Richest American families, ranked

The Walton family

Walton family
Siblings Jim, Alice, and Rob Walton. 
Rick Wilking/Reuters

Net worth: $169.7 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 Koch family

david koch
David and Julia Koch. 
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Net worth: $107 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.

The Mars family

Jacqueline Mars
Jacqueline Mars and her granddaughters. 
Pool/Getty Images

Net worth: $72 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 Cargill-MacMillan family

Martha MacMillan
Martha MacMillan. 
Jemal Countess/Getty Images

Net worth: $38.8 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.

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