It’s captivating to observe the lives and fortunes of the world’s wealthiest families. Whether driven by admiration for their achievements, curiosity about their lifestyles, or even a touch of envy, the world of the ultra-rich holds a certain fascination. It’s arguably more engaging than delving into personal finance management. This enduring interest reflects a broader cultural trend of idolizing wealth and being intrigued by those who reach the pinnacle of financial success, the World Rich Family dynasties. These families become figures of public interest, their ability to maintain and expand their elite status constantly scrutinized.
This list focuses exclusively on families whose wealth originated from building businesses, acknowledging that while some heirs may not actively contribute to the family enterprise, the foundation of their fortune lies in entrepreneurial endeavors.
Key Facts About World Rich Families
- The Walton family, associated with Walmart, leads as the world rich family with an estimated wealth exceeding $430 billion.
- The Hermès family, renowned for luxury goods like scarves and handbags, secures its place as a top world rich family, with fortunes surpassing $170 billion.
- Royal families from Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and Saudi Arabia also feature prominently among the world rich family elite, largely due to their nations’ vast oil reserves.
- The Mars family, now in its fourth generation of leadership, continues to manage the global Mars candy empire, adding to their substantial world rich family status.
- It’s important to note that this compilation centers on families, and thus excludes individual billionaires such as Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, who are not part of established world rich family dynasties in the same sense.
Walton Family
Estimated Wealth: $432.4 Billion
Company: Walmart
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The Waltons once again claim the title of the world rich family, reclaiming the top spot after a brief period behind the Al Nahyan family in 2023. At the forefront of this retail empire are Jim, Rob, and Alice Walton, each individually holding fortunes around $75 billion, positioning them among the top billionaires globally according to Forbes as of December 24, 2023. Their collective success solidifies the Walton family as a leading example of a world rich family built on retail dominance.
Walmart, established by Sam Walton in Arkansas in 1962, is not just a retail giant; it’s the world’s largest company by revenue, reporting $648 billion in fiscal year 2024 and employing over 2.1 million associates worldwide. This scale of operation underscores the Walton family’s significant impact as a world rich family influencing global commerce.
With over 10,600 stores globally and 5,206 in the U.S. as of February 2025, Walmart’s presence is undeniable. The company is famed for its extensive network of big-box stores across rural and suburban America, celebrated for offering low prices, yet sometimes facing criticism regarding its labor practices. Interestingly, unlike competitor Target, Walmart has struggled to replicate its big-box model’s success within New York City, highlighting the nuances of market penetration even for a world rich family enterprise.
Al Nahyan Family
Estimated Wealth: $323.9 Billion
Company: Abu Dhabi Royal Family
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The Al Nahyan family, often referred to as the “House of Nahyan,” is recognized as the second richest family globally. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the family’s head, serves as the ruler of Abu Dhabi and the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE’s economic transformation, and consequently the wealth of its ruling families, is intrinsically linked to the country’s vast oil reserves. Abu Dhabi stands out as one of the wealthiest emirates, particularly rich in oil, which forms the cornerstone of the Al Nahyan world rich family fortune.
Sheikh Mohamed’s ascension to ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the UAE in 2022 marked a generational transition. He succeeded his brother, Sheikh Khalifa, who led the nation from 2004 to 2022. Before them, their father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, was the founding President of the UAE from 1971 until 2004, establishing a legacy of leadership within this world rich family.
The family’s immense wealth is primarily derived from ownership of substantial oil reserves, complemented by highly profitable wealth funds. This combination of natural resources and astute financial management underpins the Al Nahyan family’s status as a prominent world rich family.
Al Thani Family
Estimated Wealth: $172.9 Billion
Company: Royal Family of Qatar
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The Al Thani family has governed Qatar since the mid-19th century, their rule spanning the creation of modern Qatar, periods of conflict, and significant political shifts. This long reign positions the Al Thani family as a historically significant world rich family.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani played a pivotal role in transforming Qatar into a significant global power during his 18-year tenure. His leadership, initiated by a bloodless coup in 1995 where he assumed control from his father, involved strategic asset freezes to prevent counter-actions. This decisive move set the stage for Qatar’s rise as a world rich family powerhouse.
Qatar’s natural gas production experienced exponential growth through the exploitation of offshore gas fields and the discovery of previously untapped oil reserves. By 2010, this resource wealth propelled the average income in the country to $86,440 per person annually, reflecting the economic impact of the Al Thani world rich family’s governance.
Beyond oil and gas revenues, Sheikh Hamad strategically invested billions in diverse global businesses, including Volkswagen, Total, Sainsbury’s, and Barclays bank. In 2018, he transferred power to his fourth son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, ensuring the continuation of Al Thani world rich family leadership into the next generation.
Hermès Family
Estimated Wealth: $170.6 Billion
Company: Hermès
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The French luxury fashion house Hermès has captivated the world with its exquisite range of products, from signature scarves and ties to iconic Kelly and Birkin handbags. Originating in the 19th century, Thierry Hermès initially crafted riding apparel for the aristocracy, establishing a foundation of luxury and craftsmanship that defines the Hermès world rich family brand to this day.
Today, Hermès extends its appeal to contemporary figures of influence, including basketball star LeBron James. Blending traditional elegance with modern technology, the Hermès Apple Watches, priced from $1,249 upwards, exemplify this fusion. Currently, Axel Dumas serves as the company’s executive director, and Pierre-Alexis Dumas holds the role of artistic executive vice president, guiding the Hermès world rich family legacy in the 21st century.
Koch Family
Estimated Wealth: $148.5 Billion
Company: Koch Industries
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Charles Koch’s vast fortune originates from an oil business founded by his father. However, he is perhaps more publicly recognized for his significant political engagement. Leveraging his considerable wealth, Charles Koch actively shapes the political landscape by funding candidates, libertarian think tanks, university professorships, and lobbying efforts, all aimed at advancing a conservative agenda. This political activity adds another dimension to the Koch world rich family profile.
Charles Koch partnered with his brother David until David’s passing in 2019. Charles’s individual net worth is estimated at $58.5 billion, ranking him among the top billionaires. David’s widow, Julia Koch, and her family are also prominently ranked with a net worth of $64.3 billion as of February 15, 2025, illustrating the substantial wealth distributed within the Koch world rich family.
Al Saud Family
Estimated Wealth: $140 Billion
Company: Saudi Royal Family
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The House of Saud, the Saudi royal family, boasts a monarchical lineage that extends back 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. This historical and ongoing financial arrangement underpins the Al Saud family’s status as a world rich family.
Strong ties with Saudi Aramco, a global oil industry giant and one of the most profitable companies worldwide, ensure the continued financial growth of the Saudi royal family. Accurately assessing the total wealth of the House of Saud is challenging, partly because the family encompasses as many as 15,000 extended members. Many of these members have established businesses, secured government contracts, and engaged in various entrepreneurial activities, further diversifying and expanding the Al Saud world rich family’s financial influence.
Mars Family
Estimated Wealth: $133.8 Billion
Company: Mars Incorporated
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Mars is to candy what Walmart is to retail—a multigenerational family business that enjoys widespread popularity and ubiquity. While known for the Mars bar, the company is now perhaps more famous for M&Ms. In 2017, demonstrating strategic diversification, this world rich family business expanded into pet care with the $9.1 billion acquisition of VCA, the world’s largest candy maker.
Siblings Jacqueline and John Mars, grandchildren of founder Frank Mars, each possess a net worth of $38.5 billion, sharing a high ranking on Forbes‘ billionaire list as of February 15, 2025. The fourth generation of Mars family members is now actively involved in managing the company, ensuring the continuity of this confectionery world rich family empire.
2,781
In 2024, the world’s billionaire count reached a record high of 2,781 individuals, highlighting the increasing concentration of global wealth.
Ambani Family
Estimated Wealth: $99.6 Billion
Company: Reliance Industries
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Reliance Industries, an Indian conglomerate, is the sole Asian entity on this list of world rich families, and may be less familiar to a Western audience.
Nevertheless, CEO Mukesh Ambani, whose father founded the company in 1957, is ranked among the top global billionaires with a net worth of $90.3 billion as of February 15, 2025. He oversees Reliance’s extensive operations in refining, petrochemicals, oil, gas, and textiles. His brother, Anil, manages separate divisions including telecommunications, asset management, entertainment, and power generation, representing the breadth of the Ambani world rich family’s business interests.
Wertheimer Family
Estimated Wealth: $88 Billion
Company: Chanel
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The French high-fashion house Chanel is celebrated for its iconic “little black dress,” the legendary No. 5 perfume, and the late, influential designer Karl Lagerfeld, who passed away on February 19, 2019. Chanel’s enduring legacy is a testament to the Wertheimer world rich family’s stewardship.
Brothers Alain and Gerhard Wertheimer currently co-own the company, which their grandfather backed in partnership with founder Gabrielle Coco Chanel. Both brothers are highly ranked billionaires, each with a net worth of $36.8 billion as of February 15, 2025, demonstrating the financial success of the Wertheimer world rich family’s fashion empire.
Thomson Family
Estimated Wealth: $87.1 Billion
Company: Thomson Reuters
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The Thomson family’s wealth originates from Thomson Reuters, the global media and information company. The family’s venture into media began in the 1930s when Roy Thomson established a radio station in Ontario, Canada, later expanding into newspapers. This marked the foundation of the Thomson world rich family’s media empire.
Roy Thomson’s grandson, David Thomson, currently serves as the chairman of Thomson Reuters. He is also a top-ranked billionaire, with a net worth of $67.8 billion as of February 15, 2025, leading the Thomson world rich family’s continued influence in global media.
What Defines the Richest Family Globally?
The Walton family holds the distinction of being the richest family worldwide, with a combined net worth exceeding $432 billion. Their wealth, accumulated through the global retail giant Walmart, firmly establishes them as the leading world rich family.
Top 10 Wealthiest Families: A 2025 Ranking
The top 10 richest families in 2025, ranked by estimated wealth, are:
- Walton family: $432 billion
- Al Nahyan family: $323 billion
- Al Thani family of Qatar: $172 billion
- Hermès family: $170.6 billion
- Koch family: $148.5 billion
- Saudi royal 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 Individuals Globally?
As of February 15, 2025, the top three wealthiest individuals in the world are Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla; Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon; and Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook. While these individuals are immensely wealthy, they are categorized separately from established world rich family dynasties.
The Wealth of the British Royal Family
The British Royal Family generates considerable public interest. The Windsors have amassed numerous properties, jewels, and artworks over centuries of rule. However, the precise extent of their wealth remains largely undisclosed. Assessing the British royal family’s fortune is complex due to the vastness of their holdings, the historical value of these assets, and a long-standing tradition of financial confidentiality. Therefore, while they are a prominent royal family, their wealth is not as transparently quantified as the world rich family businesses listed above.
In Conclusion: The Legacy of World Rich Families
This list has highlighted families who built their wealth through establishing 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. These world rich family stories offer a glimpse into the concentrated nature of global wealth.
While such lists might be interpreted as celebrating wealth during times of increasing global inequality, and potentially condoning high consumption amidst concerns about the future of wealth itself, they also provide insight into the enduring power of family businesses and the dynasties they create. It’s also crucial to remember that focusing solely on families means excluding the world’s wealthiest individuals from this particular ranking, offering a specific perspective on wealth distribution.
