Caroline Rose Hunt
Net Worth: $1 billion Source: H.L. Hunt At one point in time, Caroline Rose Hunt was, in fact, one of the richest women in the United States of America. How’s that you ask? Well, she can thank her inheritance from the H.L.Hunt Oil empire for that title! Passed down from her parents, the entrepreneurial Hunt founded the luxury (and not “five-star” luxury, we’re talking thousands of dollars a night type luxury – think Hôtel de Crillon, Paris, etc) hospitality brand Rosewood Hotels Corporation. Any known celebrities are regulars at her prestigious, uber-luxe hotels, and pretty much is reserved for people who wouldn’t blink at spending $10,000 a night for accommodation. Excessive as it may seem, clearly there’s a market for it, and a burgeoning one at that!
After attending Mary Baldwin College and the University of Texas in North Austin, for the Arkansas-born Hunt, the world truly was her oyster. But she decided to go down a path which saw her become an author and philanthropist, as well as a mother, to five children! Up until she founded Rosewood Hotels (at the age of 55 – never too old to start something!), she didn’t hold any conventional job. But hey, if there’s anyone to be in that predicament, it’s going to be a mega-wealthy billionaire!
Owsley Brown III
Net Worth: $643 million Source: George Garvin Brown Heir to the Brown fortune, Owsley Brown III can be thanking his grandfather, George Garvin Brown for his many millions. George, who founded the Brown Forman Corp. in 1870, stumbled upon a business that would grow to be one of the largest American-owned companies in wine and spirits. Founded in Louisville Kentucky, it was the first of a few successful businesses for the Brown family. Brown III’s father was a philanthropist from Kentucky, and is known for owning Bittners, LLC, a 150-year-old interior design, architectural and furniture business which is based in Louisville.
As for Owsley Brown III? Well he’s a film producer. After graduating in 1993 from the University of Virginia, he went down the film production path. But that’s not all – after finishing university, he founded a wine company, Magnanimous Group, which focused on producing wines which came from sustainable vintners (winemakers). Brown was selective in employing winemakers who were creating a wine which was not only delicious but able to be maintained with the environment in mind. As for his films, they have focused on contemporary orchestral music. Some have won awards, including in 2000, his first film Night Waltz (which profiled composer Paul Bowles) was awarded the Independent Spirit Award. Not bad for a first go!
Haley Busch
Net Worth: $1.5 billion Source: Anheuser-Busch Now, there is one thing that America loves: it may not be French wine (in light of Donald Trump’s very public tweet bringing French wine down a whole other level), but it is indeed an alcoholic beverage. That beverage? Beer. Next up on our list is Haley Busch, heiress of Anheuser-Busch’s fortune, which is not only one of the biggest in America, but one of the biggest in the world. Aside from the inheritance, she’s also an actress and has carved a career for herself in the entertainment industry. Whilst they may not be Hollywood blockbusters, it’s certainly something, appearing in films such as The Final Song in 2014, as well as The Importance of Doubting Tom, Bratz, 23 Minutes to Sunrise among others.
The daughter of half of the fortune, Billy Busch, it was only natural that a child of elite background would go into an equally “elitist” sport (shoot us, we don’t care), like polo. As a polo champ, naturally she’s a part of the Bud Light Polo Team. Her skill in the game has won her many matches, including the U.S. Open match. Speaking of Bud Light, anyone else catches the tweet about Area 51? Something about offering free Bud Light to any alien that makes it out? (Controversial, let’s hope this makes it out before the government shuts us down!) The St.Louis-raised Haley is one of seven and studied at Sacred Heart School before going to acting school. The rest well is history! She spends her time between acting gigs and on her family’s farm, which was once owned by former U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant! Dat prestige tho.
Dirk Ziff
Net Worth: $4.8 billion Source: William Bernard Ziff, Jr. Eldest son of publishing magnate William Bernard Ziff Jr. next up is the 54-year-old Dirk Edward Ziff. An American billionaire businessman, he and his two brothers inherited the family fortune. Some quick trivia for you: Ziff’s maternal grandparents, were well known for being war heroes, receiving the Israeli Righteous Among Nations honorific for their efforts to provide sanctuary and refuge to Jewish people during WWII! His father, on the other hand, was the Jewish American media magnate. The Ziff’s reach regarding publications includes PC Magazine, Popular Aviation, Car and Driver and more.
An attendee of Columbia, he received a Bachelor of Arts, and then went on to receive his Master of Business Administration from Harvard University. Ziff and his brothers inherited the family fortune in 1994 after their father sold 95% of the business for $1.4 billion and then retired. Initially, Papa Ziff wanted to pass on the family business, but due to their disinterest, sold and packed up! The brothers formed NYC based Ziff Brothers Investments, investing their inheritances. However, the company dissolved and now they invest independently! Ziff spends his time with former Forbes reporter Natasha Bacigalupo and their two children. Most recently we heard of Ziff resigning from the board of the Weinstein Company after allegations of sexual assault were disclosed. Talk about a scandal!
Lloyd Goldman
Net Worth: $3 billion Source: BLDG Mgmt. Son of real estate investor Irving Goldman, it’s actually his uncle, Sol, who was one of the most prominent real estate investors in NYC during the 1980s. His extensive portfolio included over 600 commercial and residential properties. Now that’s one wealthy landlord! Goldman, through his family ties, inherited a portfolio of these fabled real estate holdings but went down a path that saw him work on urban development. In the 90s, Goldman focused on buying properties that were a little dusty at government auctions. Some years prior, he founded BLDG Management which owns over 250 commercial properties across the United States, and the properties he bought up in the 90s now belong to this extensive portfolio. Pretty darn impressive!
Most recently, Goldman built BLDG Management’s first residential building in NYC, which was a change from the usual holdings of major office skyscrapers in the Big Apple! As well as his business pursuits, Goldman serves on a number of boards of charities – philanthropy is important to him! In 2012 for example, Goldman was elected president of American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He’s also a trustee of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System.