The Wealthiest American Dynasties, Ranked

The Rockefeller name is practically synonymous with American wealth and industrial might. In 1870, John D. Rockefeller founded Standard Oil, quickly amassing an unprecedented fortune and earning the title of America’s first billionaire.

Even after the 1911 Supreme Court ordered Standard Oil’s breakup under antitrust laws, the family’s wealth multiplied as its pieces flourished independently. Over the generations, the Rockefellers have remained prominent in finance, philanthropy, and politics. Today, their fortune, spread among 174 heirs, is estimated at $11 billion.