10 Most Powerful Families in the World

Rules are not the same for these 10 most powerful families in the world, as they have a potential to make a huge difference with just a shake of their heads. Talking about power, it doesn’t necessarily come with the money. Although money plays a critical role in determining their true powers, but their influence on people and ability to make quick decisions are far more significant than their financial status.

A person can be powerful by means of his personality, ability to control minds and resources, and his attitude. The powerful families included in this list may or may not have a high amount of wealth. They may not even own the most powerful passports in the world to access anywhere, but when they decide to go somewhere or get something, no one can stop them from doing so.

While compiling this list of most powerful families of the world, Insider Monkey considered a few more things than just their net worth. In fact, net worth cannot justify their ability to control the world.

The most important factor in determining their power is the number of businesses they invested in, and the nature of those businesses. The next best thing to consider regarding these families, is their importance in the regions they live, and the privileges they enjoy. The impact of their decisions on the world is also worthy factor, followed by their contribution towards the betterment of society. Finally, we considered their net worth.

Let’s find out who are the 10 most powerful families in the world.

10. The Oppenheimers

Oppenheimer family has been in control of significant stake in the world’s top companies possessing a large share of all the minerals of the world. The family owned brands like De Beers and Anglo that still dominate the diamond, platinum and gold industries of the world. With most of the shares sold in De Beers, the family is more focused in giving success opportunities to the local investors in their native country.

9. The Ruperts

Moving up the list of the world’s most powerful families, Rupert family cannot be ignored by any means. The family owns luxury tobacco brands like Dunhill, Monte Blanc and Cartier under Richemont banner. They also have share wine business with the mighty Rothschilds. Moreover, the family has been controlling an investment group known as Remgro. The wine and brandy business has been the trademark of Rupert family as it controls 1/5^th of the wine market and 80% of aggregate brandy sales in South Africa. They also control a chain of private hospitals.

8. The Rockefellers

Who would dare to exclude Rockefellers from the list of 10 most powerful families in the world? The family used to rule the oil business throughout the 19^th century, before the antitrust law had broken their monopoly in the trade. The family still holds power in the form of JP Morgan Chase, a well-renowned financial institution.

7. The Arnaults

Bernard Arnault is regarded as the most powerful figures in France and owns LVMH. He, with his two children Antoine and Delphine, owns 60 luxury brands including Fendi, Sephora, Bulgari and Dom Perigon. He currently ranks 13^th in world’s richest people of 2015, complied by Forbes.

6. The Koch Family

The Koch family is currently the second richest family of the United States with the net worth of $86 billion. Koch industries is the second largest family owned business with annual sales of more than $100 billion.

5. Carlos Slim Helu and Family

They own multinationals like America Movil, Grupo Carso and Grupo Finenciero Inbursa. Carlos Slim Helu secures the second spot in the World’s richest people of 2015 with the net worth of 77.2 billion. On the basis of the resources they have and the reach of their telecom business, Helu and his sons can control anyone.

4. The Gates

Bill and Melinda Gates may be missing the glitz and glamour that are attributed to powerful families, yet their actions speak louder than appearances. It would be unfair not to include the world’s richest man and his family in this list, who’s charity work, besides the billion dollar company, speaks for itself.

3. The Bush

No one can deny the influence this family has in the U.S. politics. They have every reason to make you believe they’ve been America’s most powerful family for nearly 60 years, with two presidents, two senators, and governors. Their decisions have made historical changes in the world.

2. The Waltons

The family owned business, Wal-Mart is regarded as the largest in the world with more than $400 billion annual revenues. The family has a combined net worth of $144 billion. The wealth and the resources this family has, can make anyone surrender.

1. The Rothschilds

For centuries, this family has been ruling the world with power and influence. Rothschild family is still known to control world’s major central banks. The Rothschild Group is working in more than 40 countries offering financial advisory services. Besides, the family controls multinationals like RIO Tinto, Glencore and RIT Capital. While their financial worth is beyond counting, that’s enough to show how powerful they are. Rothschilds are also believed to have connections with secret organization called NWO.

So, if you were thinking money was the only way to become powerful, this list of 10 most powerful families in the world must have changed your perception.