The Wealthiest American Dynasties, Ranked

In 1876, Adolphus Busch brewed a bold vision into reality with Budweiser, a crisp Bohemian-style lager that forever changed the American beer landscape. His innovative techniques, including pasteurization and refrigerated railcars, helped the brand reach nationwide fame.

That pioneering spirit lives on in Anheuser-Busch InBev, a brewing titan valued at $52 billion in 2008, now one of the world’s largest beverage companies. The Busch family, whose name still echoes in beer halls and boardrooms, has amassed a $13.4 billion fortune.