The world’s richest families control fortunes so large that some rival the annual economic output of entire countries. Unlike rankings of individual billionaires, family-wealth rankings attempt to measure fortunes shared across generations.
That means Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg do not appear here. Bloomberg‘s latest comprehensive ranking of multigenerational family fortunes, published in December 2025, estimated that the world’s 25 richest families controlled a combined $2.9 trillion.
That was approximately $358.7 billion more than a year earlier. At number one is the family behind Walmart.
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Top 10 Richest Families in the World
| Rank | Family | Estimated Wealth* | Main Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walton | $513.4 billion | Walmart |
| 2 | Al Nahyan | $335.9 billion | UAE royal wealth |
| 3 | Al Saud | $213.6 billion | Saudi royal wealth |
| 4 | Al Thani | $199.5 billion | Qatar royal wealth |
| 5 | Hermès | $184.5 billion | Hermès |
| 6 | Koch | $150.5 billion | Koch Inc. |
| 7 | Mars | $143.4 billion | Mars Inc. |
| 8 | Ambani | $105.6 billion | Reliance Industries |
| 9 | Wertheimer | $85.6 billion | Chanel |
| 10 | Thomson | $82.1 billion | Thomson Reuters |
10. Thomson Family — $82.1 Billion
Country: Canada
Source of wealth: Media
The Thomson family is one of Canada’s most powerful business dynasties.Its fortune is closely associated with Thomson Reuters, the global information and media company serving professionals in law, finance, taxation and other industries.
The family’s wealth spans several generations. Bloomberg estimated the Thomson fortune at approximately $82.1 billion in its latest family ranking.
9. Wertheimer Family — $85.6 Billion
Country: France
Source of wealth: Chanel
The Wertheimer family controls Chanel, one of the most famous luxury brands in the world. Brothers Alain and Gérard Wertheimer are heirs to the family business interests associated with the legendary fashion house.
Chanel has built enormous value around:
- Haute couture
- Handbags
- Fragrances
- Cosmetics
- Jewelry
- Watches
Bloomberg estimated the family fortune at approximately $85.6 billion.
8. Ambani Family — $105.6 Billion
Country: India
Source of wealth: Reliance Industries
The Ambani family controls one of India’s largest business empires. Dhirubhai Ambani laid the foundation for what eventually became Reliance Industries.
After his death in 2002, control of the family’s businesses was divided between his sons Mukesh and Anil.
Mukesh Ambani now leads Reliance Industries, which has interests across:
- Oil refining
- Petrochemicals
- Telecommunications
- Retail
- Digital services
Bloomberg estimated the family’s wealth at $105.6 billion.
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7. Mars Family — $143.4 Billion
Country: United States
Source of wealth: Mars Inc.
The Mars family built one of the largest privately held food businesses in the world. Frank Mars began selling candy in the early 20th century.
Today Mars Inc. owns famous brands including:
- M&M’s
- Snickers
- Milky Way
- Pedigree
- Royal Canin
Pet-care products have grown into an especially important part of the business.
Bloomberg estimated the family fortune at approximately $143.4 billion.
6. Koch Family — $150.5 Billion
Country: United States
Source of wealth: Koch Inc.
The Koch family’s fortune grew out of an industrial business founded by Fred Koch. The business eventually developed into Koch Inc., one of the largest privately held companies in the United States.
Its activities have included:
- Energy
- Manufacturing
- Chemicals
- Commodities
- Industrial products
Bloomberg estimated the Koch family fortune at approximately $150.5 billion.
5. Hermès Family — $184.5 Billion
Country: France
Source of wealth: Hermès
The Hermès dynasty represents one of the most successful multigenerational luxury businesses in history. Thierry Hermès founded the company in 1837 as a harness workshop.
Over time it evolved into a global luxury powerhouse famous for:
- Birkin bags
- Kelly bags
- Silk scarves
- Leather goods
- Watches
- Fashion
More than 100 family members reportedly share ownership interests across the sixth-generation dynasty.
Bloomberg estimated the Hermès family’s wealth at $184.5 billion.
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4. Al Thani Family — $199.5 Billion
Country: Qatar
Source of wealth: Royal family, energy and investments
The Al Thani family has ruled Qatar since the 19th century. Qatar’s enormous natural-gas resources transformed the country into one of the world’s richest states.
Members of the ruling family also own substantial interests across business, finance, property and international investments.
Bloomberg estimated the family fortune at $199.5 billion.
3. Al Saud Family — $213.6 Billion
Country: Saudi Arabia
Source of wealth: Royal wealth, oil and investments
The House of Saud has ruled Saudi Arabia since the creation of the modern kingdom. Its enormous wealth has been closely associated with the country’s vast oil resources.
Bloomberg’s estimate covers identifiable family wealth but notes that the true total controlled by the extended royal family could be considerably higher.
The dynasty has thousands of members.
Bloomberg estimated the family’s measurable wealth at approximately $213.6 billion.
2. Al Nahyan Family — $335.9 Billion
Country: United Arab Emirates
Source of wealth: Royal wealth, oil and investments
The Al Nahyan family rules Abu Dhabi, the wealthiest of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi controls the vast majority of the UAE’s oil reserves.
Family members also have major roles across government, investment firms and private businesses. In recent years, the family’s investment interests have expanded significantly into artificial intelligence and technology.
Bloomberg estimated Al Nahyan family wealth at approximately $335.9 billion.
1. Walton Family — $513.4 Billion
Country: United States
Source of wealth: Walmart
The Walton family is the richest family in the world. Their fortune originates with Sam Walton, who built Walmart into the world’s largest retail empire.
The family still owns a huge share of Walmart. Bloomberg reported that the Waltons controlled roughly 44% of the company in its latest family ranking. That stake helped push their estimated collective fortune beyond half a trillion dollars for the first time.
Bloomberg valued the family at approximately $513.4 billion as of December 9, 2025.
The family fortune is distributed among descendants including:
- Rob Walton
- Jim Walton
- Alice Walton
- Other branches of the Walton family
Walmart’s strong share-price performance has dramatically increased their collective wealth.
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How Rich Are the World’s 25 Richest Families?
Bloomberg estimated the world’s 25 richest family fortunes at approximately: $2.9 trillion.
That represented an increase of roughly $358.7 billion in one year.
The minimum fortune required to enter Bloomberg’s top 25 also rose to $46.4 billion.
Why Isn’t Elon Musk’s Family Included?
Family-wealth rankings use a different methodology from individual billionaire rankings.
Bloomberg’s list generally excludes:
- First-generation fortunes
- Fortunes controlled by a single heir
- Families whose wealth cannot be reliably measured
This prevents a billionaire who personally created a fortune from automatically turning his or her relatives into a “family dynasty.”
The purpose is to capture multigenerational wealth.
Royal Families vs. Business Families
The top ten contains two very different types of dynasties.
Business dynasties
Examples include:
- Walton
- Hermès
- Koch
- Mars
- Ambani
- Wertheimer
- Thomson
Their fortunes are closely associated with identifiable companies.
Royal dynasties
Examples include:
- Al Nahyan
- Al Saud
- Al Thani
Estimating royal wealth is much more complicated because personal, family and state assets can sometimes overlap.
For that reason, all such figures should be treated as estimates.
Walmart Has Created an Extraordinary Dynasty
The Walton family provides perhaps the clearest example of how ownership can create multigenerational wealth.
Sam Walton did not leave his descendants hundreds of billions of dollars in cash.
He left them ownership in a company. As Walmart grew, the value of that ownership grew with it. That is a key lesson behind many of the world’s great family fortunes:
equity ownership compounds across generations.
Luxury Is Also Creating Massive Family Wealth
Two of the top ten families owe their fortunes to luxury:
- Hermès
- Wertheimer/Chanel
Luxury businesses can generate exceptional wealth because strong brands can maintain premium pricing and customer loyalty across generations.
Hermès is now worth enough to place its founding dynasty above several industrial and energy fortunes.
Final Thoughts
The world’s richest families show just how powerful multigenerational ownership can become. Some fortunes began with retail stores.
Others came from oil, chocolate, luxury bags, media or industrial businesses. Over decades, company ownership and inheritance transformed those businesses into family fortunes worth tens or hundreds of billions of dollars.
But one dynasty stands clearly above the rest. With an estimated $513.4 billion, the Walton family remains the richest family in the world on Bloomberg’s latest comprehensive family ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the richest family in the world?
The Walton family, with an estimated $513.4 billion on Bloomberg’s December 2025 ranking.
What company made the Walton family rich?
Walmart.
What is the richest royal family?
Among Bloomberg’s measured family fortunes, Abu Dhabi’s Al Nahyan family ranks highest at approximately $335.9 billion.
Who is the richest family in India?
The Ambani family, with an estimated $105.6 billion in Bloomberg’s latest ranking.
How much are the 25 richest families worth?
Approximately $2.9 trillion combined.