Born rich: The world's 25 wealthiest families who control $1.1 trillion in inherited money- and 11 American clans made the list

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Inheriting massive wealth is a rare privilege, but some families have managed to establish fortunes that span multiple generations.

Indeed, 25 families have amassed $1.1 trillion of the world's wealth, often with grandchildren and great-grandchildren still reaping the rewards of their industrious forefathers.

Major multi-generational inheritances have been spawned by the oil, fashion and newspaper industries, as well as retail giants, automakers and candy companies, among others - and 11 American companies made the list for generating the world's biggest family fortunes, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

1. Walton Family, Walmart: $151.5 billion 

(L-R) Doug McMillon, Walmart president and CEO, Rob Walton, Walmart retired chairman of board, and Walmart board member Steuart Walton listen at the Walmart annual formal business and shareholders meeting on May 30, 2018 in Rogers, Arkansas

Sam Walton founded what would become Walmart – the source of the world's biggest family fortune - when he bought his first retail store in 1945.

Upon his death in 1992 his eldest son Rob became chairman of the company, based in Arkansas. 

 Walmart has grown to become the world's largest retailer and has an annual $500 billion in sales through its 12,000 stores around the globe. 

Stuart Walton remains on the company's board.

2. Koch Family, Koch Industries: $98.7 billion  

Charles Koch speaks in his offices in Wichita, Kansas, in May 2012. The Koch family is second on the list of families who control the most inherited wealth in the world

Fred Koch co-founded the Wood River Oil and Refining Company in 1940. 

The industrial firm was inherited by his four sons - Frederick, Charles, David and William - on his death and led to feuding between the siblings over its control in the early 1980s. 

Frederick and William later left the company, leaving Charles and David in control. 

The brothers built the Wichita, Kansas-based company into Koch Industries, a conglomerate with revenues of roughly $100 billion a year. 

This month David Koch, 78, announced he was stepping down from the family business for health reasons.   

3. Mars Family, Mars: $89.7 billion  

The billionaire Mars family are notoriously private and are rarely photographed in public. One of the few exceptions is Victoria B. Mars, 52, pictured left, former chairman of the company

Victoria B. Mars, centre, whose family own the confectionery giant, opens a new pet food production line at a Mars factory in Russia in 2016

The Mars empire was born when Frank Mars, born in 1883, learned to hand-dip chocolates as a child.

The confectionery company is best-known for its popular chocolate treats including M&Ms, Milky Way and the Mars bar.

It has also branched out to other industries and pet care products now make up almost half of the $35 billion in revenue the company generates each year. 

The Mars family, who are notoriously private and are rarely photographed in public, own the entire company, which is based in McLean, Virginia.

4. Van Damme, De Spoelberch and De Mevius Families, Anheuser-Busch Inbev: $54.1 billion  

Anheuser-Busch Inbev, the world's largest brewer, is controlled by three Belgian families: the Van Dammes, the De Spoelberchs and the De Meviuses. 

As of 2015 the they owned a combined 28.6 per cent of the multi-national firm. 

De Spoelberch and De Mevius were already in working together when the Van Damme joined the partnership in 1987 after Piedboeuf and Artois merged, leading to the creation of Interbrew – which went on to merge with Brazil's AmBev in 2004.  

Brands in its portfolio include Budweiser, Corona, Stella Artois, Beck's and Leffe. 

5. Dumas Family, Hermes: $49.2 billion  

CEO of Hermes Axel Dumas attends a Hermes boutique opening in October 2016 in Rome, Italy

Hermes was established in Paris in 1837 when Thierry Hermes began making riding gear for noblemen. 

His grandsons, Emile Maurice Hermes and Adolphe Hermes, took over as joint presidents of the luxury goods company in 1902. 

Emile's grandson Jean-Louis Dumas is credited with growing Hermes into the global luxury powerhouse it is today.

Jean-Louis retired as the chairman and artistic director of Hermès in January 2006 due to declining health. His son, Pierre-Alexis Dumas, is now artistic director. 

His nephew, Axel Dumas, 47, is the company's current CEO.  

6. Wertheimer Family, Chanel: $45.6 billion 

The House of Chanel is now co-owned by Alain, 70, left, and Gerard Wertheimer, 67. It had an annual revenue of $9.6 billion in 2017

In 1924 Pierre Wertheimer, left, sealed the fate of his family's financial future when he negotiated a deal with fashion mogul Coco Chanel to split her brand's fragrance arm into a separate corporate entity, Parfums Chanel. He was also a celebrated racehorse owner

Pierre Wertheimer bought Parfums Chanel from fashion mogul Coco Chanel, pictured in 1937

The Wertheimer fragrance and beauty fortune was established when French entrepreneur Ernest Wertheimer relocated from Alsace to Paris in 1870 and bought into the theatrical make-up company, Bourjois. 

By 1920, Bourjois had become the largest and most successful cosmetic and fragrance company in France and boasted corporate holdings in the US. 

Maintaining Bourjois as a family business, Ernest's sons Pierre and Paul Wertheimer took over the directorship of the company in 1917.

In 1924 Pierre Wertheimer sealed the fate of his family's financial future when he negotiated a deal with fashion mogul Coco Chanel to split her brand's fragrance arm into a separate corporate entity, Parfums Chanel.

Control passed to Pierre's son Jacques - whom Coco Chanel called 'the kid' - upon his death. After a period of time, Jacques Wertheimer bought the controlling interest of the House of Chanel, encompassing the brand's celebrated fashion arm. 

The House of Chanel is now co-owned by Jacques' sons Alain, 70, and Gerard, 67. It had an annual revenue of $9.6 billion in 2017. 

The family is also known for their stable of champion racehorses.  

7. Ambani Family, Reliance Industries: $43.4 billion 

Dhirubhai Ambani set out in 1957 to build the industrial company that later would become Reliance Industries, based in Mumbai, India. 

His death in 2002 led to friction between his sons, Mukesh and Anil, as he didn't leave a will. 

His widow eventually brokered an agreement between her sons for how the family fortune would be controlled. 

Mukesh was named chairman of the world's largest oil refining complex in 2002. His home is a 27-story mansion that has been referred to as the most expensive private residence in the world.

8. Quandt Family, BMW: $42.7 billion 

Johanna Quandt, the widow of Herbert Quandt, who is credited with turning around BMW's fortunes. Johanna's children, Stefane and Susanne, are major shareholders in the company

BMW was struggling when Herbert Quandt inherited the automotive business in 1954. 

He helped turn the company around, making it one of the world's most-respected makers of luxury vehicles. 

Upon his death in 1982 his widow, Johanna, a major shareholder in BMW and sat on its supervisory board from 1982 until she retired in 1997.

He later increased the family's holdings in Munich-based company to 50 percent.

Their two children, Stefane and Susanne, are now substantial shareholders in BMW and now sit on the supervisory board of the company.

9. Cargill and MacMillan Families, Cargill: $42.3 billion 

William W. Cargill founded Cargill, a food agriculture and industrial company, in 1865 with one grain storage warehouse in Conover, Iowa.

A year later William was joined by his brother Sam, forming W. W. Cargill and Brother. Together, they built grain flat houses and opened a lumberyard. In 1875, Cargill moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin, and their brother James joined the business.

The family eventually joined with another prominent family, the MacMillans.

The company, which is now based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is still owned by descendants of the MacMillans.  

It is the largest privately held corporation in the United States in terms of revenue. 

10. Boehringer and von Baumbach Families: $42.2 billion 

Hubertus von Baumbach, Chief Financel Officer for Boehringer Ingelheim, a German pharmaceutical company worth $42.2 billion

Albert Boehringer founded Boehringer Ingelheim drug company in Germany in 1885 after buying a small tartar factory. 

The family, which encompasses the von Baumbachs, still control the company. Hubertus von Baumbach is the chairman of the business, based in Ingelheim, Germany.

11. Albrecht Family, Aldi: $38.8 billion 

Karl Albrecht, co-founder of Aldi

The Albrecht family opened a grocery store in Essen, Germany in 1913 that would later evolve into Aldi, based in Essen and Mullheim, Germany. 

Sons Theo and Karl Albrecht took it over after they returned from World War II and forged Aldi, a national chain low-cost supermarkets. 

The brothers had a dispute about the business's direction in the 1960s and split it into two branches – Aldi Nord and Aldi Sud. 

Altogether they have more than 10,000 stores. Theo's side of the family bought Trader Joe's in 1979.

12. Mulliez Family, Auchan: $37.5 billion 

Gerard Mulliez was born in 1931 to a family that owned a clothing company. He went on to found the Auchan supermarket chain in 1961. 

Known as 'France's Walmart,' Lille, France-based Auchan has spread across Europe to become one of the continent's largest chains. 

The family's holding company, Association Familiale Mulliez, still controls a mix of retail businesses, including home improvement chain.

13. Kwok Family, Sun Hung Kai Properties: $34 billion 

Founder Kwok Tak-seng was a grocery wholesaler when he incorporated real estate company Sun Hung Kai Properties in 1972. The business is now among Hong Kong's largest property developers, raking In a fortune for Kwok's descendants. His sons, Walter, Thomas and Raymond, took over the company when Kwok died in 1990. Walter was ousted as chairman in 2008.

Jim Kennedy, Chairman of Cox Enterprises, at Cox Enterprises in Atlanta on Wednesday, April 30, 2014. The Cox family still controls shares of Cox Enterprises, which is worth $33.6 billion

14. Cox Family, Cox Enterprises: $33.6 billion 

Cox Enterprises was established in 1898 when founder James M. Cox bought his first newspaper. His son, Jim Cox, Jr. took over the communications and automotive company when he died in 1957. 

The founder's grandson, Jim Kennedy, became chairman and CEO in 1988. The Cox family still controls Cox Enterprises, which has evolved into a conglomerate with about $20 billion in annual revenue. 

Its communications division is the third-largest cable company in the country. James M. Cox's descendants, including Kennedy, remain shareholders of the Atlanta, Georgia-based business.

15. Pritzker Family, Hyatt Hotels: $33.5 billion 

A.N. Pritzker grew up the son of a Ukrainian immigrant in America. He began investing in real estate and other businesses in 1936 while working for his father's law firm. 

Those investments yielded profits that established the family as one of the country's oldest dynasties – and led to the creation of Chicago, Illinois-based Hyatt Hotels by his grandsons Jay and Donald Pritzker in 1957. 

The family has been politically active, with Penny Pritzker serving as U.S. Commerce secretary under former President Barack Obama, while her brother, J.B. Pritzker, is making a bid for Illinois governor.

16. Lee Family, Samsung: $30.9 billion 

Lee Byung-chull founded Samsung in Seoul, Korea, as a trading company in 1938. The firm is now a leading producer of smartphones, electronics and home appliances. 

His son, Lee Kun-hee was named the chairman of the company in 1987 and retains that role. Lee Kun-hee's grandson, Jay Y. Lee was released from prison in February after facing bribery charges.

17. Rausing Family, Tetra Pak: $30.9 billion  

Ruben Rausing pioneered the Tetra Pak, a long-life drinks carton, in London in the 1950s. Descendants of his son, Gad, now control all of Tetra Laval, one of the largest packaging companies on the plant. 

His other son, Hans, sold his stake in the business to Gad Rausing in 1995. Hans went on to invest in eco-friendly packaging and equities.

18. Thomson Family, Thomson Reuters: $30.9 billion  

The Thomsons are Canada's richest family, thanks to the efforts of Roy Thomson. He opened an Ontario radio station in the early 1930s. 

He bought his first newspaper, the Timmins Press in 1934 and within five years became the country's top newspaper owner. Thomson acquired Reuters news service in 2008. 

The family still owns a 64 percent stake in Thomson Reuters, a news, financial data and services provider.

19. Johnson Family, SC Johnson: $28.2 billion

H. Fisk Johnson, pictured in March, is the current chairman of SC Johnson

Samuel C. Johnson founded SC Johnson, which evolved out of an early business selling flooring in the 1880s. 

Five generations of the Johnson family have established the Racine, Wisconsin-based company as a household name in home products. Herbert F Johnson Jr. inherited the company in 1928 at the age of 28. 

Samuel C. Johnson (the founder's great-grandson) became product director in 1955. The company's current chairman and CEO is H. Fisk Johnson.

20. Dassault Family, Dassault Group: $27.8 billion 

The French-based Dassault Group is an umbrella for a group of companies spanning the aviation, aerospace and software industries.

The group was founded with the creation of Dassault Aviation by Marcel Dassault in 1929. 

Marcel, born Marcel Bloch, was a Jewish aviation legend who was captured by the Nazis during World War II and sent to Buchenwald concentration camp. 

He later changed his name to Dassault, meaning 'assault tank,' in honor of his brother's pseudonym during the war. 

His son, Serge Dassault took over the Paris-based company in 1986 after his father died. Serge Dassault died last month.

Serge's son Olivier Dassault is a French politician, currently serving as a deputy in the French National Assembly.

21. Duncan Family, Enterprise Products Partners: $26 billion 

Dan L. Duncan started Enterprise Products Partners, a Houston, Texas-based gas and oil company, in 1968 with $10,000. While much of the family died of illness before Duncan was 188 - his mother died of tuberculosis, his brother died of blood poisoning and his father succumbed to Leukemia – the company remains under family control. Duncan died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage in 2010.

22. Hoffman and Oeri Families, Roche: $25.1 billion 

Fritz Hoffmann-La Roche founded Roche Holding in 1896, at the age of 28. The Basel, Switzerland-based pharmaceutical company had a series of blockbuster cancer drugs that have led to $54.1 billion in revenues in 2017. 

Hoffmann-La Roche's descendants still control a 9 percent stake in the company. Andre Hoffmann is the fourth generation to have a leadership role with Roche (he joined the board in 1996), and he founded and chairs the multi-family office of Massellaz SA.

23. Hearst Family, Hearst Corporation: $24.5 billion 

Lydia Hearst is a model and one of the heirs to the Hearst family fortune

Hearst Corporation was born when William Randolph Hearst took control of the San Francisco Examiner from his father in 1887, shortly after being expelled from Harvard University. Hearst ultimately steered the New York City-based media company to huge success. 

In addition to being one of the world's largest publishers of monthly magazines, the company's assets include more than a dozen newspapers and shares in television networks A&E and ESPN. The company also owns Fitch Ratings, a credit ratings firm. 

The Hearst family has spawned a number of well-known socialites, including model and actress Lydia Hearst and her mother Patty Hearst, who was famously kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army for 19 months.

24. Lauder Family, Estee Lauder: $24.3 billion 

Estee Lauder's grandson, William Lauder, became chairman of the company in 2009 after expanding its international profile. Pictured, William with partner Lori Kanter Tritsch

Aerin Lauder is the style and image director of Estee Lauder, a company founded by her grandmother 

Estee Lauder founded her eponymous, New York City-based company with her husband, Joseph, in 1946. 

The Queens native started with skincare products, eventually expanding to cosmetics and fragrances. Her first major order – for $800 from Saks Fifth Avenue – was placed in 1947. 

The company sells $12 billion in products annually. Estee Lauder's grandson, William Lauder, became chairman of the company in 2009 after expanding its international profile. 

25. Ferrero Family, Ferrero: $22.9 billion 

Giovanni Ferrero, whose father, Pietro, founded Ferrero in 1946, took over the company in 2011

The Ferrero company's inception was in 1946 during World War II, when Pietro Ferrero created a sweet paste from hazelnuts, sugar and cocoa in the small town of Alba, Italy. The first jar of Nutella was produced in 1964. 

The product went on to become internationally popular. Pietro Ferrero's son, Giovanni, took over the Alba, Italy-based company in 2011.