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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

US Revokes Visas Of Foreigners Who Mocked Kirk’s Assassination

Published

22 hours ago

October 15, 2025

Editor

The United States has revoked the visas of several foreign nationals who publicly mocked or celebrated the killing of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The State Department said the decision followed an internal review of social media posts deemed “offensive and contrary to U.S. values,” adding that the country “has no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans.”

Kirk, 31, co-founder of the conservative youth group Turning Point USA and a strong ally of former President Donald Trump, was shot dead during a political rally on 10 September.

His killing drew widespread condemnation across the political spectrum, with many describing the act as a targeted attack on free speech.

According to U.S. authorities, at least six individuals from Argentina, South Africa, Brazil, Paraguay, Mexico, and Germany had their visas revoked after making comments online that celebrated Kirk’s murder or insulted his supporters.

Examples cited by officials included posts calling Kirk a racist who deserved it, and messages mocking grieving Americans.

“We will not tolerate foreigners who promote or celebrate acts of violence against U.S. citizens,” a State Department spokesperson said.

The move underscores Washington’s growing use of immigration powers to respond to online behaviour perceived as threatening or disrespectful towards the country.

The Department said it continues to monitor social media content for evidence of incitement or endorsement of violence.
Civil liberties advocates, however, have questioned the decision, arguing that revoking visas for social media comments could set a worrying precedent.

Officials maintained that the visa cancellations were lawful, limited in scope, and aimed at protecting national integrity.

“Freedom of speech does not extend to foreigners seeking the privilege of entry while glorifying violence,” the spokesperson added.

The United States has increased visa scrutiny in recent years, requiring applicants to disclose social media handles and online activity.

The policy, officials say, is designed to prevent extremist sympathisers or those expressing hostility towards the country from entering its borders

Headline

Israeli PM Netanyahu Back In Court For Graft Trial

Published

24 hours ago

October 15, 2025

Editor

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was back in a Tel Aviv court on Wednesday for the latest hearing in his long-running corruption trial, which opened in May 2020.

The prime minister kept a smiling face as he and his entourage of several ministers from his conservative Likud party were heckled by protesters en route to the tribunal.

It comes after US President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that the Israeli premier should be pardoned in his three separate corruption cases.

His latest appearance at the Tel Aviv court also follows the return of the hostages taken by Hamas as part of Trump’s US-brokered plan to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

In one case, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, are accused of accepting more than $260,000 worth of luxury goods, including champagne, cigars and jewellery, from billionaires in exchange for political favours.

In two other instances, Netanyahu is also charged with attempting to negotiate better press coverage from two Israeli media outlets. He has denied any wrongdoing, claiming to be the victim of a political plot.

During his current term, which started in late 2022, Netanyahu has proposed far-reaching judicial reforms that critics say sought to weaken the courts.

Those prompted massive protests that only abated after the onset of the Gaza war, sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

In an address on Monday to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, Trump told the chamber that Netanyahu should receive a pardon in the graft cases.

“Cigars and champagne, who the hell cares about that?” Trump joked, before asking his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog: “Why don’t you give him a pardon?”

The Israeli premier is also subject to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on suspicion of ordering war crimes in his government’s assault on Hamas militants in Gaza.

Netanyahu holds the record for the most years spent at the head of Israel’s government, having served 18 years in several stints as premier since 1996.

AFP

Headline

FULL LIST: US Set To Carry Out Four Executions This Week

Published

1 day ago

October 15, 2025

Editor

A Florida man convicted of murdering two women he hired for sex was put to death by lethal injection on Tuesday, one of four executions to be carried out in the United States this week.

Samuel Smithers, 72, was sentenced to death in 1999 for the 1996 killings of Christy Cowan and Denise Roach in Tampa. They had been beaten and strangled and their bodies were found in a pond.

Smithers was executed at a Florida state prison at 6:15 pm (2215 GMT), the 14th execution in the southern state this year.

Another convicted murderer was also put to death by lethal injection in the midwestern state of Missouri on Tuesday.

The execution of Lance Shockley, 48, was carried out at 6:13 pm (2313 GMT) for the 2005 murder of a police sergeant, Carl Graham.

Graham was gunned down in an ambush at his home. The officer had been investigating a fatal car accident involving Shockley at the time.

Shockley maintained his innocence but his appeals were rejected by numerous courts, including the Supreme Court. Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe rejected his clemency request on Monday.

Two other executions are scheduled this week.

Charles Crawford, 59, is to be put to death by lethal injection in Mississippi on Wednesday for the 1994 rape and murder of Kristy Ray, a 20-year-old college student.

Richard Djerf, 55, is to be executed by lethal injection in Arizona on Friday for the brutal 1993 murders of four members of a Phoenix family.

In a letter last month apologizing for the crime, Djerf said he was ready to die and would not seek clemency.

“If I can’t find reason to spare my life, what reason would anyone else have?” he wrote.

There have been 37 executions in the United States this year, the most since 2013, when 39 inmates were put to death.

Florida has carried out the most executions with 14, followed by Texas with five and South Carolina and Alabama with four.

Thirty-one of this year’s executions have been carried out by lethal injection, two by firing squad and four by nitrogen hypoxia, which involves pumping nitrogen gas into a face mask, causing the prisoner to suffocate.

The use of nitrogen gas as a method of capital punishment has been denounced by United Nations experts as cruel and inhumane.

The death penalty has been abolished in 23 of the 50 US states, while three others — California, Oregon and Pennsylvania — have moratoriums in place.

President Donald Trump is a proponent of capital punishment and, on his first day in office, called for an expansion of its use “for the vilest crimes.”