These Are The Richest Families In America Achieving Decabillionaire Status

America’s first billionaire, oil baron John D. Rockefeller, appeared on Forbes’ inaugural rich list, compiled by B.C. Forbes himself in 1918. At the time, he was worth $1.2 billion, the equivalent of about $25 billion today. By the time of his death in 1937, Rockefeller had given away roughly $11 billion in current dollars, and left the rest to his heirs. More than 200 of them, who carry on the tradition of giving through the $5.3 billion (net assets) Rockefeller Foundation, share an estimated $10.3 billion fortune today.

That’s enough to rank them at no. 42 on Forbes’ first ever list of Decabillionaire Dynasties. At a time when markets and asset values are soaring, and the number of billionaires seems to multiply by the day, Forbes decided to up the ante and rank only those families worth $10 billion or more. Forty-five multigenerational families made the cut. Altogether they are worth a combined $1.3 trillion. By comparison, just 36 families were worth $10 billion or more in 2020, the last time Forbes counted up the fortunes of America’s richest families.

These extended families live all across the country in at least 23 states and are based out of hometowns ranging from Louisville, Kentucky to Wichita, Kansas to Racine, Wisconsin. But there are certain places where more of them can be found. New York City, home to the descendants of makeup mogul Estée Lauder (d. 2004) and publishing legend William Randolph Hearst (d. 1951) as well as the Rockefellers, has the most with seven. Chicago (four families) and Atlanta (three families) round out the top three.

Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:

Stay Connected

Forbes covers the intersection of entrepreneurship, wealth, technology, business and lifestyle with a focus on people and success.

[Novastar.SaberCombat]

If you ain't rich, you ain't nothin'. That's the way mankind works, baby! Be rich, or be a nobody.

[chrisc]

The list is only based on the assets they could track

[Freyabates]

If life gives you lemon, you make lemonades, so at this point instead of waiting for stocks to crash or recovery, focus on how to profit off the current market, Bloomberg, WSJ, BBC business(just to mention a few) have been recording cases of folks averaging 350k in 12weeks, so there's money being moved around if you know where you're looking.

[MrMountain]

Walmart stock is up 40% since Jan 2020. And up 70% in the last 5 years.

[sumitmog]

What about kochs aren't they rich ???

[mrthug]

forbes should put more effort in making good youtube videos. these videos look like it is made in 2010

[englishspacitel]

Smart people who worked hard to build an empire ❤these people are the real winners. One day i will also become a billionaire 😊

[andrewj]

It would be nice to know how many family members there are in each....as for example....if 3 families each has $30B....but one has 5 members, one has 15 members and the third has 30..are they better off then the Waltons family that has $270B but hundreds+ members.... or if they are public or privately owned

[KV_Solutions]

Good info - but I could make this slideshow and voiceover in 30 mins in imovie ... c'mon Forbes

[titrecords]

😂😂 so wait now even billionaires are being pushed down?? 😂😂 we the middle class have no hope then

[lazy-rich]

Next up me and my family in Centabillionaire 🌞✅🌞

[pppinto]

Purdue should be fined with another billion $ just for that hideous building

[cuongvitruong]

I would work for these billionaires in America so I can become rich too.

[HMuny]

If you have a problem with family blood getting money passed down but dont care about divorcees on the billionaire list you have a screw loose

[englishspacitel]

The real richest families are not on this list.

[Thomas-ffwn]

These elites in tandem with the corrupt government will take this country to it's knees like the fall of Rome, My sympathy goes to anyone approaching retirement, you may have reasonable concerns over your pension and if it'll stretch to cover the rising cost of living, bad regulatory policies, bad energy and insane fiscal policies.

[arndog]

So this is the menu for eating the rich.

[luxushauseragency]

Getting to a billion has never been easier than it is in 2024. Successful people leave footprints. ❤

[Realkevv]

And we still have a trillion debt smh 🤦

[slogeswaran]

Investers r becoming rich, u don't need to be talented but ur employers should be super talented. Take the profit and keep investing and become super rich. Thats the story of all billionaires in the world.