1. The Walton family

State:$ 130 billion

Business foundation year: 1962

State source: Wal-mart

Head office: Bentonville, Arkansas, USA

On the picture: Rob, Alice and Sam Walton (left to right)

The Walton family controls the world's largest retailer Wal-Mart. Six representatives of the dynasty own almost 54% of the company's shares, which allows them to effectively defend their interests. In June 2015, Rob Walton retired after serving as chairman for 23 years.

Over the year, the Walton family became impoverished by $ 19 billion (in 2015 their combined fortune was $ 149 billion), due to new information about charitable gifts made by the late son of Sam Walton John before his death in a plane crash in 2005. Bloomberg reported in November 2015 that John Walton, during his lifetime, wrote off half of his $ 17 billion fortune to charities, and a third to his only son, Lucas. Following these messages, Forbes in 2016 reduced the estimate of the wealth of the widow of John Walton Christie from $ 41.7 billion to $ 5.2 billion.

A small company in 1962 in Arkansas was founded by brothers Sam (died 1992) and James (died 1995) Walton. The family is now controlled by three of Sam's children, the wife of his son, who died in a plane crash in 2005, and James's two daughters.

2. The Koch family

State:$ 82 billion

The number of representatives of the dynasty: 4

Business foundation year: 1925

State source: diversified business

Head office: Wichita, Kansas, USA

Koch Industries is today owned by brothers Charles and David Koch. The company was founded by their father and was initially engaged in oil refining. Today Koch Industries is a real diversified holding and the largest private industrial conglomerate with annual revenues of more than $ 100 billion.In general, the holding could be owned by four brothers, but in 1983, after a quarrel, Charles and David bought out the shares of other relatives for $ 700 million.

The brothers are among the top 10 richest people in America and are actively involved in supporting Republicans, such as Florida Senator Marco Rubio and Texas Senator Ted Cruz, by sponsoring their campaigns.

3. The Mars family

State:$ 78 billion

The number of representatives of the dynasty: 3

Business foundation year: 1911

State source: confectionery business

Head office: McLean, Virginia, USA

The world's largest confectionery company, Mars, is owned by Jacqueline, John and Forrest Mars Jr. All three are on the board of directors, but are not responsible for day-to-day management. The company went to the heirs in 1999, when their father, Forrest Mars, Sr. died.

In 1911, the company was founded by the grandfather of the current heirs, and around 1929, the company patented a unique recipe for nougat, which is part of the famous Milky Way and Snickers bars. Other products created by Mars include M&M "s dragees (about 400 million candies a day are produced under this brand in the US). Now the company does not only make sweets: its portfolio includes brands such as Uncle Ben" s rice and pet food Pedigree and Whiskas.

4. The Cargill-Macmillan family

State: $ 49 billion

The number of representatives of the dynasty: 23 (Forbes score)

Business foundation year: 1865

State source: Cargill Inc.

Head office: Minneapolis, Minneapolis, USA

The Cargill-Macmillan dynasty has 14 billionaires more than any other family in the world. Together with a few cousins, they own 88% of Cargill's agricultural empire. The company produces food products, trades in raw materials and provides financial services. Unlike many other families in the ranking, Cargill - Macmillan increased their fortune by $ 4 billion this year.

The history of the company began in 1865, when the Scottish captain William Wallace Cargill created his first business. He became rich only at the end of the 19th century due to the railway boom. In 1909, Cargill's place was taken by his son-in-law John Macmillan. Cargill remained the family business until 1995, when the founder's grandson stepped down as CEO. Today, only six family members run the company, with most living on a ranch in Montana. And the whole family remains adherents of a non-public lifestyle.

5. The Cox family

State:$ 41 billion

The number of representatives of the dynasty: 3

Business foundation year: 1898

State source: media

Head office: Atlanta, Georgia, USA

In 1898, James M. Cox bought the Dayton Evening News. The company now has a host of assets that include Manheim (car sales), AutoTrader Group (online car sales, Kelley Blue Book), Cox Communications (cable TV) and Cox Media Group (newspapers, TV, radio). In June 2015, the company announced its purchase of DealerTrack, a software manufacturer for car dealerships, for $ 4 billion.

Now the main owner of the business empire is the daughter of James Anne Cox Chambers - she owns a 50% stake. The founder's grandson, James (Jim) Kennedy, was CEO from 1988 to 2008 and now chairs the board of directors. James M. Cox's granddaughter Blair Perry-Okeden lives in Australia and is not involved in the family business. Kennedy and Perry-Okeden each inherited 25% of Cox after the death of their mother Barbara Cox-Anthony in 2007.

6. Johnson family

State:$ 30 billion

The number of representatives of the dynasty: 11

Business foundation year: 1886

State source: cleaners

Head office: Racine, Wisconsin, USA

This year, the Samuel C. Johnson family climbed two places in the rankings, adding $ 1.5 billion to their fortune. Johnson's Prepared Paste Wax Company was founded in 1886 to sell Johnson's Prepared Paste Wax. , specially designed for the maintenance of parquet. In 1928, the company was inherited by his son Herbert Fisk Johnson, who ran the business until his death. Johnson left a will and after a long struggle for shares in the company his heirs Herbert Fisk Jr. and Henrietta Johnson-Louis The company, run by the grandsons of Herbert Fisk, Jr., is now producing cleaning products, and the SC Johnson brand lineup includes Ziploc bags, as well as Windex, Drano and Raid products.

7. The Pritzker family

State:$ 29 billion

The number of representatives of the dynasty: 13

Business foundation year: 1936

State source: hotel business, investment

Head office: Chicago, Illinois, USA

The influential Pritzker family is best known for creating the Hyatt Hotels chain. But the dynasty owes its fortune to Anthony Pritzker (died 1986), who founded Hyatt with his two sons and invested in various assets, including the industrial conglomerate Marmon Group, which is now owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway.

The business clan spent all zero years in endless litigation over family assets, until it decided on the management and ownership structure. 11 members of the dynasty are included in the Forbes list of billionaires. Penny Pritzker, one of the heiresses, is the US Secretary of Commerce. John is the owner of the Commune Hotels boutique hotel chain. Brothers Anthony and Jaybee launched the family-owned investment company Pritzker Group. Karen and her husband Michael are investors. Gigi is a renowned film producer. Liesel Pritzker Simmons, who in 2003 sued her father and other relatives over the division of assets, is also involved in investments (one of her exotic projects in Ghana is the processing of human waste into combustible fuel).

8. (Edward) Johnson family

State:$ 28.5 billion

The number of representatives of the dynasty: 4

Business foundation year: 1946

State source: Financial services

Head office: Boston, Massachusetts, USA

In 1946, Edward Johnson II founded the asset management company Fidelity. Now his son Edward "Ned" Johnson III and three grandchildren own 49% of the financial giant, with the remainder held by the Fidelity collective. Ned has served as chairman and CEO since 1977. In 2014, his daughter Abigail took over. Ned's son Edward Johnson IV manages the family's real estate portfolio. Elizabeth's second daughter is not involved in the family business.

9. The Hearst family

State:$ 28 billion

The number of representatives of the dynasty: 66

Business foundation year: 1887

State source: Hearst Corp.

Head office: New York, NY, USA

The founder of the Hearst business empire, William Randolph Hirst, was a celebrity and even became the prototype for Orson Welles' character in Citizen Kane. In 1887, he first identified himself as the "owner" in the imprint of the San Francisco Examiner. Today, the publisher has 49 newspapers, about 340 magazines published worldwide, and shares in the cable networks ESPN, Lifetime and A&E.

The son of Hearst founder William Randolph Hearst Jr. became a prominent journalist and received the prestigious Pulitzer Prize. Grandson William Randolph Hirst III, as chairman of the board of directors, is responsible for the media group's strategy. Over the course of its long history, the family has gone through several scandals, from the kidnapping of Patty Hirst by radical leftists in the 1970s to the divorce of John "Banks" Hirst Jr. from his wife Barbara, which exposed the family business secrets of the Hearst dynasty.

10. Duncan family

State:$ 21.5 billion

The number of representatives of the dynasty: 4

Business foundation year: 1968

State source: energetics

Head office: Houston, Texas, USA

Dynasty founder Dan Duncan was born into a poor family in the provincial Texas town of Center. Duncan, who was left without parents - the mother and brother of the future billionaire died when he was 7 years old - was raised by his grandmother. He became the richest inhabitant of Texas thanks to investments in the gas, oil and chemical industries. When Duncan passed away in 2010 at the age of 77, his four children, Randa Duncan-Williams, Milan Franz, Dunnin Duncan-Avara and Scott Duncan, proportionately inherited his nearly $ 10 billion fortune.

Since then, the family fortune has almost doubled. His eldest daughter, Randa, chairs the board of directors. Scott, 32, is on the list of America's youngest millionaires to inherit their fortune, not make money. And sisters Milan and Dannin do charity work in their home state.

What surname comes to your mind when you say "the richest families"? Rockefeller? Not guessing! Trump? Again - by! Gates? You are confusing, we are not asking about the richest people, but about families, dynasties, especially since Bill Gates signed a "gift oath", his billions will go to philanthropic goals, and the descendants will not get anything. The participants in our rating prefer to preserve and increase their capital in order to pass it on from generation to generation. These figures are subject to change, but not significantly.

From L'Oreal Owners to Generous Patrons: The Richest Families on the Planet

Bettencourt: the French "beauty factory"

It only takes one word to paint a picture of the origins of the billions of the Bettencourt family: "L'Oreal." Back in 1907, this legendary business was started by the chemist Eugene Schülle, and the Frenchman registered his own company two years later. The company began producing hair and skin care products. When Eugene died, his daughter Liliane Bettencourt took over the reins. Now she is a very elderly woman and suffers from senile dementia, so her only daughter and grandson take care of the family company. Betancourt's capital is $ 36 billion.

The Lous Vuitton brand and beyond: Arno and his children

The second member of our top of the richest families is also from France. The founding father of the dynasty, Bernard Arnault, has his own luxury brand Lous Vuitton (he is the chairman and CEO of the company), but his interests go much further. Arno also owns other companies, including Dom Perignon, Cartier and Bulgari. Should I continue? François, 67, has a deep appreciation for art and owns $ 39 billion. The businessman has five children from two wives.

Cocks: American media moguls

In 1898, James M. Cox bought the Dayton Evening News newspaper, starting the ascent of the American media mogul. Today, James' grandchildren have taken over the family business, with a fortune of $ 41 billion divided between five of them. The empire now includes radio stations, cable TV companies and another firm (acquired 11 years ago for $ 4 billion) to create software for car dealers.

The Cargill McMillan family has the most billionaires

According to Forbes, one of the richest families, Cargill-McMillan, includes the majority of billionaires compared to other participants in this ranking: there are 14 of them, the total capital of the clan is $ 49 billion. The family members have the largest private company in the bio-industry, agriculture, energy, food and pharmaceutical industries. However, most of the revenue (about $ 108 billion) came to the Cargills from agribusiness. W. W. Cargill started his own business back in 1865, the business developed as the railways were built. In 1909, the family company was taken over by the owner's son-in-law, John McMillan, after which the company received the double name "Cargill-McMillan". The family has not run the corporation since 1995, but they still own 88% of the shares, and six members of the clan hold various positions on the board.

Slim Helu: Mexico's dominant clan

Carlos Slim Helu is the richest man in Mexico and was ranked fourth on the Forbes billionaire list this year. He owns a huge amount of money - $ 47.8 billion, and the family capital of Slim Helu - $ 52 billion. The economic downturn in South America (and in the cellular market) has caused irreparable damage to this dynasty - a year ago, their fortune was 2 times greater. Even so, the clan confidently ranks 6th in the top of the richest families.

Sweet tooth favorites: the owners of the Mars company

We're sure you've all bought Mars family candy at least a few times! After all, "Milky Way", "Snickers" and "M & M" s "are popular not only in the homeland of their manufacturers, in America, but all over the world. Frank Mars began selling candy in 1911, 18 years later his son joined him Forrest. This was the era of the invention of flavored nougat - it was she who became the basis of the candy "bestseller" "Snickers." Today, Mars is a manufacturer of not only confectionery products, but also food for dogs (Royal Canin) and cats (Whiskas). and also delicious sauces Capital of Mars - 78 billion dollars.

Unsinkable Kochi

Oil and gasoline is a win-win! People need fuel everywhere and always, which is why the Koch family and their private American company Koch Industries own $ 82 billion. The family business dates back to the 1920s, when Fred K. Koch developed a new method for converting heavy crude oil into gasoline. Now the company has launched its "tentacles" in many areas: housing, transport, food and fuel production and even ... the release of towel holders with motion sensors.

The Wiltons are betting on retail

While most of the richest families are scattered and invest in various types of business, the Walton clan is focused only on their mega-project. It is the largest retail chain in the United States, Walmart supermarkets. Their income is approaching $ 483 billion, and the family capital has exceeded $ 130 billion. It all started with Sam Walton and his brother James ("Bud"), who started the retail business in 1962. After the brothers died, the company passed to Sam's two sons and daughter and Bud's two daughters. Today the third generation of Waltons is in charge of business.

Royal Dynasty of Saudi Arabia: Al-Saud

The al-Saud (or House of Saud) have long ruled Saudi Arabia. The legendary member of the family Muhammad ibn Saud was the founder of the First Saudi State (this was in the 18th century). Now the family has thousands of members, whose capital is not even in the billions: in the al-Saud's purse - 1.4 trillion. dollars. Some members of the ruling royal dynasty are included in the Forbes list of billionaires: for example, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is ranked 41st with a fortune of $ 19.5 billion. He is the owner of palaces, luxury yachts, art objects, many resorts and the Four Seasons hotel chain.

The humble charm of the Rothschild trillionaires

If you want 1 trillion. dollars (in hundredth bills) were laid out on the ground in stacks that are as tall as you, you will need an area of ​​almost 2 acres. Imagine how much money it is! Now imagine 10 trillion. dollars is the approximate total capital of the ancient Rothschild family. Even Forbes does not dare to calculate the fortune of these bankers, so the Rothschilds do not appear on the official lists of the richest families in the world. The Empire of the Rothschilds, Jews who once lived in Germany, dates back to the 1760s, when Mayer Amschel Rothschild founded his first bank. Decades later, he sent his son to England to expand the family business. Now there are three branches of the banking dynasty: French, English and Austrian (only in the female line). They are known for their patronage: once possessing the largest collection of world art masterpieces, the Rothschilds donated to museums, always anonymously.

We live in a time when the richest people are easily recognizable through the media. Television and photo reporters watch celebrities tirelessly, guarding their every step. Not everyone can withstand the increased interest from ordinary people and the press. However, few people realize that influential bankers are subject to press attacks even more than show business stars. Indeed, the masses have always developed a negative attitude towards banking in general.

In this post, we will talk about a family that did not need to contact reporters in order to gain worldwide fame. It will focus on the most powerful and influential financial clan in the world and its dark sides.

The Rothschild family is the richest and most powerful dynasty in the entire world. And if now its representatives can hardly be seen at the tops of Forbes, then several decades ago everything was different. For the past two centuries, this clan, having received untold riches, had too much influence on world politics and the economy. However, history has not known a more secretive family. Let's reveal some of their secrets.

A string of incests follows them.

This family had so much money that each of its members could become a tasty morsel for those in need of marriage of convenience. In order to save their own money within the family, the Rothschilds practiced incest. They did not want to share with unfaithful wives after divorce and preferred to marry their cousins. This sounds unattractive from a biological point of view, but at the same time it is a profitable financial strategy. This movement was led by the founder of the Mayer dynasty Amschel Rothschild. It was he who oversaw the restriction of women in the family in choosing a marriage partner. If a woman from the Rothschild clan wanted to marry for love, she had to lose her inheritance. The only way to maintain financial well-being was to marry a cousin.

Some of them put themselves above kings and presidents.

Unlimited money is the root of all evil. Many members of the Rothschild dynasty considered themselves above the laws and legislators. Amschel Rothschild once said: "Give me control over the country's economy, and I will establish my own laws." It turns out that unlimited financial opportunities made it possible to think of unlimited power. Essentially, they placed themselves above kings and queens, presidents and prime ministers, and any other rulers.

They dictated the price of gold

Even now, it is generally accepted that gold prices are still set not without the participation of the Rothschild family. However, in 2004, Nathan Mayer Rothschild and his sons left the gold business, giving way to Barclays. The Rothschild family had a decisive right to vote in the formation of gold prices in 1919 at a meeting of five leading traders. The ability to dictate gold prices effectively endowed the Rothschild clan with unlimited power over competitors.

Impact on the US Federal Reserve System

The Federal Reserve System is a privately owned bank. It is in this structure that the United States of America holds most of its assets. The Fed's main office is located in New York. It is believed that both the Rothschild family and the Rockefeller family have a decisive say in this structure. It is known for certain that the Rothschild family considered it a priority for themselves to control such financial structures in many European states. Whether they had an interest in controlling the financial situation in America is still not clear, just as the full figure of their American assets is unknown.

They could be Satanists

Many people in all seriousness believe that members of the Rothschild family are supporters of Satanists. According to numerous eyewitnesses, during family and holiday dinners at the table, a place of honor was assigned to Satan, which was usually empty. Some members of the family put the seal of Solomon on the documents instead of signing the documents. Now this sign is considered as a symbol of the Jewish people. But in the old days, the seal of Solomon was practically not used. The only exceptions were magicians and Satanists.

This family was associated with secret societies

We can say that the connection of wealthy people with Freemasons, portholes and other secret societies is a favorite topic of conspiracy theories. It is curious that the start of such rumors was given with the light hand of the Rothschilds. Although there is a possibility that the family simply responded to the rumors and decided not to debunk the myth that had been formed about itself in the minds of the public. It is not known for certain whether they were really associated with secret societies or misled the curious public. However, many people are convinced that the financing of the Bavarian windows was carried out by the Rothschilds. This is indirectly evidenced by the peace treaty signed after the end of the First World War. Since this society was secret, we will never know the details.

They funded many major wars

By some estimates, the Rothschild family controls half of the world's money. It was this circumstance that allowed them to finance most of the major wars over the past 200 years: from the conquests of Napoleon to the world wars of the 20th century. Moreover, they did not lend money to individuals, but to governments. That is why this family can be safely noted as the most powerful in history over the past two centuries.

They had strange parties

At one of the parties, held in 1972, invitations to guests were written in mirror image. When guests arrived at the venue, the lights in front of the building were completely red. Other parties had other oddities: the obligatory wearing of animal masks on the head, masks with multiple faces, and other quirks. If we were to take a look at these events now, we could easily confuse them with the grotesque clips of Lady Gaga.

Their assets may be $ 650 billion

The Rothschild family is the richest family in the entire history of the world. Nowadays, according to experts, their capital is estimated at $ 350 billion. However, there are some discrepancies that may be caused by confusion over the practice of intra-family marriages. But, of course, the amount of 350 billion is hard to believe, because only Jacob Rothschild has assets worth 50 billion, another 20 billion on the account of Evelyn de Rothschild. According to the most daring unofficial estimates, the total amount of all family assets may be $ 1 trillion.

Nathan Rothschild defrauded the London Stock Exchange

After the Battle of Waterloo, Nathan Rothschild actually controlled all of England's finances. Earlier, he announced that the upcoming battle was not so hopeless, although all other financiers believed that this battle would only bring a loss and devastate the treasury. Nathan then went straight to the London Stock Exchange and sold all of his bonds to the British government. As if on cue, all the financiers did the same. As a result, the price of bonds fell to a minimum. The nosy businessman took advantage of this. He bought back from the government not only his own securities, but also the bonds of competitors, gaining even more power.

Everyone knows that history is made by the most influential people of their era, and often by entire families.

Each generation, brought up in the best traditions of such clans, multiplies the family fortune and increases their influence not only on a separate sector of the economy, but also on entire states. In their hands is power over the legal, political and financial systems, which gives them the opportunity to determine the development of peoples and all of humanity for decades to come.

For thousands of years, royal dynasties have fulfilled this role, taking advantage of their privileges. With the beginning of the scientific and technological revolution, people from the people, who previously did not have such a chance, were able to break into the "powerful of this world". They developed their projects, passing them on by inheritance, thus forming whole families of entrepreneurs.

Let's take a closer look at 5 of them.

5th place - the Walton family - a fortune of $ 100 billion

The descendants of one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the United States of the 20th century: Stephen, Jim, Christie and Alice Waltons - form another clan of the rich, which took 5th place in our ranking. Their combined fortune is estimated at nearly $ 100 billion.

Relatives own the largest supermarket chain Wal-Mart with an annual turnover of over $ 400 billion (2010).

The founder of Wal-Mart (Walton's Market) - Sam Walton was born in 1918 into a simple farming family. According to experts, the Great American Depression, which he witnessed, contributed to his entrepreneurial talent. It was the general decline of the population that pushed Sam to look for ways of development. From the age of 7, the boy took an active part in his father's business, helping to sell dairy products. Having saved up some money, he began to raise birds and rabbits himself for sale. “He knows how to make money out of thin air,” his school friends used to say about him.

It took Sam Walton 34 years to make his first billion. Prior to that, he organized a number of projects that did not bring him such fame, but made it possible to accumulate invaluable experience in entrepreneurship. Having bequeathed the Wal-Mart corporation to his 4 children after his death, he was not mistaken in choosing the heirs. They enthusiastically continued their father's work, bringing him to a new level.

By the way, the heiress of her husband Walton's billions at the moment is the richest woman in the world with a fortune of twenty-eight billion, and owns part of his network.

4th place - the Oppenheimer family - $ 200 billion

The family controls the lion's share of the diamond market worldwide.

Ernest Oppenheimer(Born 1880), a native of Germany, became the head of the De Beers diamond mining corporation in South Africa in 1920. There, under his leadership, Anglo American, the largest gold mining company at that time, was born. Oppenheimer did not stop there and decided to subjugate not only the extraction of precious metals and diamonds, but also to control their sales. Soon the world saw the Central Selling Organization (CSO), better known as the "Syndicate", which captured more than 90% of all diamond sales in the world.

Thus, De Beers extracted raw materials and delivered them to different countries of the world, where CSO got down to business, sorted and released finished products to the market.

After his father's death, Harry's son, Frederick Oppenheimer, inherited his syndicate and the presidency at De Beers.
In 2011 alone, the family quit the diamond business, selling its stake in De Beers for more than $ 5 billion. Now they are more interested in high technology and innovation. Most recently, the Oppenheimers bought a 10% stake in Yandex. The further plans of the clan representatives have not been reported.

3rd Place - Rockefeller Family - Annual Income - $ 1 Trillion

For more than a century, the Rockefeller surname has been associated with people all over the world with dazzling wealth and luxury. The history of this family goes back to the distant forties of the 19th century, when he was born John Rockefeller... From childhood, his distinguishing feature was the ability to calculate his actions several steps forward at once.

Having got a job as an assistant at the age of 16, he very quickly absorbed business skills, tenacity and the ability to quickly respond to market demands. And when an oil field was discovered in his city, the future tycoon invested all his savings in black gold, adding a solid loan to them.

He, unlike other businessmen of that time, was sure that the future was in long-term projects. If the business is not profitable now, this does not mean at all that it will not enrich the owner in the future. When he just started his journey into the world of petroleum products with the Standard Oil company, many were spinning at their temples, learning about his venture. But the future billionaire (moreover, the first in the world) clearly saw the success of the enterprise in the near future. Very soon (in 1879), Rockefeller's company controlled 90 percent of the oil market in America, dictating the rules of conduct in this sector of the economy.

And thanks to the preservation of family traditions, Rockefeller's descendants were able to multiply the family's fortune, reliably securing it in the ranking of the richest in the world.

Today the clan owns more than 40 American companies with total annual revenues of about $ 1 trillion (almost 10% of US GDP).

2nd place - the Morgan family - annual income - $ 1.5 trillion

One of the largest financial dynasties in the United States controls about 20% of the US GDP, producing a total of more than $ 1.5 trillion in goods and services. They own about a hundred American companies, including General Electric and General Motors, the world's largest electrical and auto concerns. Moreover, the activity of the latter is not limited to the production of only machines and engines for them, nuclear reactors, rocket engines and tanks are distributed from its factories all over the world.

The ancestor of the richest family in the world was John Pierpont Morgan, a talented American businessman who built the first financial empire in the United States.

He founded a number of industrial giants, including:

"Western Union"

American Telephone and Telegraph

General Electric

United States Steel Corporation, etc.

It is not for nothing that contemporaries called John Morgan Jupiter - in honor of the greatest of the great rulers of heaven. He worked with incredible dedication, and managed to pass it on to his heirs, who continued the business of one of the most prominent entrepreneurs in history.

1st place - the Rothschild clan - a fortune from 350 billion to 2.5 trillion dollars

The Rothschild family is considered the richest in the world. According to official sources, the total fortune of the dynasty exceeds US $ 350 billion. According to other sources, it exceeds $ 2.5 trillion.

But not only the fabulous state of the Rothschilds makes us pay attention to them. It also excites the imagination that in just some fifty years they, the Jewish emigrants, turned into the most influential lords and barons, in whose power the entire planet was. The founder of the dynasty was Amschel Mayer Rothschild, Born in 1744. At the age of 16, having worked for 4 years at Oppenheimer's bank, he mastered the intricacies of financial affairs, saved up money and opened his own antique shop. In it, it was possible to exchange the coins of some principalities in Germany for others. Later, the store grew into the first Rothschild bank.

Years passed, and when the 5 sons of Amschel grew up, he sent them to the largest capitals in the world to continue and expand the family business. This made it possible to spread the influence of the family not only outside Germany, but also in Europe. The Rothschild Bank distinguished itself by the fact that only family members could get a leadership position in it. Soon, this closed institution was able to issue loans not only to individuals, but also to entire states.

So, in 1818, Prussia received a loan of 5 million pounds from the Rothschilds, and a little later a branch of the bank in London allocated a lump sum to the National Bank of England. And in the New World, the influence of the Rothschilds can hardly be overestimated. They were one of the initiators of the creation of the US Federal Reserve System, and, after its creation, were able to control the volume of the issue of dollars. The incredible dexterity and resourcefulness with which the representatives of this family were able to accumulate wealth and gain unlimited influence in different countries, amaze experts and ordinary people to this day.

Although the total fortune of the clan is estimated at $ 350 billion (according to other sources, it comes to $ 2.5 trillion), not one of the Rothschilds has capital in excess of $ 1 billion.

This is how the list of the real, truly rich of the planet looks like, who, without exaggeration, control the world economy and the governments of many countries of the world. It is by their "call of the heart" that most wars on earth begin and end. They control hundreds of millions of lives on our land ...

Friends! Today we are opening a column about the outstanding dynasties of the planet. It is known that all significant events in the world over the centuries are carried out by influential people, and often entire families. And it is also known that generations that do not know the past are doomed to live without a future. We hope that our new rubric will be a good help for you in the study of such an important science as history.

Of course, we are aware that it is impossible to tell about all the dynasties at once, but as best we can, we will try to tell the most interesting facts about families that deserve special attention.

Medici

Clan Medici existed from the 13th to the 18th century. The descendants of this family were not only monarchs, but also bore the title of Popes. The climb of the Medici house was not so easy. This family was rich, but royal blood did not flow in their veins. In the 13th century, after a series of unsuccessful conspiracies and riots, this family was for a long time removed from political life. In the middle of the 15th century Cosimo Medici managed to return the clan back to power. Members of the Medici family often patronized many areas of the arts.

In particular, painting received special attention. It was from the filingMediciart in Florence began to develop actively, making the capital of the Florentine Republic a fashionable center for the arts. The Medici's approval opened the door for artists to all the royal houses of Europe. The proximity to the Vatican, as well as interdynastic marriages, allowed the familyMedicinot only have an extensive treasury, but also gain a significant influence on religious, cultural and political life.

Windsors

When talking about popular royal dynasties, most of us will think of the British royal family. The Windsor dynasty is one of the most popular and influential royal families of the 20th and 21st centuries.

The House of Windsor was established on July 17, 1917 by King George V, and this was done in order to get rid of their former German name for the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha dynasty.

Native sister Margaret was not the only representative of the vast Windsor clan who went all out in the second half of the 20th century. Members of the royal family who, unlike Elizabeth, were not so concerned about their responsibility to the nation, they went all out to the great joy of the yellow press.

The queen barely revived the most presumptuous relatives, demanding to save face. But in 1992, the situation seemed to be completely out of control. Immediately two of the four children of the queen divorced, and the heir to the throne Charles parted with the beloved English Diana Spencer, which received the unofficial title of "People's Princess". In the same year, Windsor Castle was burned down, and income tax was imposed on the queen, while at the same time funding for the royal family was reduced.

Elizabeth coped with this crisis, but five years later she was overtaken by a new one - in 1997 the princess died Diana... The Queen was accused of insensibility, although she was only trying to follow long-established norms. She managed to get out of the situation with honor this time too, but five years later another blow followed. In the jubilee year of the 50th anniversary of being on the throne Elizabeth survived the death of her mother and younger sister for several months.

Against the background of these tests, other scandals are a mere trifle. For example, grandson Harry"Pleased" my grandmother by appearing at the party in a German uniform with a swastika.

True, not so long ago, footage from the royal family's home archive surfaced, where she herself Elizabeth together with his mother in the 1930s, he gives a Nazi salute. At the time, the Windsor clan had some sympathy for Hitler, which then they tried to forget once and for all.

Rockefellers

For more than a century, the Rockefeller surname has been associated with people all over the world with dazzling wealth and luxury. The history of this family goes back to the distant forties of the 19th century, when he was born John Rockefeller... From childhood, his distinguishing feature was the ability to calculate his actions several steps forward at once.

Having got a job as an assistant at the age of 16, he very quickly absorbed business skills, tenacity and the ability to quickly respond to market demands. And when an oil field was discovered in his city, the future tycoon invested all his savings in black gold, adding a solid loan to them.

He, unlike other businessmen of that time, was sure that the future was in long-term projects. If the business is not profitable now, this does not mean at all that it will not enrich the owner in the future. When he just started his journey into the world of petroleum products with the Standard Oil company, many were spinning at their temples, learning about his venture. But the future billionaire (moreover, the first in the world) clearly saw the success of the enterprise in the near future. Very soon (in 1879), Rockefeller's company controlled 90 percent of the oil market in America, dictating the rules of conduct in this sector of the economy.

And thanks to the preservation of family traditions, the descendants Rockefeller managed to multiply the family's fortune, reliably securing it in the ranking of the richest in the world.Today the clan owns more than 40 American companies with total annual revenues of about $ 1 trillion (almost 10% of US GDP).

Rothschilds

Family Rothschild considered the richest in the world. According to official sources, the total fortune of the dynasty exceeds US $ 350 billion. According to other sources, it exceeds $ 2.5 trillion.

But not only the fabulous state of the Rothschilds makes us pay attention to them. It also excites the imagination that in just some fifty years they, the Jewish emigrants, turned into the most influential lords and barons, in whose power the entire planet was. The founder of the dynasty was Amschel Mayer Rothschild, Born in 1744. At the age of 16, having worked for 4 years at Oppenheimer's bank, he mastered the intricacies of financial affairs, saved up money and opened his own antique shop. In it, it was possible to exchange the coins of some principalities in Germany for others. Later, the shop grew into the first bank Rothschild.

Years passed, and when 5 sons Amschel grew up, he sent them to the largest capitals in the world to continue and expand the family business. This made it possible to spread the influence of the family not only outside Germany, but also in Europe. The Rothschild Bank distinguished itself by the fact that only family members could get a leadership position in it. Soon, this closed institution was able to issue loans not only to individuals, but also to entire states.

So, in 1818, Prussia received a loan of 5 million pounds from the Rothschilds, and a little later a branch of the bank in London allocated a lump sum to the National Bank of England. And in the New World, the influence of the Rothschilds can hardly be overestimated. They were one of the initiators of the creation of the US Federal Reserve System, and, after its creation, were able to control the volume of the issue of dollars. The incredible dexterity and resourcefulness with which the representatives of this family were able to accumulate wealth and gain unlimited influence in different countries, amaze experts and ordinary people to this day.

Although the total fortune of the clan is estimated at $ 350 billion (according to other sources, it comes to $ 2.5 trillion), not one of the Rothschilds has capital in excess of $ 1 billion.

Bushes

Even before becoming famous presidents of all America and starting to choke on bagels, the Bush family supported the Nazis during World War II.

George W. Bush's grandfather, Senator Prescott Bush, was the head of the United Banking Corporation. True, her assets were arrested in 1942 for "trade with the enemy." Until that moment, the OBK represented in the States the interests of Fritz Thyssen, the steel and coal baron who sponsored the election campaign of Adolf Hitler in the 30s.

And, although grandfather Bush himself never expressed his sympathy for the Nazis aloud, he was, of course, well aware of the affairs that the OBK is conducting with Nazi Germany and its individual personalities. There is even a theory that Prescott Bush and several other very influential characters wanted to surrender the United States to Adik.