Forbes 2026: America’s Richest Families Hit $1.9 Trillion

The threshold for inclusion has risen to $10 billion, with 54 families now on the list — up from 45 in 2024.

The Walton family remains the wealthiest dynasty in America, with an estimated fortune of $520 billion — a staggering increase of $253 billion since the 2024 ranking. Their retail empire, Walmart, continues to fuel the largest generational wealth in the nation.

The Top Three

The Koch family posted the second-largest gain on the list, adding $41 billion to their fortune.

Newcomers and Drop-Offs

Ten families joined the list for the first time, including:

• The Richards family (Southwire)
• The heirs of Ross Perot
• The Lockton family
• The Mills family (Medline)

Only one family fell off: The Chao family (Westlake Corporation) saw their fortune decline by $4.9 billion to $9.3 billion, placing them just below the $10 billion threshold.

The Biggest Loser

Among families that retained their spot, the Brown family (Brown-Forman) suffered the steepest decline, dropping $5.8 billion to $10.7 billion.

Key Statistics

• Total families: 54 (up from 45 in 2024)
• Combined net worth: $1.9 trillion
• Minimum threshold: $10 billion (up from $1 billion in 2014)
• Geographic spread: Families hail from 25 states
• Most common hometowns: New York City (7), Atlanta and Chicago (4 each)
• Generational depth: All but five families are in at least their fourth generation

The oldest family on the list is the Du Pont family, founded in 1802 and now in its ninth generation.

Methodology

Forbes excluded individual billionaires credited with the entire family fortune. Generations were counted from the patriarch or matriarch to the youngest descendants. All valuations are based on stock prices as of June 22, 2026.