It’s human nature to be captivated by stories of immense wealth. Whether it sparks curiosity, envy, or even a bit of disdain, the lives of the ultra-rich hold a certain fascination. For many, tracking the fortunes of the wealthiest families is a more engaging pastime than navigating personal finance complexities like understanding mortgage rates or investment strategies. This widespread interest reflects a culture deeply fascinated by wealth, often idolizing affluence and scrutinizing those who reach and maintain such elite status. The families at the pinnacle of global business are often seen as celebrities, their successes and failures closely watched by the public eye.
This exploration focuses on families whose fortunes originated from entrepreneurial ventures and business empires, irrespective of whether current generations actively contribute to wealth creation or primarily manage inherited assets. It’s important to note that this list specifically highlights families, distinguishing them from lists of the wealthiest individuals like Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk.
Key Takeaways:
- The Walton family, founders of Walmart, once again claims the title of the richest family in the world, boasting a staggering wealth exceeding $430 billion.
- The Hermès family, synonymous with luxury through their iconic scarves, handbags, and perfumes, secures its place among the wealthiest, holding the fourth position globally with a fortune of $170.6 billion.
- Royal families from Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and Saudi Arabia feature prominently near the top, largely due to the vast oil reserves of their respective nations.
- The Mars family, now in its fourth generation of leadership, continues to manage the Mars candy empire, a legacy valued at $133 billion.
- This compilation specifically focuses on family wealth, excluding individual billionaires such as Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk from consideration.
The Walton Family
Estimated Wealth: $432.4 Billion
Company: Walmart
The Waltons, the dynasty behind the retail giant Walmart, reaffirms its position as the richest family in the world, reclaiming the top spot after a brief period behind the Al Nahyan family in 2023. The heirs of founder Sam Walton, including Jim, Rob, and Alice Walton, each hold individual fortunes estimated around $75 billion, placing them among the top billionaires globally, ranked 18th, 19th, and 21st respectively on the Forbes billionaire list as of December 24, 2023.
Walmart, a name synonymous with retail dominance, was established by Sam Walton in Arkansas in 1962. By fiscal year 2024, Walmart stood as the world’s largest company by revenue, generating $648 billion and employing over 2.1 million associates worldwide.
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Operating more than 10,600 retail locations globally, including 5,206 stores across the U.S. as of February 2025, Walmart is best known for its expansive big-box store format prevalent in rural and suburban America. Celebrated for its commitment to low prices, Walmart also faces criticism regarding its labor practices. Interestingly, unlike its competitor Target, Walmart struggled to replicate its big-box consumer model’s success in New York City, highlighting the diverse consumer landscapes within the United States.
The Al Nahyan Family
Estimated Wealth: $323.9 Billion
Company: Abu Dhabi Royal Family
The Al Nahyan family, also known as the “House of Nahyan,” stands as the second richest family globally. At the helm is Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE’s economy, and consequently the immense wealth of its rulers and royal families, has been dramatically shaped by the nation’s substantial oil reserves. Abu Dhabi, in particular, is one of the most affluent emirates, significantly enriched by its oil resources.
Sheikh Mohamed assumed leadership of Abu Dhabi and the UAE presidency in 2022, succeeding his brother, Sheikh Khalifa, who governed from 2004 to 2022. Their father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, was the nation’s founding President, serving from 1971 until 2004, marking a lineage of power within the Al Nahyan family.
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The family’s vast fortune originates from their ownership of billions of barrels of oil reserves, complemented by highly lucrative wealth funds, solidifying their status as one of the wealthiest and most influential families in the world.
The Al Thani Family
Estimated Wealth: $172.9 Billion
Company: Royal Family of Qatar
The Al Thani family has reigned over Qatar since the mid-19th century, navigating the nation’s evolution through the establishment of modern Qatar, periods of conflict, and two coup attempts. Their enduring rule has shaped Qatar into a significant global power.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani played a pivotal role in Qatar’s transformation into a major world player during his 18-year reign. Ascending to power in 1995 through a bloodless coup that deposed his father and froze his assets to prevent counter-actions, Sheikh Hamad initiated a period of rapid growth and international prominence for Qatar.
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The country’s natural gas production experienced exponential growth, driven by the exploitation of offshore gas fields and the discovery of previously untapped oil reserves. By 2010, this resource wealth propelled the average annual income in Qatar to $86,440 per person, reflecting the nation’s newfound prosperity.
Beyond oil and gas revenues, Sheikh Hamad strategically invested billions in diverse businesses, including global brands like Volkswagen, Total, Sainsbury’s, and Barclays bank, further diversifying and solidifying the family’s financial empire. In 2018, Sheikh Hamad abdicated the throne in favor of his fourth son, Sheikh Tamin bin Hamad al Thani, continuing the Al Thani dynasty’s leadership.
The Hermès Family
Estimated Wealth: $170.6 Billion
Company: Hermès
The French luxury fashion house Hermès, renowned for its exquisite scarves, neckties, perfumes, and the coveted Kelly and Birkin handbags, has captivated the world with its elegance and craftsmanship. Originating in the 19th century, Thierry Hermès began by crafting riding apparel for the aristocracy, establishing a legacy of luxury and exclusivity.
Today, Hermès’ clientele extends to contemporary icons like basketball legend LeBron James, demonstrating its enduring appeal across generations and industries. Blending traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, Hermès also offers Hermès Apple Watches, priced from $1,249 and upwards, showcasing its innovative approach to luxury in the digital age. Currently, Axel Dumas serves as the company’s executive director, while Pierre-Alexis Dumas holds the position of artistic executive vice president, guiding Hermès into the future while preserving its heritage of luxury.
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The Koch Family
Estimated Wealth: $148.5 Billion
Company: Koch Industries
Charles Koch’s immense fortune is rooted in an oil business established by his father. However, Charles Koch has gained significant public recognition for his political activities, channeling substantial funds into conservative causes. He has heavily invested in financing political candidates, libertarian think tanks, university professorships, and lobbying efforts, all aimed at promoting a conservative political agenda.
Charles Koch collaborated closely with his brother David until David’s passing in 2019. Charles’ individual net worth is estimated at $58.5 billion, ranking him 25th on the Forbes billionaires list. David’s widow, Julia Koch, and her family are positioned at 23rd place with a net worth of $64.3 billion as of February 15, 2025, highlighting the significant wealth held within the Koch family.
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The Al Saud Family
Estimated Wealth: $140 Billion
Company: Saudi Royal Family
The House of Saud, the royal family of Saudi Arabia, boasts a monarchical history spanning nearly a century. Their substantial fortune, estimated at $140 billion, has accumulated over decades through allocations from the Royal Diwan, the king’s executive office.
Their close ties with Saudi Aramco, one of the world’s most profitable companies and a dominant force in the oil industry, ensure the continued growth of the Saudi royal family’s wealth. Accurately assessing the total wealth of the House of Saud is challenging, partly due to its vast size, encompassing as many as 15,000 extended members, many of whom have established businesses, secured government contracts, and engaged in various entrepreneurial activities, making their financial network intricate and widespread.
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The Mars Family
Estimated Wealth: $133.8 Billion
Company: Mars Incorporated
Mars stands as the confectionery equivalent of Walmart—a multigenerational family business that is globally recognized and immensely popular. While originally known for the Mars bar, the company is now more famously associated with M&Ms and a vast portfolio of confectionery and food products. In a significant diversification move in 2017, the world’s largest candy maker expanded into pet care with the $9.1 billion acquisition of VCA, a pet care company, broadening its business scope beyond its traditional confectionery roots.
Siblings Jacqueline and John Mars, grandchildren of company founder Frank Mars, each possess a net worth of $38.5 billion, tying for 35th place on the Forbes list of billionaires as of February 15, 2025. The company’s leadership is now transitioning to the fourth generation of Mars family members, ensuring the continuation of family influence and business legacy.
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2,781
In 2024, the world reached a record high of 2,781 billionaires, highlighting the increasing concentration of wealth globally.
The Ambani Family
Estimated Wealth: $99.6 Billion
Company: Reliance Industries
Reliance Industries, an Indian industrial conglomerate and the sole Asian company featured in this list, might be less familiar to a general Western audience compared to the other families listed.
Nevertheless, CEO Mukesh Ambani, son of the company’s founder who established it in 1957, is ranked ninth on the Forbes billionaires list with a net worth of $90.3 billion as of February 15, 2025. He oversees Reliance’s extensive operations in refining, petrochemicals, oil and gas, and textiles. His brother, Anil, manages other significant sectors including telecommunications, asset management, entertainment, and power generation, indicating the broad reach of the Ambani family’s business interests.
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The Wertheimer Family
Estimated Wealth: $88 Billion
Company: Chanel
The French high-fashion house Chanel is legendary for its iconic “little black dress,” the universally recognized No.5 perfume, and the influential, late designer Karl Lagerfeld, who passed away on February 19, 2019.
Brothers Alain and Gerhard Wertheimer currently co-own Chanel, inheriting the company that their grandfather established in partnership with founder Gabrielle Coco Chanel. Both brothers are ranked 40th on the Forbes billionaires list, each possessing a net worth of $36.8 billion as of February 15, 2025, reflecting the enduring value and prestige of the Chanel brand.
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The Thomson Family
Estimated Wealth: $87.1 Billion
Company: Thomson Reuters
The Thomson family’s wealth originates from Thomson Reuters, a multinational media conglomerate. The family’s foray into media began in the 1930s when Roy Thomson launched a radio station in Ontario, Canada, later expanding into newspaper publishing, laying the foundation for a media empire.
Roy Thomson’s grandson, David Thomson, currently serves as the chairman of Thomson Reuters. He is ranked 22nd on the Forbes billionaires list, with a net worth of $67.8 billion as of February 15, 2025, demonstrating the continued success and influence of the Thomson family in the global media landscape.
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What Defines the Richest Family on Earth?
The Walton family’s staggering combined net worth of over $432 billion firmly establishes them as the richest family in the world, a testament to the enduring success of their retail empire, Walmart.
Ranking the Wealthiest: Top 10 Richest Families
The top 10 richest families in 2025, ranked by estimated wealth, are:
- The Walton family: $432 billion
- The Al Nahyan family: $323 billion
- The Al Thani family of Qatar: $172 billion
- The Hermès family: $170.6 billion
- The Koch family: $148.5 billion
- The Saudi royal family: $140 billion
- The Mars family: $133.8 billion
- The Ambani family: $99.6 billion
- The Wertheimer family: $88 billion
- The Thomson family: $87.1 billion
Wealthiest Individuals vs. Richest Families
It’s important to differentiate between family wealth and individual wealth. As of February 15, 2025, the top three wealthiest individuals globally are Elon Musk (CEO of Tesla), Jeff Bezos (founder of Amazon), and Mark Zuckerberg (founder of Facebook). These individuals, while incredibly wealthy, are not part of the family dynasties highlighted in this list, which focuses on wealth accumulated and managed across generations.
The Enigma of Royal Wealth: The British Royal Family
The British Royal Family undoubtedly captures public imagination, and the Windsors have amassed significant properties, jewels, and art over centuries. However, the precise extent of their wealth remains largely undisclosed. Assessing the British royal family’s wealth is complex due to the vast array of their holdings, the historical and intrinsic value of these assets, and a long-standing tradition of financial secrecy, making a definitive valuation elusive.
The Bottom Line: Family Fortunes and Global Wealth
This compilation has focused on families who have built their immense wealth by establishing and growing family businesses. Some of these businesses, like Walmart, have evolved into publicly traded corporations, while others, such as Mars Incorporated and Koch Industries, remain privately held family enterprises, demonstrating diverse paths to maintaining family control and wealth.
In an era marked by increasing global inequality and a shrinking middle class, lists of wealthy families can be viewed with varied perspectives. They may be seen as celebrations of entrepreneurial success or, conversely, as symbols of wealth concentration. Furthermore, at a time when sustainable consumption and the future of wealth are increasingly debated, examining these vast family fortunes invites reflection on the broader economic landscape. Crucially, focusing on families as wealth-holding entities distinguishes this list from rankings of the world’s wealthiest individuals, offering a different lens through which to view the distribution of global affluence.
