The Walton Family — $260 Billion (Walmart)

The Walton family controls $260 billion—more than the GDP of Portugal—built from Sam Walton's single Walmart in Rogers, Arkansas, 1962. Today, Rob, Jim, and Alice Walton own roughly 50% of Walmart shares, and the company employs 2.1 million people globally, making it the largest private employer on Earth. Alice Walton used $1.2 billion to build the Crystal Bridges Museum, and the family foundation distributes $600 million annually. However, this generosity draws criticism: Walmart pays such low wages that many workers rely on food stamps—a cost ultimately subsidized by taxpayers.