The Knight Family – $33.8B
As the story goes, self-made billionaire and Nike founder Phil Knight once asked his father, who ran a local newspaper, if he could get a summer job there but was told he’d learn more finding his own way. The hardcore parenting definitely paid off, with Knight quickly finding his way into sports, the U.S. Army, and then, Japanese shoes. These had provided the kernels which eventually led to his sportswear company, Nike. In 2004, Knight’s son Matthew died from a sudden heart condition while on a scuba diving trip, and his death impacted Knight deeply, which eventually led to Knight stepping down as the CEO of Nike.
The Knight Family – $33.8B
The Kohler Family – $8.3B
The Kohler Company is a mighty Wisconsin-based firm that is one of the biggest manufacturers of plumbing supplies in the country. Billionaire Herbert Kohler, Jr. currently heads the family business, which has been passed down through generations, and in fact, he was already running the company’s day-to-day affairs by age 33. The financial success of the firm has led to family investments in manufacturing, hospitality, and government. Actually, Kohler Jr. is an avid golf player and he had a cameo in Open Range, a film which starred Oscar winner and Kohler’s friend Kevin Costner.
The Kohler Family – $8.3B