The Cage Family ©Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesAmerica has long since held a reputation for being the land of opportunity. Although it’s still a relatively young country, the Land of the Free has helped many families prosper and grow across multiple industries. While young up-and-coming entrepreneurs are still on the rise, America is home to some very wealthy dynasties that have been around for years.
Jeff Bezos may be one of the richest men in the world now thanks to Amazon, but there are families out there that have been making millions for decades, like established actor John Travolta and his wife, Kelly Preston. In other cases, new kids on the block like The Kardashians have modern trends to thank for their sizable fortunes.
Some families like to stay out of the limelight and enjoy their success in peace, while others thrive on being front and center. Regardless of their choice, there’s no denying that these uber-rich families are among some of the most influential in the world – not just in the great US of A.
1. The Spielberg Family
Net Worth: $3.7B*
Family Business: Amblin, DreamWorks
Industry: Entertainment
Prominent Member: Steven Spielberg
Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg is the highest-grossing director of all time. The maker of such hits as Jaws, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, and Schindler’s List has made more unforgettable Blockbusters than we deserve.
Steven Spielberg © Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.comSpielberg, his wife (former actress Kate Capshaw), and their many children and grandchildren all together control an estate worth roughly $3.7 billion. Much of this comes from various real estate investments and obviously Spielberg’s film work.
This includes his role as a producer as well as a director. In fact, Spielberg owns the DreamWorks studio outright. The mini-studio has churned out major hits including the Transformers franchise and the Shrek films which established DreamWorks as a big Disney rival. A big chunk of those profits goes directly into Spielberg’s pocket.
2. The Pitt Family
Net Worth: $300M*
Family Business: Plan B Productions
Industry: Film & TV
Prominent Member: Brad Pitt
The family of Brad Pitt definitely has it made. Originally the son of a trucker, good looking stud Brad Pitt moved to Los Angeles eventually carved out himself a kingdom in the middle of Hollywood during the 1990s. He continues to be hot property in the entertainment industry to this day.
Brad Pitt & Family @brangelinaever / Twitter.comHe first took off as an actor, then transitioned to producing his own films (he won an Oscar for producing 2014’s Best Picture, 12 Years a Slave). Pitt has since used his tremendous wealth to buy real estate, vineyards, and launch his own line of wine and olive oil.
Pitt shares custody of his six children with his ex-wife, Angelina Jolie. This includes four adopted children and a pair of twins. Considering their dad is worth $300 million and their mom is worth $100 million, the Pitt-Jolie children certainly got off to a head start.
3. The Kraft Family
Net worth: $6.6B*
Family Business: Kraft Group, New England Patriots
Prominent Member: Robert Kraft
Industry: Holdings, Sports
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is one of the richest sports owners of all time – and his entire family tree is quite rich as a result. The Massachusetts-born businessman originally started off in packaging at his father-in-law’s company. This soon led to a career in paper products.
Robert Kraft and His Partner Ricki Lander © Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.comKraft’s earliest success was the immensely popular International Forest Products company. The firm provided paper packaging products to the biggest brands in the world – Kodak, Quaker Oats, and Avon to name a few. It’s not difficult to see how Robert amassed such a huge fortune considering how big his clients are.
Kraft quickly began buying up sports teams with his millions. This includes several soccer teams and even an e-sport team. But his ownership of the New England Patriots is undoubtedly his crown jewel and the one business move that he’s best known for.
4. The Jackson Family
Net Worth: $2B* (estimated)
Family Business: The Michael Jackson Estate
Industry: Entertainment
Prominent Member: Michael Jackson
Though the King of Pop himself passed away some years ago, Michael Jackson’s family continues to become richer and richer with each passing day. That’s because Jackson’s sudden death in 2009 (later ruled to be a homicide, kinda) drove fans to buy up his records even quicker than ever before!
Prince Michael Jackson, Blanket Jackson, and Paris Jackson © Tinseltown | Michael Jackson © Vicki L. Miller / Shutterstock.comToday, Jackson’s estate funnels millions to members of his extended family, as well as his children. Neverland Ranch itself remains one of the most expensive slices of real estate in America.
Jackson faced extreme controversy during his life, one which continues to follow him long past his death. But few can deny the singer’s influence on pop, and the fact that he remains one of the single most profitable musicians in all of history.
5. The Getty Family
Net Worth: $5B*
Family Business: Getty Oil
Industry: Oil
Prominent Member: August Getty
The Getty family claimed most of their wealth in the twentieth century through the petroleum industry. The patriarchs are George Franklin and his son, Jean-Paul. The family originally came to America from Ireland, and they are of Scottish and Irish ancestry.
Balthazar Getty ©Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.comTheir roots can actually be traced back to Cullavmor, which would later become County Londonderry in Ireland. George Franklin was a lawyer-turned-oilman. After hitting it big in the industry, he passed along the company’s proceeds to his sons, instructing him to invest in oil and gas.
This is exactly what they did, and it paid off big time. In 1916, the duo incorporated Getty Oil. This mighty oil empire continues to pass through the family, gathering net worth with each new generation. Like any good dynasty, Getty also expanded into other sectors by creating businesses like Getty Realty.
6. The Cannon Family
Net worth: $50 million*
Family Business: TeenNick
Industry: Entertainment
Prominent Member: Nick Cannon
Award-winning rapper, actor, and producer Nick Cannon is not only one of the country’s youngest elites – but also among the richest. He owes much of his wealth to his best-selling music. His earliest effort was through a rap group called Da G4 Dope Bomb Squad.
Nick Cannon, Mariah Carey & Family © Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.comCannon’s popularity soon exploded thanks to hit singles like “Nick’s Story,” “Can I Live?” and “Teach Me How to Dougie.” Cannon eventually started his own rap label, and then, a small record company. When it comes to expanding and growing his wealth, Nick isn’t afraid to take risks.
Cannon famously married iconic pop star Mariah Carey, with whom he had three children. The couple eventually divorced but were one of the biggest power couples of their time. Cannon chaired TeenNick for Viacom’s Nickelodeon TV network for years until some insensitive comments saw him released from the role in 2020.
7. The Powell-Jobs Family
Net Worth: $10.2B*
Family Business: Apple, Inc.
Industry: Technology
Prominent Member: Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs was, of course, the legendary CEO of Apple, Inc. until his death in 2011. He was married to Lauren Powell at the time (the two had wed in 1991). But as we know, Jobs wasn’t merely the CEO of Apple – he was also the co-founder, and arguably the creative genius behind its success.
Laurene Powell Jobs (Steve Jobs) @RedmondPie / Twitter.comJobs and Steve Wozniak started Apple in 1976 with a small goal: to create and sell a revolutionary personal computer. The computer, Apple I, was a modest success. But it wasn’t until the Apple II that they truly shot to fame. It was a small move that completely changed the face of the world – and Jobs’ life forever.
From there, the company grew to the massive conglomerate it is today, making the Powell-Jobs clan extremely wealthy as a result. Sadly, Jobs was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003. Jobs struggled on for eight years before eventually succumbing to his illness, leaving behind a huge legacy and a fortune of over $10.2 billion.
8. The Cuban Family
Net Worth: $3.9B*
Family Business: 2929 Entertainment, the Dallas Mavericks
Industry: Film Production, Sports
Prominent Member: Mark Cuban
There are few names in Hollywood bigger than Mark Cuban. The entertainment mogul owns everything from film companies to an NBA team. His working class family roots makes his fantastic business success even more admirable.
Mark Cuban and Family © Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.comEarly ventures in software and systems gave Cuban a taste for success. But he soon took his talents to Hollywood where he founded a film company, 2929 Entertainment. One of the company’s first projects was the George Clooney film Good Night, and Good Luck. The film was an indie success and received six Oscar nominations.
Further film projects, documentaries, and a majority purchase of the Dallas Mavericks transformed Cuban’s wealth beyond belief. He frequently offers words of investment wisdom on the television series Shark Tank.
9. The Riney Family
Net worth: $3.5B*
Family Business: Scottrade
Industry: Financial
Prominent Member: Rodger Riney
The Riney family commands the Scottrade empire. Founder Rodger O. Riney originally developed the company (which would later be bought by TD Ameritrade). Riney was born in the 1940s, first encountering the stock market as a child when his grandparents gave him ten shares of stock. He received his education from the University of Missouri.
Rodger Riney @WUSTLmed / Twitter.comThe brokerage industry was deregulated in the 1970s, and Riney made his move then, starting Scottsdale Securities. Scottsdale provided trades at a lower-commission. He opened another branch in St. Louis a decade later. The company started its own internet trading platform in 1996.
Scottsdale was renamed to Scottrade after it was bought by Charles Schwab’s TD Ameritrade in 2017. Although Riney is in his 70s, he shows no sign of slowing down and is still the CEO of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. With a net worth of $3.5 billion, he could’ve easily retired many moons ago.
10. The Ziff Family
Net Worth: $14.4B*
Family Business: Ziff Davis, Inc.
Industry: Investing, Publishing
Prominent Member: Dirk Ziff
A few years ago, the ultra-powerful Ziff family closed their hedge funds and shut down both their American and London-based branches. But it doesn’t really matter: the Ziff Brothers Investments firm will forever go down in history for its massive impact on Wall Street.
Even if the Ziff brothers themselves, Dirk and Robert, have each gone their separate ways to pursue different businesses, the company itself remains infallible. The family’s fortune goes back nearly a century, back to William Ziff Sr.’s publishing company.
That firm, Ziff Davis, continued to grow after William’s son (William Jr.) took over. PC Magazine and Car and Driver are two of Ziff’s best-known publications. Its wealth mainly derives from investments now. Dirk now owns his own capital company in New York. Ziff Davis is now owned by J2 GLobal.
11. The Wynn Family
Net Worth: $3.4B*
Family Business: Wynn Resorts
Industry: Hospitality
Prominent Member: Steve Wynn
Few families have shot to fortune – or crashed from it – quite so spectacularly as the Wynns. The patriarch, Steve Wynn, became a billionaire in Las Vegas. He is credited with constructing some of the Strip’s most famous hotels and casinos, including the Bellagio and The Mirage.
Steve & Andrea Wynn © Joe Seer / Shutterstock.comFrom this success, he created his flagship empire, Wynn Resorts. This powerful company erected countless luxury hotels across the globe. His wife, Elaine, headed the board for over a decade. At one point, it seemed the Wynn family could do no wrong, at least in the business world.
The company started taking on water in the 2000s, with shares of Wynn Resorts stock hitting record lows. After a serious restructuring, profits finally began to return to their prior heights in the years that followed. Wynn even has three properties in China, including the Wynn Palace that opened in 2016.
12. The Sedgwick Family
Net Worth: $90 million*
Family Business: Hollywood
Industry: Acting
Prominent Member: Kyra Sedgwick
Actress Kyra Sedgwick is part of an acting family. She and her husband, Kevin Bacon, are both super-famous in Hollywood. Sedgwick is mot famous for her role on The Closer, when she portrayed Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson. For that part, she won an Emmy and a Golden Globe.
The Sedgwick Family @OMG Check It Out / Pinterest.comSedgwick has also starred in movies like Something to Talk About, Born on the Fourth of July, Singles, Heart and Souls, Phenomenon, The Possession, Secondhand Lions, and more. Her husband, Kevin Bacon, has starred in movies like Footloose, A Few Good Men, JFK, Black Mass, Frost/Nixon, Mystic River, and Tremors. Together, he and Sedgwick have a net worth of $90 million.
13. The Bezos Family
Net Worth: $137B*
Family Business: Amazon
Industry: E-commerce
Prominent Member: Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos is one of the most famous faces in the tech world today. As a result, he and his family have soared to the top of the world’s richest elite. Bezos is the founder of e-commerce and streaming giant Amazon and the former CEO, announcing his retirement from the position in February 2021.
Jeff Bezos ©lev radin/ Shutterstock.comBut he was born into humble beginnings: his mother was a teenager when he was born, and his father only owned a small bike shop. His parents divorced when he was four. His mother then married Mark Bezos, an immigrant from Cuba. By all accounts, the odds were stacked against him.
Bezos attended Princeton, and when he graduated, he got job offers from many major tech companies. He worked on Wall Street as a hedge fund manager in the 1980s. But it wasn’t until 1994 that he founded Amazon. It originally started off as a simple online bookstore. Now, it sells pretty much everything imaginable.
14. The Lucas Family
Net Worth: $5.5B*
Family Business: LucasFilm
Industry: Entertainment
Prominent Member: George Lucas
Often cited as the richest celebrity figure of all time, George Lucas made a small fortune following the surprise success of his American Graffiti follow-up, Star Wars. But his stroke of financial genius was in pioneering the film’s special effects – thus owning the technology for all time.
George Lucas and Mellody Hobson © s_bukley / Shutterstock.comThe success of Star Wars – coupled with a very smart contract that granted Lucas total franchise rights from 20th Century Fox – led him to start a string of successful film companies. There was THX, which revolutionized sound technology. Then LucasFilm, which produced his many hit films.
But there was also LucasArts, which made video games; Skywalker Sound, which revolutionized recording and mixing audio; and Industrial Light & Magic, which literally wrote the book on modern special effects since the 1970s. Disney famously bought LucasFilm in October 2012 for a staggering $4.05 billion.
15. The Jordan Family
Net Worth: $1.9B*
Family Business: The Charlotte Hornets
Industry: Sports, Entertainment
Prominent Member: Michael Jordan
They just don’t get bigger than MJ. Michael Jordan, Number 23, shot to worldwide fame as the star of the Chicago Bulls NBA team. His success on the court transitioned into many successful ventures off the court. In fact, these days, Jordan is just as famous for his business exploits as he is for his impressive stats.
Michael Jordan and his Kids @bodyheightweig1 / Twitter.comThis includes a brief acting career (yes, we’re talking about Space Jam, people), major endorsements for Nike and Hanes, and of course, his signature Air Jordan line of sports shoes. He and his family are standing on a nearly $2 billion fortune.
This is largely due to Jordan’s investment in buying a sizeable stake in the Charlotte Hornets. While the team hasn’t exactly had the same success on the court as Jordan, the ownership is still worth millions for the former All-Star.