The Walton family, owners of Walmart, is the richest family behind an American brand in October 2026, with about $421 billion in Walmart shares. The old version of this article was a 2014 ranking of ten families including Mars, Hearst and S.C. Johnson. Several of those are private, so this version values the four that we can tie to a listed company’s share price.
| Rank | Family | Brand | Fortune |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Walton family | Walmart | about $421 billion |
| 2 | The Shoen family | U-Haul | about $5.3 billion |
| 3 | The Fisher family | Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic | about $2.4 billion |
| 4 | The Dorrance family | Campbell’s | about $1.9 billion |
1. The Walton family: about $421 billion (Walmart)
The Waltons own 3.52 billion Walmart shares, or 44.11 percent of the company, through Walton Enterprises and the family holdings trust, according to the April 2026 proxy statement. Divided among the four branches of Sam Walton’s heirs, that is roughly $105 billion each.
3.52 billion shares times the $119.89 price on 23 October 2026.
2. The Shoen family: about $5.3 billion (U-Haul)
Sam Shoen founded U-Haul’s parent in 1945 and divided stock among 13 children from four marriages. The family owns about 55 percent of the company, directly and indirectly, according to our reading of company history.
55 percent of the $9.72 billion market value on 23 October 2026.
3. The Fisher family: about $2.4 billion (Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic)
Gap was founded in 1969 by Donald and Doris Fisher. Their sons William and Robert each owned about 15 percent as of the figures we found.
30 percent of the $7.84 billion market value on 23 October 2026, a stake figure that may have changed.
4. The Dorrance family: about $1.9 billion (Campbell’s)
John T. Dorrance joined Campbell in 1897 on $7.50 a week and went on to invent condensed soup. The family is reported to remain a major shareholder.
We assume a 30 percent stake in the $6.18 billion company, our estimate.
Special mentions
The Mars family owns Mars, Incorporated outright, a company with about $45 billion in revenue according to company history, but there is no share price. The S.C. Johnson family owns S. C. Johnson & Son, which had estimated sales of $10 billion in 2017. The Hearst family owns Hearst Communications. The France family controlled NASCAR, and in 2019 NASCAR acquired the International Speedway Corporation; before that, the heirs owned about 35 percent of ISC. The Busch family no longer controls Anheuser-Busch, which is part of AB InBev.
FAQ
Which family is the richest in America?
The Waltons, with about $421 billion in Walmart shares at the 23 October 2026 price.
Is the Mars family richer than the Waltons?
No. Mars is a private company with revenue of about $45 billion, a fraction of Walmart’s value. We cannot compute a Mars fortune from a share price.
Why does the list have only four families?
Only four could be tied to a listed company. Private families are in special mentions.
Who was left out of the old list?
The Johnson and Johnson heirs, the Busch family, the France family and others no longer have a simple stake to value.
How are these fortunes calculated?
Stake times the closing market value on 23 October 2026. Where a stake is assumed, the text says so.
How we estimate net worth
Our estimates are based on public reporting, company valuations, and deal and earnings figures all compiled in an internal valuation model. They are approximate, and figures change over time as new information emerges.
For this list the inputs were market values on 23 October 2026, the April 2026 Walmart proxy and family stakes from company histories where available.
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Last updated: October 2026.
