These Are the Richest Families in Every State
Ever wonder who holds the most wealth in each U.S. state? This list highlights the richest families across the country and reveals how they built their fortunes—whether through retail empires, real estate, manufacturing, or investments.
Alabama: Rane Family, Estimated worth, $1.5 billion
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You’ve probably caught Jimmy Rane on TV wearing a cowboy hat and selling lumber as “Yella Fella.” Behind the hat is Alabama’s richest, thanks to Great Southern Wood’s treated lumber empire. His company builds America’s decks and fences, while his foundation has handed out over 620 college scholarships since 2000.
Alaska: Hyde Family, Estimated worth, $400 million
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Anchorage’s skyline exists largely thanks to Leonard Hyde and his family through JL Properties. They own half the city’s major towers, as well as hotels in Florida and a business park in Utah. Together with partner Jonathan Rubini, they’ve contributed to Alaska’s real estate empire.
Arizona: Garcia Family, Estimated worth, $20 billion
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Carvana’s used car vending machines are the brainchild of the Garcia family. Together, they control billions through Carvana and DriveTime. With Ernest II as the largest shareholder and Ernest III running the show, their combined fortune makes them Arizona’s wealthiest by a long shot.
Arkansas: Walton Family, Estimated worth, $432 billion
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Walmart’s founders turned a single store into a retail colossus with 12,000 locations worldwide and $500 billion in annual sales. Nearly half the company remains controlled by the Walton heirs, who remain America’s richest family. The inheritance continues to grow alongside the empire Sam and James Walton built.
California: Zuckerberg Family, Estimated worth, $189 billion
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Facebook started in a Harvard dorm and grew into Meta. Mark and Priscilla Zuckerberg, both still in their 30s and with two young kids, have pledged most of their wealth to philanthropy. Their net worth towers at $189 billion, and they’re California’s wealthiest family today.
Colorado: Anschutz Family, Estimated worth, $16.9 billion
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Philip Anschutz turned oil and railroads into a sprawling asset spanning entertainment, sports, and real estate. His Anschutz Entertainment Group owns the LA Kings, Staples Center, and Coachella. Beyond concerts and hockey, the family’s money flows through energy, telecom, newspapers, and films.
Connecticut: Cohen Family, Estimated worth, $21.3 billion
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Businessman Steve Cohen made billions through hedge funds and now owns the New York Mets. His firm, Point72, follows a fast-paced, high-stakes investment style with sky-high returns. Once dubbed the “hedge fund king,” Cohen’s fortune dominates Connecticut’s billionaire ranks.
Delaware: Snyder Family, Estimated worth, $800 million
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Waterproof hiking gear owes a lot to Gore-Tex, which was invented by the Snyder family’s W.L. Gore & Associates. The company holds 7,000 patents and pulls in $5 billion annually. Elizabeth Snyder owns a significant stake. She inherited the business her family founded in 1958 after a laboratory experiment stretched Teflon.
Florida: Bezos Family, Estimated worth, $206 billion
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Amazon’s roots trace back to Jeff Bezos’ Seattle garage, but today the affluent Floridian family claims ties to rockets, newspapers, and online shopping empires. Bezos still owns 9% of Amazon and also runs Blue Origin and The Washington Post. His assets surpass $200 billion and show no signs of slowing.
Georgia: Cathy Family, Estimated worth, $11.4 billion
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Chick-fil-A’s closed-on-Sundays policy hasn’t stopped the Cathy family from turning fried chicken into billions. Dan Cathy leads the company his father founded, with siblings Bubba and Trudy helping manage the empire. The Atlanta-based chain’s success funds philanthropy and family traditions.
Hawaii: Omidyar Family, Estimated worth, $10.5 billion
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Pierre Omidyar created eBay, sold PayPal, and now spends his money funding journalism and nonprofits. This family’s wealth flows from tech, media, and real estate ventures stretching from California to Mexico.
Idaho: VanderSloot Family, Estimated worth, $3.2 billion
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Melaleuca sells health supplements and cleaning products directly to over a million households monthly. Frank VanderSloot built the company from scratch and amassed land holdings totaling 148,000 acres across his native state, Utah, and Montana. He’s also a major political donor and cattle rancher.
Illinois: Lukas Walton Family, Estimated worth, $39 billion
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Lukas Walton, heir to Walmart’s fortune, inherited billions after his father’s death. He owns stakes in Walmart and Arvest Bank but focuses on impact investing through Builders Vision. His philanthropy supports sustainability, and his possessions make him Illinois’ wealthiest.
Indiana: Cook Family, Estimated worth, $10.7 billion
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What began in a Bloomington apartment in 1963 now generates billions through medical devices. Carl Cook leads Cook Group, the family’s enterprise, producing equipment for hospitals worldwide. After selling Cook Pharmica for nearly $1 billion, the family remains Indiana’s most well-off.
Iowa: Stine Family, Estimated worth, $10.2 billion
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Seed genetics turned Harry Stine’s fascination with agriculture into billions through licensing deals with giants like Monsanto. Stine Seed Company generates over $1 billion yearly while funding agricultural innovation and university endowments. The family’s influence stretches beyond Iowa’s fields into biotech boardrooms.
Kansas: Koch Family, Estimated worth, $67.5 billion
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Koch Industries started with oil refining and grew into one of America’s largest private companies under Charles and David Koch. With over $100 billion in annual sales, their wealth extends from chemicals to paper products.
Kentucky: Brown Family, Estimated worth, $12.3 billion
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Thanks to Jack Daniel’s, Finlandia, and Herradura, the Brown family brings in billions from Brown-Forman. George Garvin Brown IV chairs the board and keeps the spirits flowing for this 150-year-old whiskey dynasty. They still control 51% of the company.
Louisiana: Benson Family, Estimated worth, $2.6 billion
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Gayle Benson controls the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, a fortune originally built by her late husband, Tom Benson. A family feud over the estate ended in a confidential settlement before he died in 2018. Once an interior designer, Gayle now stands as Louisiana’s wealthiest.
Maine: Alfond Family, Estimated worth, $3.6 billion
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Berkshire Hathaway’s worst investment became Maine’s biggest fortune. The Alfond family sold Dexter Shoe for $433 million in stock that ballooned into billions. Harold Alfond funneled much of it into Maine hospitals and schools. Today, his heirs own a minority stake in the Boston Red Sox and billions more.
Maryland: Lerner Family, Estimated worth, $6.5 billion
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A $250 loan in 1952 grew to become the capital’s largest real estate empire, Lerner Enterprises. The family owns millions of square feet and the Washington Nationals baseball team. Philanthropy runs deep, with donations to hospitals and universities.
Massachusetts: Johnson Family, Estimated worth, $31.5 billion
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Fidelity Investments made the Johnsons billions. Founded in 1946, it now manages nearly $2 trillion in assets. Abigail Johnson leads the firm as CEO, while other heirs run the family’s real estate ventures. Only four relatives share the fortune, which keeps this famously private family at Massachusetts’s financial summit.
Michigan: Meijer Family, Estimated worth, $7 billion
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One-stop shopping started with the Meijers. From a single store during the Great Depression, they now run over 400 Midwest supercenters that pull in $15 billion annually. Hendrick and Frederik Meijer’s descendants, Hank and Doug, keep the grocery empire thriving.
Minnesota: Cargill-MacMillan Family, Estimated worth, $60 billion
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With 88% ownership of Cargill, the MacMillan clan has more billionaires than any other family worldwide. Cargill pulls $108 billion annually by handling food, commodities, and risk management. After being founded in 1865, it remains fiercely private and family-controlled.
Mississippi: Duff Family, Estimated worth, $2.6 billion
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Tires, trucking, and construction make up Duff Capital Investors’ hefty portfolio. Brothers James and Thomas Duff built on their father’s Southern Tire Mart business to create a $2.6 billion empire. Their acquisitions span energy and transportation.
Missouri: Busch Family, Estimated worth, $13.4 billion
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The Busch name is forever tied to beer, though Anheuser-Busch sold to InBev in 2008 for $52 billion. August Busch IV led the company during the sale. Since then, the family has returned to brewing with smaller ventures.
Montana: Washington Family, Estimated worth, $5.9 billion
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After taking a $30,000 loan, Dennis Washington turned it into a business empire comprising mining, railroads, and shipping. The Washington Companies own everything from copper mines to diamond operations. Their charitable foundation has already given away $300 million.
Nebraska: Buffett Family, Estimated worth, $165 billion
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Warren Buffett became a household name through Berkshire Hathaway, which owns brands from Geico to Dairy Queen. Alongside Bill Gates, he founded The Giving Pledge, urging billionaires to donate half their wealth. Buffett himself plans to give away 99%.
Nevada: Adelson Family, Estimated worth, $42.8 billion
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Casino profits fueled Sheldon Adelson’s towering fortune through Las Vegas Sands. The company pulled in billions annually from resorts in Vegas and Macau. While Adelson passed in 2021, his family’s heritage lives on through hotels, political donations, and philanthropy.
New Hampshire: Cohen Family, Estimated worth, $18.8 billion
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Rick Cohen’s wealth traces back to grocery distribution through C&S Wholesale Grocers, but Symbotic, his warehouse robotics firm, now drives the money. Walmart uses Symbotic tech in its centers, and Cohen took the company public in 2022. His deep pockets are still growing thanks to smart bets on both supplies and automation.
New Jersey: Dorrance Family, Estimated worth, $17.1 billion
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John T. Dorrance’s invention of condensed Campbell’s Soup in 1897 changed his legacy. Descendants still hold over half the company, which churns out beloved brands like V8 and Pepperidge Farm. Billionaire heirs sit on the board and keep this classic American business close to the family table.
New Mexico: Chase Family, Estimated worth, $910 million
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Oil and natural gas put Mark C. Chase and his family on New Mexico’s wealth map. After starting with Wells alongside his father, Chase later founded Mack Energy Corp. The family remains deeply involved in the business, which continues to pump profits from the Permian Basin and beyond.
New York: Hearst Family, Estimated worth, $24.5 billion
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Media mogul William Randolph Hearst left behind a publishing dynasty. Today, the Hearst Corporation owns everything from Cosmopolitan to stakes in ESPN and A&E. The wealth is shared by dozens of descendants, with William Randolph Hearst III leading the company from boardrooms.
North Carolina: Goodnight Family, Estimated worth, $9.9 billion
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James Goodnight cofounded SAS in 1976 to analyze agricultural data. Today, it’s a powerhouse serving 83,000 organizations worldwide with annual revenue topping $3 billion. Beyond software, the family owns Cary Academy and a country club.
North Dakota: Tharaldson Family, Estimated worth, $900 million
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It all began with a single Super 8 motel in 1982. Gary Tharaldson built a hospitality empire by selling 130 hotels to Goldman Sachs for $1.2 billion in 2006. That windfall funded ventures in ethanol, commercial property, and housing developments.
Ohio: Wexner Family, Estimated worth, $6 billion
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With a $5,000 loan, Les Wexner set up a retail company with Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works. Under his leadership, L Brands grew into a global force. His family’s possession also supports major Ohio institutions, including the Wexner Medical Center.
Oklahoma: Hamm Family, Estimated worth, $18.5 billion
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Harold Hamm’s innovations in fracking reshaped the American oil industry. His company, Continental Resources, produces 200,000 barrels daily. Beyond oilfields, Hamm funds diabetes research and health initiatives.
Oregon: Knight Family, Estimated worth, $30.7 billion
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Nike’s swoosh began with Phil Knight and his college track coach. Knight’s establishment covers 52 countries with $36 billion in annual revenue. The mogul’s donation includes nearly $1.3 billion to higher education.
Pennsylvania: Mellon Family, Estimated worth, $12 billion
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The Mellon family shaped banking, oil, and benevolence in America. From founding Gulf Oil to funding Carnegie Mellon University, their legacy touches finance, art, and education. Mellon names adorn institutions across the Northeast.
Rhode Island: Nelson Family, Estimated worth, $1.8 billion
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Through Providence Equity Partners, Jonathan Nelson amassed his fortune, investing in media, education, and communications. Big wins like the $900 million Ironman Triathlon sale turned investments into billions.
South Carolina: Zucker Family, Estimated worth, $4 billion
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Anita Zucker continues building on the treasure she and her late husband, Jerry, created with InterTech Group. The company’s holdings stretch across aerospace, chemicals, and commercial real estate. She leads both business and munificence, with the donations focused heavily on education, healthcare, and community development across South Carolina.
South Dakota: Sanford Family, Estimated worth, $2.5 billion
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Denny Sanford made his billions issuing credit cards with high interest and low limits through First Premier Bank. Despite its small branch count, the bank is one of America’s biggest card issuers. Sanford’s wealth fuels philanthropy, with $1.6 billion already donated to hospitals, universities, and children’s health initiatives.
Tennessee: Frist Family, Estimated worth, $12.5 billion
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Hospital Corporation of America brought private healthcare to new heights by operating hundreds of hospitals and surgical centers. The Frist family’s billions stem from this empire, along with high-profile philanthropy. Bill Frist, a former Senate Majority Leader, adds political prominence to the family’s mix of healthcare, wealth, and public service.
Texas: Musk Family, Estimated worth, $405 billion
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Elon Musk’s empire spans electric cars, rockets, AI, and social media. His stakes in Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, and X (formerly Twitter) make the Musk family Texas’s richest by far. Despite legal battles and big loans against his shares, his vast holdings in cutting-edge tech keep the fortune soaring.
Utah: Miller Family, Estimated worth, $4.4 billion
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A single Toyota dealership grew into a $5 billion auto corporation for Larry and Gail Miller. Their holdings expanded into sports with the Utah Jazz, which Gail placed in a trust to stay local. Beyond basketball, the family’s wealth covers car sales, movie theaters, and real estate ventures.
Vermont: Abele Family, Estimated worth, $630 million
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Boston Scientific’s stent technology brought medical advances—and big money—to John Abele’s family. After retiring in 2005 and selling most of his stake, he shifted focus to humanitarianism and science outreach.
Virginia: Mars Family, Estimated worth, $89.7 billion
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Mars Inc. sweetens the family’s big bucks through pet food, rice, and candy. M&Ms, Snickers, and Pedigree keep cash flowing, with sales topping $33 billion. Despite the company’s size, the Mars family stays famously private.
Washington: Ballmer Family, Estimated worth, $118 billion
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Steve Ballmer’s riches skyrocketed as Microsoft CEO, then again with his 2014 Clippers purchase. He’s poured billions into patronage, including mental health initiatives and poverty research. His net worth rivals tech titans, but Ballmer keeps busy courtside.
West Virginia: Justice Family, Estimated worth, $1.9 billion
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Coal mining remains at the heart of the Justice family’s possessions, spread across five states. Jim Justice also serves as West Virginia’s governor while the family companies face legal battles and environmental fines. Despite controversies, their wealth is entrenched in energy and agriculture.
Wisconsin: Johnson Family, Estimated worth, $30 billion
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SC Johnson built this family’s fortune on household staples like Ziploc, Windex, and Glade. Originating with floor wax in the 1880s, the company now generates $9.6 billion in annual sales. The Johnsons remain deeply tied to Racine, Wisconsin.
Wyoming: Wyss Family, Estimated worth, $4.8 billion
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Through selling Synthes to Johnson & Johnson for $20.2 billion, Hansjörg Wyss cashed in massively. The Swiss-born billionaire now focuses on conservation, with his foundations committing over $1 billion to protect wilderness areas.