15 Wealthiest Families in the World vs. First Generation Ultra Billionaires

Wealth is relative. That is what most people like to say. However, when it comes to the wealthiest families in the world, numbers don’t lie. The amount of money that these families generate annually from investments in diverse industries is mindboggling.

While most of the wealthiest families have accrued most of their wealth from inheritance, some have generated their wealth from scratch through strategic investments as well as innovations

However, before checking out the wealthiest personalities in the world, you can check out the richest healthiest and most advanced countries in the world. Most of the wealthiest families have been able to accrue a substantial amount of wealth by setting up businesses in these countries.

It might come as a surprise that the 25 richest families in the world have a combined wealth of more than $1 trillion. Putting the figures into perspective, the families’ combined net worth is more than the market value of some of the most successful companies in the world superseding even the GDP of most countries.

Our list details the amount of money that the families make in a year regardless of the field of specialization as well as their net worth. The rich index measures the amount of money that the families have built and grown as well as inherited fortunes. In addition, it includes first-generation fortunes like those made by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates.

15. Cargill-Macmillan – Net Worth: $42.9 Billion

Cargill-Macmillan family sums up the top ten wealthiest families in the world with a net worth of about $42.9 billion. The family accrues most of its wealth from an agribusiness founded by William W. Cargill in 1865. Twenty-three members of the family own 88% of agribusiness giant Cargill Inc. that generate $108 billion in revenues annually.

14. The Ambani Family – Net Worth: $50 Billion

Mukesh and Anil Ambani are the two brothers behind Indian industrial juggernaut Reliance Industries. The two inherited the company from their father Dhirubhai Ambani who died in 2002. Owning the world largest oil-refining complex has seen the two brothers amass a combined wealth of about $50 billion. Mukesh, the elder brother, lives in what is dubbed as the world’s expensive private residence.

13. Boehringer and Von Baumbach Families – Net Worth: $52 Billion

The Boehringer and Baumbach are the families behind the well-known German drugmaker Boehringer Ingelheim founded by Albert Boehringer. The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the 20 largest pharmaceuticals in the world and ranked 2^nd biggest in Germany

The two families own stakes in the company that has seen their wealth rise to as much as $52 billion. With the younger and more ambitious generation at the helm, plans are underway to boost the company’s sales to $28.5 billion that should boost the combined family’s wealth.

12. Van Damme, De Spoelberch and De Mevius Families – Net Worth: $52.9 Billion

Van Damme, De Spoelberch and De Mevius families boast of an estimated wealth of $52.9 billion thanks to investments in the beverage industry. The three Belgian families have roots and beer-making business dating back to the 14^th century. The family boasts of a robust pipeline of beverage drinks that has grown over the years thanks to mergers and acquisitions.

11. Duma Family – Net Worth: $53 Billion

Just like the Wertheimer family, the Duma Family continues to amass billions of dollar in wealth with investments in the fashion industry. The closely held family business is better known for signature scarves as well as neckties and perfumes. Handbags also account for a big portfolio of the vast family business.

A string of celebrity endorsements with the likes of LeBron James as well as the fusion of old and new technology in the fashion world has allowed the family business to continue thriving amidst stiff competition. The family wealth is currently valued at about $53 billion.

10. Wertheimer Family – Net Worth: $57 Billion

Brothers Alain and Gerard Wertheimer continue to prove there is money to be made in the fashion industry. Thanks to the popular French high fashion, house Chanel, the brother now boast of a net worth of about $57 billion.

The brother’s wealth stems from an investment that their grandfather made to CoCo Channel in the 1920s. In addition to making money from the fashion industry, the brothers have also diversified the family businesses with investments in racehorses as well as vineyards.

9. Mark Zuckerberg- Net worth: $71 Billion

Mark Zuckerberg makes it into the list as the youngest billionaire with first-generation wealth. Just like Bill Gates, he is a Harvard dropout who went on to co-find Facebook, the biggest social networking company. A net worth of about $71 billion is mostly tied to his holdings in Facebook, Inc. (NASDAQ:FB).

He has since diversified his holdings with the acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram. The billionaire has also contributed towards charitable causes such as solar-powered drones for delivering free internet services.

8. Bernard Arnault family- Net worth: $72 Billion

French National Bernard Arnault is also a first-generation billionaire with a net worth of about $72 billion. The billionaire accrues most of his wealth from investments in some of the biggest brands such as Louis Vuitton, Hennessey, Bulgari, and Dior.

An engineer by profession, Arnault knack for investment became apparent while working for his father whereby he converted an engineering company into a real estate company. He, later on, acquired Financiere Agache. Strategic investments have seen him rise to become the richest man in Europe.

7. Warren Buffet – Net worth: $84 Billion

Warren Buffett once the richest man in the world has made a good amount of money through investments in stocks and other companies. Believed to be the most successful investor on Wall Street, Buffett got into the world of investments at an early age of 14 years.

Buffett first bought shares in textile company Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B) that would end up kick-starting the investment career that has seen him diversify his holdings into insurance beverage and other industries. Berkshire being a half trillion-company accounts for a huge portfolio of Buffett $84 billion wealth.

Warren Buffett

6. Bill Gates- Net worth: $90 Billion

Bill Gates net worth of about $90 Billion counts as a first-generation wealth as he did not inherit anything from his parents or other family members. The Harvard dropout fortunes stem from his stakes in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), the world’s biggest software company that he helped co-found.

While Bill Gates net worth has more than doubled since 2009, he has spent billions of dollar through his Bill and Melinda Gates Charity foundation to fight polio and malaria.

Bill Gates

5. Al Saud Family – Net Worth: $100 Billion

The Al Saud family from Saudi Arabia is a new entrant into the rich families list. The family has amassed a $100 billion fortune thanks to payments made to the Saudi Arabia Kings executive office. The payments are mostly tied form Saudi Aramco that has made billions of dollars in profits from the lucrative oil business. The family continues to amass more wealth thanks to a family base of more than 10,000 members, most of whom have founded businesses and inked deals for big government contracts.

4. Jeff Bezos- Net worth 112 Billion

Jeff Bezos, unlike Walton’s, The Koch and the Mars families has made his wealth from scratch, making him the richest man in the world. His total net worth of about $112 billion is purely first-generation wealth accrued from strategic investments in the tech world.

Holdings from Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), a company that started as a bookstore and ended up as an e-commerce behemoth accounts for a huge chunk of the billionaire’s fortune. Bezos’s became the first man to accrue $100 billion on diversifying his holdings with bets on aerospace through Blue Origin as well as in media through the Washington Post.

3. The Koch family – Net Worth: $124.5 Billion

The Koch Family is the third wealthiest family in the world with an estimated wealth of about $124.5 billion. The Koch Industries passed down to brothers Frederick, Charles David and William by their father is a juggernaut in the oil business. A feud between the brothers in the 1980s resulted in Charles and David Koch assuming full control of the family business that now racks up as much as $100 billion in revenues annually.

2. The Mars Family – Net Worth: $126.5 Billion

The Mars Family is the second wealthiest family in the world with a fortune of $126.5 billion. The family generates most of its wealth from the business of selling candy, boasting of popular brands such as M&Ms as well as the Mars Bar. The family is also known for pet care products that generate nearly half of the more than $35 billion in revenue generated by the Candy Empire annually. Family members closely hold the multibillion-dollar candy business, unlike Walmart.

1. Walton Family -Net Worth: $190 billion

The Walton family has consistently topped the charts as the wealthiest family in the world. An estimated wealth of more than $190 billion solidifies the family’s position at the top of the chain. The Walton family is behind Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT), the world largest retail chain.

The retailer generates over $500 billion in revenues a year, thanks to a network of 12,000-retail stores worldwide. The Walton family owns half of the retailer, a stake that accounts for a considerable chunk of the $190 billion-plus fortune. For instance, the family earned $3 billion in dividends last year, thanks to the 50% stake. The Walton family wealth has increased by $39 billion over the past year.

While appreciating the wealthiest families in the world, it is important to take note of the first-generation wealth, from people who have made wealth from scratch. The list is also destined to continue changing as more people come up with multibillion-dollar ideas and as the rich continue to strengthen their investments.