These families built the America we know today, where are they now?

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• • Some of the wealthiest families in American history lost their fortunes.
  • Families like the Kennedys, Du Ponts and Rockefellers continue to have immense wealth.
  • The Johnson, Cargill and Mars families continue to create new wealth for generations to come.
  • Also: 2 dividend legends to be kept forever

When it comes to the families that helped build America, there is a lot of news and mystery surrounding their names. Vanderbilt, Kennedy, Rockefeller, Morgan, Walton, Johnson and others made billions through real estate, construction, oil, pharmaceuticals and other industries. While the achievements of these families historically may be great, the question is where they stand today and whether the wealth has increased or gone forever.

Why does this matter?

Schools like Vanderbilt University were built using the wealth of America’s most successful families.

If it hadn’t been for Rockefeller or Vanderbilt, we might not know the world of railroads and oil as we know it today. The companies these families started began shaping the country in the 19th century, and their legacy lives on today. There is no doubt that these families are at least partially responsible for the economic power that helped make America a financial superpower.

1. The Vanderbilt family

The Vanderbilts spent a fortune on houses and did not protect their wealth.

• Known for: Railways and shipping

Cornelius Vanderbilt, scion of the Vanderbilt family, is considered one of the greatest American industrialists. A shipping and railroad magnate, Vanderbilt was one of the richest Americans in history, with a net worth of $100 million when he died. Unfortunately, most of the family’s money disappeared within 50 years of Cornelius’ death.

2. The Rockefeller family

A descendant of John Rockefeller built Rockefeller Center in New York City.

• Known for: Standard Oil Company

John Davidson Rockefeller Sr., or JD Rockefeller, was among the richest men in modern history. When he died, the founder of Standard Oil Company (now ExxonMobil) had a net worth of nearly $900 million. Today, JD’s descendants have a significant fortune controlled by a family trust, which has used the money for real estate projects such as the construction of Rockefeller Center and the Museum of Modern Art.

3. The Carnegie family

Andrew Carnegie (middle) gave away his entire fortune before he died.

• Known for: Carnegie Steel Company

When Andrew Carnegie, founder of the Carnegie Steel Company, died in 1919, he was among the richest Americans in history. In the last years of his life, he gave away almost 90% of his fortune. Carnegie believed in using his money to improve society, including building 3,000 public libraries. His last $30 million was given to various foundations upon his death, leaving his descendants with nothing.

4. The Kennedy family

Caroline Kennedy is the most prominent member of the Kennedy clan.

• Known for: Real estate, stock market

Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. was an American businessman who made his fortune in real estate and the stock market. Father of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Ted Kennedy and US Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, the Kennedy name lives on. The family is believed to have a total net worth of around $1.2 billion, and Caroline Kennedy, JFK’s daughter, is worth an estimated $250 million.

5. The Astor family

The Astor Trust Company building is evidence that the company was heavily invested in real estate.

• Known for: The fur trade

Known as the first multi-millionaire in the United States, John Jacob Astor was a German-American businessman who immigrated to the US in 1783 and made his fortune in the fur trade. By 1800, Astor had a net worth of $229 million in 2024 money and was a significant figure in New York real estate. The heir to the family, John Jacob Astor IV, unfortunately died as the richest passenger on the Titanic, which began the decline of the family, although it still has significant resources.

6. The Johnson family

SC Johnson’s headquarters remain in Racine, Wisconsin.

• Known for: Multinational corporation (cleaning supplies, consumer chemicals)

When Samuel Curtis Johnson opened his business as SC Johnson, he had no idea that his household cleaning products company would become one of the most important consumer brands in history. A family member has been running the company since its inception. Today, the company is led by the fifth generation of Fisk Johnson, who has a net worth of $3.2 billion and is well known for his work in giving back to the community.

7. The Du Pont family

The Du Pont family continues to rule an empire in various industries.

• Known for: Gunpowder, chemicals

With a family net worth of $14.3 billion, spread among nearly 3,500 living descendants of Pierre Samuel du Pot de Nemours, the Du Pont family helped build America. The family owns the DuPont Company, which laid the foundations for many achievements in building a young nation, including early involvement with the Philadelphia Phillies, the Indian Motorcycle Company, US Airways and dozens of other nonprofit organizations.

8. The Mellon family

Carnegie Mellon University is one of the greatest legacies of the Mellon family.

• Known for: Finance, oil, various businesses

Led by family scion Archibald Mellon, the Mellon family significantly influenced America. His interests include banking with Mellon National Bank and Gulf Oil (now Chevron) and Andrew Mellon, former US Treasury Secretary. Timothy Mellon, Andrew’s grandson, today controls the family’s banking fortune, with an estimated net worth of $14.1 billion.

9. The Cargill-MacMillan family

The Cargill-MacMillan family business is as strong as ever.

• Known for: Animals, chocolate, raw materials

The largest private company in the US, Cargill-MacMillan, was founded in 1865 by William Wallace Cargill. With its hands in a dozen businesses, the food and agriculture company has more than 160,000 employees and $165 billion in revenue. The family controls 90 percent of the business and is among the most philanthropic families in America, giving $6 billion over the past 20 years against the family’s $38 billion fortune.

10. The Cox family

The Cox family does extensive philanthropy, including multiple donations to the college.

• Known for: Newspaper, mass media

Founded in Dayton, Ohio, in 1898, James M. Cox purchased the Dayton Daily News. Since then, the family has become one of America’s biggest media names. The company’s largest holding company, Cox Communications, is America’s third-largest cable brand, giving the family a net worth of about $26 billion. The family also has sizeable stakes in Axios.com, Kelley Blue Book and various TV stations.

11. The Koch family

The Koch family remains heavily involved in the businesses that shape America.

• Known for: Koch Industries

Fred C. Koch founded what would become Koch Industries, the second largest private company in America today. Having made a fortune in the 1920s and 1930s, the family was now led by Charles and David Koch, among the biggest donors to the libertarian and conservative parties. At the time of David’s death in 2019, the family’s fortune was estimated at over $100 billion.

12. Mars family

The Mars family remains one of the wealthiest in America thanks to their large candy business.

• Known for: Candy, pet food

Founded by Franklin Clarence Mars in 1911, the company makes Milky Way, M&Ms and Snickers, among other popular items, along with pet food brands such as Pedigree, Nutro and Whiskas. The company is consistently ranked among the largest private companies. As a result, the family has a net worth of $126 billion and are very charitable through the Mars Family Foundation.

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