Headline

Top 10 Richest Families In America

Published

1 year ago

September 29, 2024

The United States of America maintains the status of a global world power due to its powerful economy, military domination, technological breakthroughs, and cultural impact. Its economic power and domination can be traced to certain families, particularly the top ten wealthiest families in the world.

These wealthy families contributed massively to America’s reputation as a world power, dominating areas such as technology, entertainment, retail, energy, hospitality, and banking and more.

Here is a list of the top ten richest families in America.

10. The Cox Family: Media and Automotive

The Cox family ranks tenth on this list, with an estimated fortune of $26.8 billion derived mostly from media and automobile companies. The family’s empire began in 1898 when James M. Cox bought the Dayton Evening News, which later became Cox Enterprises.

Cox Enterprises gradually expanded into radio, television, cable, and digital media and entered the automotive market with companies such as Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book, solidifying its position as a key player in both industries, with annual revenues exceeding $22.1 billion.

Today, Cox Enterprises is still privately owned, and the family continues to manage its wide portfolio, thereby remain among the wealthiest families in America.

9. The Duncan Family: Oil and Gas

The Duncan family in the ninth position made its money in the oil and gas industry and is worth an estimated $30 billion. Dan Duncan built a pipeline empire in 1968, which accounts for the majority of the family’s riches.

The Duncan family owns Enterprise Products Partners, a corporation that delivers oil, natural gas, and other petroleum products across the United States.

According to Forbes, Duncan’s four children inherited the company upon his death, and it has continued to grow under family management.

8. The Cathy Family: Fast Food

The Cathy family runs one of the most profitable fast-food franchises in the United States and is worth an estimated $33.6 Billion and eight on the list. Truett Cathy founded it in 1946 owes its riches to Chick-fil-A one of the most popular fast-food company in the United States.

Despite being closed on Sundays, the fried chicken fast-food company has over 3,000 outlets and is generates $6.4 billion in sales by 2022. The Cathy family’s conservative principles and devotion to philanthropy have helped to cement their reputation in the fast-food sector and beyond.

7. The Johnson Family: Cleaning Products

SC Johnson, a global leader in cleaning products and household goods that manufactures brands such as Windex, Pledge, Glade, Ziploc, Raid, and others is seventh on the list, and is worth an estimated $38.5 Billion.

S.C. Johnson launched the company in 1886 after working as a salesperson for a parquet flooring manufacturer and eventually purchasing it. The family’s dedication to environmental sustainability and innovation has helped the company maintain its industry-leading position for more than a century.

6. The Pritzker Family: Hotels & Investing

The Pritzker family (Jay Pritzker and his brother Donald) established Hyatt Hotels Corporation, one of the world’s largest and most prominent hotel companies and is worth an estimated $41.6 Billion and is sixth on the list.

The Pritzker family has long been a major participant in American industry and involved in philanthropy and politics.

The Pritzker family now has ten individual billionaires, including former US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and movie producer Gigi Pritzker.

5. The Johnson Family: Money Management

The Johnsons are one of the wealthiest families in the America and are worth an estimated $44.8 billion and are fifth on the.

The Johnson family is the driving force behind Fidelity Investments, one of the world’s largest asset management organizations created by Edward C. Johnson II in 1946.

4. The Cargill-MacMillan Family: Agribusiness

The Cargill-MacMillan family owns one of the largest privately held enterprises in the United States, which was formed in 1865 by William Cargill worth an estimated $60.6 Billion and is fourth on the list.

In the fiscal year 2023, Cargill Inc. made $177 billion in sales and other revenues from a variety of products including chocolate and livestock feed.

Cargill’s businesses have broadened throughout time to encompass agricultural commodity trading, processing, and distribution, as well as food production and risk management.

3. The Koch Family: Energy & Diversified Holdings

The Koch Family’s fortune is derived from Koch Industries, a conglomerate formed by Fred C. Koch in 1940 that has grown to become one of the largest privately held firms in the United States and is worth an estimated $116 Billion and is third on the list.

The Koch family is one of America’s wealthiest families, well known for their vast interests in the energy sector and diverse assets.

Koch Industries engages in a variety of industries, including oil refining, chemicals, energy, and consumer products, making it a major player in the worldwide market. The Koch family has also made significant donations to political and philanthropic organizations, campaigning for free-market ideals and funding a variety of educational endeavours.

2. The Mars Family: Candy and Pet Food

The Mars Family controls Mars, Inc., which was founded in 1911 by Frank C. Mars and has since grown to become a global leader in candy and pet care products such as M&Ms, Snickers, Pedigree, and Whiskas and is worth an estimated $117 Billion is second on the list.

1. The Walton Family: Retail

The Waltons control Walmart, which began as a single store that Sam Walton built in Rogers, Arkansas, in 1962. The store has expanded to nearly 10,000 locations across 19 countries, generating $648 billion revenue in 2024 fiscal year and is worth an estimated $267 Billion.

Walmart has a market valuation of about $486 billion, and an estimated 45% of its shares are owned by seven members of the Walton family.

The family is the richest in America, mostly because they own Walmart, the biggest retailer in the world.

This article was culled from Yahoo Finance.

Headline

Aircraft Crashes In Owerri With Four Persons Onboard

Published

3 days ago

December 17, 2025

Editor

Photo: File copy

A Cessna 172 aircraft with registration number 5N-ASR, operated by Skypower Express, has crashed at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State.

The aircraft had departed Kaduna International Airport en route to Port Harcourt International Airport before diverting to Owerri after the crew declared an emergency.

The crash occurred at about 8:00 pm on the airport premises, with four passengers and crew members onboard.

Confirming the incident, the Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, said the agency had been notified of the crash.

According to the NSIB, the aircraft crashed on the approach area of Runway 17, but no fatalities have been recorded so far.

The statement said: “Following the occurrence, airport emergency services were successfully activated and arrived on site promptly. Reports indicate that there was no post-crash fire, and the runway remains active for flight operations, with other aircraft taking off safely after the incident.

“Efforts are currently underway to coordinate the recovery and evacuation of the distressed aircraft from the crash site to allow for a detailed wreckage examination.”

The NSIB said it has officially activated its investigation protocols in line with its statutory mandate

The Director-General of NSIB, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr., sympathised with the management of Skypower Express over the incident and expressed relief that no lives were lost.

Badeh Jr. added that the Bureau’s investigation team is already coordinating with relevant authorities to secure the crash site and commence a detailed investigation into the cause of the accident.

Two days ago, 11 persons narrowly escaped death as a private jet crash-landed at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on Sunday morning.

The occupants, including passengers and cabin crew, were safely evacuated amid an intense atmosphere, eyewitnesses told The Guardian.

The private jet, owned by Flybird Aviation, crash-landed at about 9:30 a.m. while approaching Kano Airport en route to Abuja.

The incident attracted urgent attention, with emergency staff and other stakeholders converging at the runway to render rescue operations.

The management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is yet to release an official statement on the incident. Unofficial sources disclosed that the passengers have been taken to an unknown destination.

Several aircraft incidents have occurred at Kano Airport, with several lives lost.

The last incident occurred in May 2002, when an EAS Airline aircraft departed the runway at Aminu Kano International Airport at 1:29 p.m. local time en route to Lagos.

Headline

Musk Breaks Record As First Person Worth Over $600 Billion

Published

3 days ago

December 16, 2025

Editor

Elon Musk, Chief Executive Officer of SpaceX, Tesla, and xAI, has reached a new personal wealth milestone, surpassing a net worth of $600 billion, driven primarily by a recent valuation increase of SpaceX.

The development makes Musk the first individual in history to exceed the US$600 billion threshold.

According to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, Musk’s net worth stood at approximately $638 billion as of 15 December 2025, with the increase largely attributed to SpaceX, which was recently valued at around $800 billion following an insider share sale.

The privately held aerospace company, based in Starbase, Texas, is now considered the most valuable private firm globally, significantly boosting Musk’s personal holdings.

Musk’s stake in Tesla, estimated at roughly 12 per cent, is valued at nearly $200 billion, while his majority ownership of xAI Holdings is estimated at $60 billion.

Collectively, these assets place him on track to potentially approach US$700 billion, widening the gap between him and the world’s second-richest individual, former Google CEO Larry Page, valued at $265 billion.

The SpaceX valuation comes ahead of a projected public listing in 2026, which could see the company valued at approximately $1.5 trillion.

“Other shareholder meetings are snooze-fests but ours are bangers. Look at this. This is sick,” Musk said in November during Tesla’s shareholder meeting, referring to a performance-linked pay package approved by investors.

He added, “I super appreciate it.” The package, potentially worth up to US$1 trillion in stock, is tied to market-capitalisation and operational milestones over the next decade.

SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network has also contributed to investor confidence. The company continues to expand high-speed internet access to underserved regions worldwide.

Chad Gibbs, Vice President of Starlink Operations, stated that the satellite technology “bypasses the need to build massive amounts of infrastructure,” allowing broader and faster connectivity.

Musk’s ascent in personal wealth follows years of strategic risk-taking and long-term planning, with Tesla’s focus on electric vehicles, battery technology, and autonomous systems laying the foundation for his financial growth.

Analysts note that the combination of SpaceX’s soaring valuation, Tesla’s long-term incentives, and Musk’s diverse portfolio underpins his current status as the world’s wealthiest individual.

Headline

South Korea, Japan Protest China, Russia Aircraft Incursions

Published

1 week ago

December 10, 2025

Editor

South Korea and Japan reacted furiously on Wednesday after Chinese and Russian military aircraft conducted joint patrols around the two countries, with both Seoul and Tokyo scrambling jets.

South Korea said it had protested with representatives of China and Russia, while Japan said it had conveyed its “serious concerns” over national security.

According to Tokyo, two Russian Tu-95 nuclear-capable bombers on Tuesday flew from the Sea of Japan to rendezvous with two Chinese H-6 bombers in the East China Sea, then conducted a joint flight around the country.

The incident comes as Japan is locked in a dispute with China over comments Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made about Taiwan.

The bombers’ joint flights were “clearly intended as a show of force against our nation, Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi wrote on X Wednesday.

Top government spokesman Minoru Kihara said that Tokyo had “conveyed to both China and Russia our serious concerns over our national security through diplomatic channels”.

Seoul said Tuesday the Russian and Chinese warplanes entered its air defence zone and that a complaint had been lodged with the defence attaches of both countries in the South Korean capital.

“Our military will continue to respond actively to the activities of neighbouring countries’ aircraft within the KADIZ in compliance with international law,” said Lee Kwang-suk, director general of the International Policy Bureau at Seoul’s defence ministry, referring to the Korea Air Defence Identification Zone.

South Korea also said it deployed “fighter jets to take tactical measures in preparation for any contingencies” in response to the Chinese and Russian incursion into the KADIZ.

The planes were spotted before they entered the air defence identification zone, defined as a broader area in which countries police aircraft for security reasons but which does not constitute their airspace.

Japan’s defence ministry also scrambled fighter jets to intercept the warplanes.

Beijing later Tuesday confirmed it had organised drills with Russia’s military according to “annual cooperation plans”.

Moscow also described it as a routine exercise, saying it lasted eight hours and that some foreign fighter jets followed the Russian and Chinese aircraft.

Since 2019, China and Russia have regularly flown military aircraft into South Korea’s air defence zone without prior notice, citing joint exercises.

In November last year, Seoul scrambled jets as five Chinese and six Russian military planes flew through its air defence zone.

Similar incidents occurred in June and December 2023, and in May and November 2022.

Meanwhile, Tokyo said Monday it had scrambled jets in response to repeated takeoff and landing exercises involving fighter jets and military helicopters from China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier as it cruised in international waters near Japan.

It also summoned Beijing’s ambassador after military aircraft from the Liaoning locked radar onto Japanese jets, the latest incident in the row ignited by Takaichi’s comments backing Taiwan.

Takaichi suggested last month that Japan would intervene militarily in any Chinese attack on the self-ruled island, which Beijing claims as its own and has not ruled out seizing by force.

AFP