrochemical transport. After his passing in 2010, his four children inherited nearly $10 billion, aided by a rare estate tax loophole that year.
Cox Family
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James Cox was a schoolteacher who bought a failing newspaper in 1898. He turned that into Cox Enterprises, which now spans digital media and automotive services. The company has always been family-led, but not always drama-free. In one public dust-up, a cousin cashed out over political disagreements. Still, the company kept its footing.
Lauder Family
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Estée Lauder’s first big break came in 1947 with an order from Saks. From there, she expanded into a global beauty business that now includes MAC, Clinique, and more than 20 other brands. Her sons carried the company forward, while Leonard and Ronald Lauder became well-known art collectors—Leonard’s gift to the Met alone was valued at $1 billion.
Hearst Family
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William Randolph Hearst built his media empire, starting with the San Francisco Examiner in the 1880s. He expanded into dozens of newspapers, radio, and eventually television. Today, the Hearst Corporation owns stakes in A&E and ESPN and publishes Cosmopolitan and Men’s Health.
Reyes Family
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If you’ve had a Coke or Big Mac lately, chances are Reyes Holdings helped get it to you. Chris and Jude Reyes built the country’s biggest beverage and food delivery business by locking down contracts with Coca-Cola and McDonald’s.
Newhouse Family
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A media empire that includes Vogue, The New Yorker, and Reddit began when Sam Newhouse created Advance Publications. His sons, Donald and Si, expanded the family’s reach by selling Bright House Networks for $11.4 billion and investing across digital platforms.
Busch Family
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Adolphus Busch brewed up Budweiser in 1876, and his descendants rode the beverage wave for over a century. By 2008, Anheuser-Busch had been sold to InBev for $52 billion. Around 30 family members shared the windfall. Some attempted a comeback with a new brewery, but it closed in 2019.