3 GA Families Among The Richest In U.S.: Forbes

GEORGIA — Three Georgia families are among the 45 wealthiest in the country, according to a new ranking of family fortunes by Forbes.

The Waltons again top Forbes’ America’s Richest Families list with an estimated net worth of $267 billion, largely accumulated from their stake in Walmart, the world’s largest retailer by sales. About 45 percent of the company’s stock is controlled by the families of the seven heirs to founders Sam Walton and his brother Bud.

The second and third-richest families are the Mars and Koch families. The Mars family owns Mars Inc., one of the world’s largest candy and pet food companies, while the Koch family started what became America's second-largest private company, Koch Industries.

In Georgia, billionaire families named to the list include:

• The Cathy family, owners of the fast-food chain Chick-fil-A, ranked No. 8, 35 family members, worth $33.6 billion
• The Cox family, owners of media company Cox Enterprises, ranked No. 10, 31 family members, worth $26.8 billion
• The Rollins family, owner of pest control company Orkin, ranked No. 32, 11 family members, worth $14.2 billion

See the full list of America’s Richest Families.