Which family ranked as the richest family in Forbes’ 2016 family fortunes ranking?

The Walton family ranked as the richest family in Forbes’ 2016 family fortunes ranking.

The family’s wealth came primarily from Walmart, the retail company founded by Sam Walton in 1962. His descendants retained substantial ownership through family investment entities, so Walmart’s share price had a major effect on the family fortune.

Forbes estimated the Walton family fortune at about $149 billion in 2016. The figure represented the combined wealth of several family members rather than one individual’s net worth. This is an important distinction from Forbes’ World’s Billionaires list, which ranks people separately.

The Walton family has repeatedly appeared near the top of family-wealth rankings. The Mars family and Koch family are also associated with enormous inherited business fortunes, but they were not the answer to this particular Forbes ranking. Estimates vary by date, ownership assumptions, and whether a ranking combines relatives’ assets.