These Are the Richest People in American History Before 1990

Samuel Irving and Donald Newhouse

Samuel Irving Newhouse Jr. was an American businessman. He was the son of Samuel Irving Newhouse Sr., the founder of Advance Publications, a media conglomerate. Along with his brother, Donald Newhouse, Samuel inherited a significant portion of Advance Publications and became one of the richest individuals in the world. The Irving brothers were involved in a variety of ventures, including magazines, newspapers, and cable television. He was a major donor to a number of organizations and institutions. Samuel Irving Newhouse Jr. passed away in 2017, but his legacy lives on through his family. Samuel Irving has an estimated net worth of $12 billion, while Donald Newhouse has $10.7 billion.

Jay Arthur and Robert Alan Pritzker

Jay Arthur Pritzker and Robert Alan Pritzker are American businessmen. They are part of the Pritzker family, one of the richest and most influential families in the United States. Jay Arthur Pritzker is a co-founder of TransUnion, a consumer credit reporting agency. Robert Alan Pritzker, on the other hand, is the former chairman and CEO of Marmon Group, a conglomerate of manufacturing and service companies. They are major donors to a number of organizations and institutions, including the Pritzker Foundation, the Pritzker Family Children’s Foundation, and the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago. According to Forbes, the family was worth $15 billion.

The Walton Family

Earlier on this list, we already talked about Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart. His children ended up inheriting part of the Walmart empire, and becoming some of the richest people in the world. His children are Robson Walton, John T. Walton, Jim C. Walton, and Alice Walton. Rob served as the chairman of Walmart from 1992 to 2015. John was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and served as a Green Beret in the Vietnam War. After his military service, he became an accomplished businessman. Jim is the chairman and CEO of Arvest Bank Group. Alice is known for her passion for art and for building one of the largest and most significant art collections in the world. The siblings split up the $23 billion when their father died, and there is no telling how much they are worth now.

Bill Gates

William Henry Gates III, also known as Bill Gates, is an American software developer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He co-founded Microsoft Corporation in 1975 with Paul Allen and played a key role in the development of personal computing. Under Gates’ leadership, Microsoft became one of the largest and most successful software companies in the world. It produces popular products such as the Windows operating system, Microsoft Office, and Internet Explorer. In addition to his business success, he and his ex wife, Melinda Gates, co-chair the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation supports initiatives in global health, education, and poverty alleviation, among other areas. His net worth is currently $106.2 billion.

Henry Ross Perot

Henry Ross Perot was an American business magnate and politician. He was born in 1930 and passed away in 2019. Perot was the founder of Electronic Data Systems (EDS) and Perot Systems, two successful technology companies. In 1992, Perot ran for President of the United States, and received 18.9% of the popular vote. He ran again in 1996 as the candidate of the Reform Party, but did not perform as well. Despite not winning the presidency, Perot’s campaigns were notable for their focus on issues such as the federal budget deficit, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and U.S. military involvement overseas. He had an estimated net worth of $3.8 billion.

Alfred Taubman

A. Alfred Taubman was an American real estate developer. He was born in 1924 and passed away in 2015. Taubman developed several large and successful shopping centers, including the Beverly Center in Los Angeles and the Mall at Short Hills in New Jersey. He was a generous donor to several institutions, including the University of Michigan, where he established the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute. He was also a strong supporter of the arts, and served as chairman of the board of trustees of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Taubman has an estimated net worth of just over $3 billion.

Ted Arison

Ted Arison was an Israeli-American entrepreneur. He was born in 1924 in Palestine and passed away in 1999. Arison was the founder of Carnival Cruise Lines and was one of the pioneers of the modern cruise industry. He also founded the Miami Heat basketball team and was a co-founder of the National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise. He was a co-founder of the Birthright Israel program, which provides young Jews with a free ten-day trip to Israel. According to Forbes, Ted Arison had a net worth of $5.6 billion.

Sumner Murray Redstone

Sumner Murray Redstone was an American media magnate. He was born in 1923 and passed away in 2020. Redstone was the majority owner of National Amusements, a company that controlled several media and entertainment companies, including Viacom and CBS Corporation. Redstone was known for his strong personality and his hands-on approach to managing his media empire. He was a fierce advocate for the value of content in the media industry, and was an early investor in companies such as MTV and VH1. Under his leadership, Viacom became one of the largest media companies in the world. Its portfolio included popular cable networks, movie studios, and theme parks. He had an estimated $2.6 billion when he died.

Charles and David Koch

Charles and David Koch are American businessmen. The brothers are the co-owners of Koch Industries, one of the largest privately-held companies in the world. It has interests in a wide range of industries, including energy, chemicals, and consumer goods. They are strong advocates for free-market economics and limited government, and have supported various organizations and political campaigns that align with their views. The Koch brothers have been the subject of significant controversy, with some accusing them of using their wealth and influence to advance their political agenda. Despite this, they have been highly successful in business, and are among the richest individuals in the world. According to Forbes, had an estimated net worth of $68 billion.

Edgar Miles Bronfman

Edgar Miles Bronfman was a Canadian-American businessman. He was born in 1929 and passed away in 2013. Bronfman’s role as the former CEO of Seagram Company Ltd, a multinational conglomerate involved in the production of alcohol. So the next time you have a gin and tonic, you might want to thank Edgar Bronfman. He led the company from 1971 to 1994, during which time it became one of the largest and most successful companies in the world. He was the president of the World Jewish Congress from 1979 to 2007, and was a strong advocate for the Jewish community and the State of Israel. At the time of his death, Bronfman was worth $2.5 billion.

Charles F. Feeney

Charles F. Feeney is the founder of The Atlantic Philanthropies, a private foundation that has made significant contributions to a variety of causes. He is also the co-founder of Duty Free Shoppers (DFS), a company that pioneered the duty-free shopping concept. That might sound familiar, because Duty Free is placed in airports around the world. It became one of the largest luxury goods retailers in the world. Feeney is a strong advocate for giving while living, and has been a vocal supporter of the idea that wealthy individuals have a responsibility to use their resources to make a positive impact on the world. There is not an exact number of what he is worth, but we do know that he is a billionaire.

Leslie Herbert Wexner

Leslie Herbert Wexner is an American businessman. He is best known for being the founder and CEO of L Brands, a retail company that operates several well-known brands including Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, and Pink. Millions of women across America have no idea that all of their staples exist because of an old white man. Many people widely regard Wexner as one of the most successful retailers in the world, and credit him with revolutionizing the lingerie and beauty industries. Under his leadership, L Brands has become a multinational corporation with a strong global presence, and has become one of the largest employers in the retail sector. He is worth $6 billion.

Forrest Edward Mars Sr.

Forrest Edward Mars Sr. was an American businessman. The name Mars might sound familiar, because they are the creators of M&M’s. He was born in 1904 and passed away in 1999. People know Mars best as the co-founder of Mars Inc., which is one of the largest and most successful candy companies in the world. The company is known for producing a wide range of well-known brands, including M&M’s, Snickers, and Skittles. They also own pet food brands, including Pedigree and Whiskas. Mars was a highly successful businessman. He was a strong believer in the importance of quality and customer satisfaction, and these values are still central to the company today. Forrest’s children, Jackie and John, went on to becoming some of the wealthiest people in the United States after they inherited their share of Mars Inc. When he died, he was worth $4 billion.

How did we find this stuff? Here are our sources:

List of the Richest Americans in History. Wikipedia.

From Rockefeller to Ford, See Forbes’ 1918 Ranking Of The Richest People In America. Forbes.

How the Waltons — America’s wealthiest family and heirs to the Walmart empire — live their lives. Business Insider. 2023.