It’s human nature to be fascinated by the ultra-rich. Whether it’s admiration for their achievements, envy of their lifestyles, or even resentment of wealth inequality, the lives of the world’s wealthiest families hold a certain captivation. It’s arguably more engaging than the complexities of personal finance, like understanding mortgage rates or choosing investment brokers. This fascination reflects a broader culture that often romanticizes wealth and elevates the rich to celebrity status, scrutinizing their every move and their ability to maintain their elite standing.
This exploration focuses on families who have built their immense fortunes through business ventures, acknowledging that while some current generations may benefit from inherited wealth, the foundation was laid by entrepreneurial ancestors.
Key Highlights:
- The Walton family, founders of Walmart, tops the list as the richest family globally, boasting a staggering net worth exceeding $430 billion.
- Luxury fashion powerhouse Hermès and its founding family hold the fourth position with a fortune of approximately $170.6 billion, renowned for their iconic scarves, handbags, and fragrances.
- Royal families from Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and Saudi Arabia are prominently featured due to their nations’ vast oil reserves, highlighting the significant role of natural resources in wealth accumulation.
- The Mars family, now in its fourth generation of leadership, continues to dominate the confectionery industry with Mars, Incorporated, a company valued at $133 billion.
- It’s important to note that this list specifically focuses on families, and therefore excludes individual billionaires such as Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, who, while incredibly wealthy, represent individual fortunes rather than family dynasties.
Walton Family
Estimated Wealth: $432.4 Billion
Company: Walmart
The Walton dynasty, the force behind the retail giant Walmart, once again claims the title of the world’s wealthiest family, reclaiming the top spot from the Al Nahyan family in 2023. At the pinnacle of this vast empire are Jim, Rob, and Alice Walton, each individually possessing fortunes around $75 billion, placing them among the top billionaires globally, as per Forbes‘ rankings in December 2023.
Walmart’s story began in 1962 in Arkansas, founded by the visionary Sam Walton. Today, it stands as the world’s largest company by revenue, reporting an astounding $648 billion in fiscal year 2024. Its global reach extends to over 10,600 retail locations, including 5,206 stores within the United States alone as of February 2025, employing over 2.1 million associates worldwide.
Synonymous with the American suburban and rural landscape, Walmart is celebrated for its commitment to low prices, making goods accessible to a broad consumer base. However, the company has also faced criticism regarding its labor practices. Interestingly, despite its widespread success, Walmart has struggled to replicate its big-box model in New York City, a market successfully penetrated by its competitor, Target.
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Alt text: Walmart founder Sam Walton greets an employee, highlighting the company’s focus on its workforce and customer interaction.
Al Nahyan Family
Estimated Wealth: $323.9 Billion
Company: Abu Dhabi Royal Family
The Al Nahyan family, also known as the House of Nahyan, holds the position of the second richest family worldwide. The family’s current head, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is not only the ruler of Abu Dhabi but also the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE’s economic transformation, and consequently the immense wealth of its rulers, is intrinsically linked to the country’s massive oil reserves. Abu Dhabi stands out as one of the wealthiest emirates, particularly abundant in oil resources.
Sheikh Mohamed assumed leadership of Abu Dhabi and the UAE presidency in 2022, succeeding his brother, Sheikh Khalifa, who held the position from 2004 to 2022. Prior to Sheikh Khalifa, their father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, served as the nation’s first president from its inception in 1971 until 2004, establishing a legacy of dynastic succession.
The Al Nahyan family’s vast fortune is rooted in the ownership of billions of barrels of oil reserves, coupled with highly lucrative wealth funds, solidifying their financial dominance on a global scale.
Al Thani Family
Estimated Wealth: $172.9 Billion
Company: Royal Family of Qatar
The Al Thani family’s reign over Qatar stretches back to the mid-19th century, a period encompassing the formation of modern Qatar, periods of conflict, and even coup attempts. Their enduring rule has shaped the nation’s trajectory and established them as a prominent global power.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is credited with propelling Qatar onto the world stage during his 18-year tenure. His ascent to power in 1995 involved a bloodless coup, deposing his father and strategically freezing assets to prevent counter-actions.
Under his leadership, Qatar’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 translated to an average annual income of $86,440 per person within the country.
Beyond oil and gas revenues, Sheikh Hamad strategically invested billions in diverse global businesses, including stakes in major corporations like Volkswagen, Total, Sainsbury’s, and Barclays bank. In 2018, he abdicated the throne in favor of his fourth son, Sheikh Tamin bin Hamad al Thani, marking a transition of power within the Al Thani dynasty.
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Alt text: Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, engaged in discussion, representing the modern leadership of the wealthy Al Thani family.
Hermès Family
Estimated Wealth: $170.6 Billion
Company: Hermès
The French luxury fashion house Hermès, synonymous with timeless elegance, has captivated the world with its exquisite creations. From its signature silk scarves and neckties to its coveted perfumes and the iconic Kelly and Birkin handbags, Hermès represents the pinnacle of luxury goods. Its origins trace back to the 19th century when Thierry Hermès established the brand, initially crafting riding apparel for the European aristocracy.
Today, Hermès’s clientele extends to contemporary icons, including basketball legend LeBron James, showcasing the brand’s ability to transcend generations and cultural shifts. Demonstrating a fusion of tradition and innovation, Hermès also collaborates with Apple to produce luxury versions of the Apple Watch, priced upwards of $1,249. Currently, Axel Dumas serves as the company’s executive director, while Pierre-Alexis Dumas holds the position of artistic executive vice president, continuing the family’s leadership in the 21st century.
Koch Family
Estimated Wealth: $148.5 Billion
Company: Koch Industries
Charles Koch’s immense wealth originates from an oil business established by his father. However, he is perhaps equally, if not more, recognized for his significant influence in American politics. He has become a major political donor, channeling substantial funds into supporting libertarian think tanks, funding university professorships, and lobbying for policy changes, all in pursuit of a conservative agenda.
Charles Koch partnered with his brother David until David’s passing in 2019. Charles’s personal fortune is estimated at $58.5 billion, ranking him among the world’s top billionaires. David’s widow, Julia Koch, and her family are also among the wealthiest, holding the 23rd spot on Forbes‘ list with a net worth of $64.3 billion as of February 2025, highlighting the enduring financial legacy of the Koch family.
Al Saud Family
Estimated Wealth: $140 Billion
Company: Saudi Royal Family
The House of Saud, the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia, boasts a monarchical history spanning nearly a century. Their colossal fortune, estimated at $140 billion, has been accumulated through decades of revenues generated by the Royal Diwan, the king’s executive office.
Their close ties to Saudi Aramco, one of the world’s most profitable companies and a dominant force in the oil industry, ensure the continued financial prosperity of the Saudi royal family. Accurately assessing the full extent of the House of Saud’s wealth is challenging, partly due to the family’s vast size, encompassing as many as 15,000 extended members, many of whom have established their own businesses and benefited from government contracts, further diversifying and expanding the family’s economic influence.
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Alt text: King Salman of Saudi Arabia in formal attire, representing the leadership of the immensely wealthy Al Saud royal family.
Mars Family
Estimated Wealth: $133.8 Billion
Company: Mars Incorporated
Mars, Incorporated, is to the candy industry what Walmart is to retail—a ubiquitous, multigenerational family business with widespread popularity. While the company’s origins are rooted in the Mars bar, it is arguably even more famous today for its M&M’s candies. In a move to diversify its portfolio, the world’s largest candy company expanded into pet care in 2017, acquiring VCA, a pet care corporation, for $9.1 billion.
Siblings Jacqueline and John Mars, grandchildren of company founder Frank Mars, each possess a net worth of $38.5 billion, sharing the 35th position on Forbes‘ billionaire list as of February 2025. The company is now under the stewardship of the fourth generation of Mars family members, ensuring the continuation of the family’s legacy in the global confectionery and pet care industries.
2,781
The global billionaire population reached a record high of 2,781 individuals in 2024, demonstrating the continued growth of extreme wealth worldwide.
Ambani Family
Estimated Wealth: $99.6 Billion
Company: Reliance Industries
Reliance Industries, an Indian conglomerate, is the sole Asian company to feature on this list, and may be less familiar to a Western audience. Nevertheless, under the leadership of CEO Mukesh Ambani, son of the company’s founder from 1957, Reliance is a powerhouse. Mukesh Ambani himself ranks ninth on Forbes‘ billionaires list with a net worth of $90.3 billion as of February 2025. Reliance’s diverse operations span refining, petrochemicals, oil and gas, and textiles. Mukesh’s brother, Anil Ambani, manages other segments of the business, including telecommunications, asset management, entertainment, and power generation, illustrating the breadth of the Ambani family’s business interests.
Wertheimer Family
Estimated Wealth: $88 Billion
Company: Chanel
The French haute couture house Chanel is synonymous with timeless fashion. Iconic for the “little black dress,” the legendary No. 5 perfume, and the late, influential designer Karl Lagerfeld, who passed away in 2019, Chanel holds an unparalleled place in fashion history.
Brothers Alain and Gerhard Wertheimer are the current co-owners of Chanel, inheriting the company their grandfather built with founder Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel. Both brothers are ranked 40th on the Forbes billionaires list, each with a net worth of $36.8 billion as of February 2025, continuing the Wertheimer family’s custodianship of this iconic luxury brand.
Thomson Family
Estimated Wealth: $87.1 Billion
Company: Thomson Reuters
The Thomson family’s wealth is derived from Thomson Reuters, the multinational media and information firm. The family’s business origins date back to the 1930s when Roy Thomson established a radio station in Ontario, Canada, later expanding into newspaper publishing.
Roy Thomson’s grandson, David Thomson, currently serves as the chairman of Thomson Reuters. He is individually ranked 22nd on Forbes‘ billionaires list with a net worth of $67.8 billion as of February 2025, cementing the Thomson family’s ongoing influence in the media and information landscape.
What is the Richest Family on Earth?
The Walton family retains the distinction of being the richest family on Earth, with a combined net worth exceeding $432 billion, primarily thanks to their ownership of the Walmart retail empire.
Which 10 Families Are the Wealthiest?
The top 10 wealthiest families in the world in 2025, based on estimated wealth, are:
- Walton Family: $432 Billion
- Al Nahyan Family: $323 Billion
- Al Thani Family: $172 Billion
- Hermès Family: $170.6 Billion
- Koch Family: $148.5 Billion
- Al Saud Family: $140 Billion
- Mars Family: $133.8 Billion
- Ambani Family: $99.6 Billion
- Wertheimer Family: $88 Billion
- Thomson Family: $87.1 Billion
Who Are the Wealthiest People in the World?
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 (Meta). This list focuses on families, and thus excludes these individuals.
How Rich Are the British Royal Family?
The British Royal Family remains a subject of immense public curiosity, and while the Windsors have accumulated significant holdings in properties, jewels, and art over centuries, the precise extent of their wealth remains undisclosed. Determining the British Royal Family’s net worth is complex due to the vast and historically significant nature of their assets, coupled with a long-standing tradition of financial secrecy. Therefore, a definitive figure for their wealth is difficult to ascertain.
The Bottom Line
This compilation of wealthy families highlights those who have built their fortunes by establishing and growing family businesses. Some, like Walmart, have evolved into publicly traded corporations, while others, such as Mars Incorporated and Koch Industries, remain privately held family enterprises.
While lists of this nature can be interpreted as celebrating extreme wealth in an era of widening global inequality and a shrinking middle class, and even as endorsing excessive consumerism amid concerns about the future of wealth sustainability, it’s crucial to remember the focus here is on family-based wealth creation. Furthermore, by concentrating on families, this list intentionally excludes the world’s wealthiest individuals, offering a distinct perspective on the landscape of global wealth.
