The Richest Families In America Today

In life we’re told to put family before work, but for the elite few, the two worlds are one and the same. In fact, for these families — who are, according to Forbes, the richest in America — business is everything. Yes, through generations of hard work these clans are now the heads of thriving multinational corporations, and as a result, they’ve amassed some truly eye-popping fortunes. But which family takes the #1 spot?

20. Brown family

In 1870 salesman George Garvin Brown founded Brown-Forman, and it’s blossomed from a $5,500 startup to become one of the world’s premier liquor suppliers. Plus, following the success of flagship whisky brand Old Forester, the family firm grew further after it acquired Jack Daniel’s in 1956. But approximately how much money does the family have today?

Net worth: $12.3 billion

In addition to Old Forester and Jack Daniels, the Brown-Forman Corporation also owns Woodford Reserve whiskey. Nowadays, Brown’s descendants – including his great-grandson George Garvin Brown IV, the company chairman – have a whopping $12.3 billion fortune. We'll raise a glass to that!

19. Sackler family

The Sackler family's mega-success in business may have been relatively recent, but members of the Sackler family have still managed to amass a huge estimated net worth. In fact, after 40 years with Purdue Pharma, brothers Arthur, Mortimer, and Raymond Sackler eventually hit big with the release of OxyContin in 1995.

Net worth: $13 billion

Yes, you read that correctly: OxyContin, also known as the pharmaceutical that has majorly contributed to the opioid crisis in the U.S. Despite the Sackler family's controversial standing, their estimated net worth is astounding at $13 billion and growing. Today, their fortune is split among approximately 20 members of the family.