Walmart’s Waltons took the top spot, $432.4 billion in wealth–surpassing even the world’s richest human, Elon Musk, his fortune, and Middle East royal families. From India, the Ambani and Mistry families of Shapoorji Pallonji took eighth and 23rd places, respectively.
In so doing, the Waltons returned to the number one spot on the Bloomberg richest families index on the strength of Walmart shares, which have jumped 80 percent this year as of December 10 and added $172.7 billion to the combined family fortune. According to the publication, the increase in wealth was about $473.2 million a day or $328,577 a minute.
The report reflects just how much the world’s billionaires added up to $406.5 billion in combined wealth.
Top 5 — Richest Families in the World 2024
- The Waltons of Walmart: $432.4 billion from their 46 percent stake in the consumer retail business. Now, this family has three generations in the United States. Walmart operates over 10,600 stores across the globe.
- The Al Nahyan family: The ruling family of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) worth $323.9 billion and three generations grabbed the 2nd spot on this year’s list. The family has reigned over the oil-rich region for decades. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, is also the country’s president. Companies linked to the royal family account for more than 65 percent of the Abu Dhabi benchmark stock index, Bloomberg reported.
- Al Thani family: Worth $172.9 billion, Qatar’s royal family, the Al Thanis, takes third place. The family line spans eight generations and survived through both the Ottoman and the British empires. Its wealth comes from huge gas and oil reserves off its shores.
- The Hermès family: At the fourth spot, probably the most famous family that owns French luxury goods business, which comprises six generations of over 100 members, with a net worth of $170.6 billion. Family members with significant roles at the firm include executive chairman Axel Dumas and artistic director Pierre-Alexis Dumas.
- The Koch family: The Kochs in the US have a total net worth of $148.5 billion and three generations of oil interests.
Bloomberg World’s Richest Families 2024 List (Indians)
Ambanis: The three-generation-old frontrunner from India made this year to the top 10 of the list with family wealth worth $99.6 billion on the eighth spot. Most of their fortunes come from the rapidly expanding Reliance Industries conglomerate.
Mistrys — Considered as the sixth generation of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, the Mistrys collectively own $41.4 billion. They come in at No. 23 on the list this year.
Ranked 15 — 2024 World’s Wealthiest Families
- Waltons
- Al Nahyan
- Al Thani
- Hermès
- Koch
- Al Saud (Saudi royal family $140 billion)
- Mars (Value: $1338 billion, Chocolate maker US-based)
- Ambanis
- Wertheimer (French family, owns Chanel, $88 billion)
- Thomson (Thomson Reuters; media moguls worth $87.1 billion)
- Johnson (Fidelity Investments, $72.4 billion net worth)
- Albrecht (Aldi, net worth $60.2 billion)
- Pritzker (Net worth $59.4 billion, diversified U.S. businesses)
- Cargill, MacMillan (Net worth: $56 billion)
- Ofer (Wealth $55.6 billion)
The numbers, which exclude first-generation wealth and fortunes that go solely to a single heir, are as of Dec. 5, 2024, according to Bloomberg. Excluded too are those whose source of wealth was murky.
