Net Worth: $28 billion Source: William Randolph Hearst Socialite and philanthropist Anne Hearst is a direct heiress to the Hearst fortune. Her grandfather, William Hearst, was the founder of the media conglomerate Hearst Corporation. In the late 19th century, Hearst was known for publishing the largest chain of American newspapers, as well as for the sensational brand of “yellow journalism” (using shocking headlines to catch people’s attention rather than using hard facts!).
As the daughter of William’s son, Hearst was in line to inherit the fortune which Hearst Corporation has grown over the years. These days, the corporation owns not only newspapers and magazines but television stations and channels and 50% of the A&E Networks cable network group and 20% of ESPN, which are in partnership with The Walt Disney Company. So yeah, a lot. You might remember from earlier we spoke of a Hearst who was kidnapped and taken into a “cult” – so Anne is her sister! That darn Symbionese Liberation Army eh? Anne, unlike her sister, however, went down a somewhat straighter path, and is currently the director of The Princess Grace Foundation. She is on the board for Hearst Castle Preservation, which helps preserve historical landmarks, and she helped found the Rita Hayworth Gala’s steering committee to plan for the event. Hearst’s private life has been somewhat more colorful, marrying three times. Her most recent husband, Jay McInerney, is a novelist and screenwriter, and he’s been married a fair few times as well – four times to be exact!
Susan Alice Buffett
Net Worth: $3 billion Source: Warren Buffett Warren Buffett has to be the biggest name in investment - and the fact he’s worth over $80 billion US really speaks about him and his career. A business magnate, investor, speaker and philanthropist, the now 88-year-old still serves as the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. He’s considered one of the most successful investors in the world and is the third-wealthiest on the planet! He famously founded The Giving Pledge with Bill Gates, whereby billionaires pledge to give away at least half of their fortunes! Now that’s a worthy cause! His daughter, Susan Alice Buffett clearly got a tip off from her dad, and sure, he was looking out for her, by giving her shares – as such, she’s making her wealth through her ownership of shares in the famous investing firm.
A philanthropist herself, she operates the Sherwood Foundation, which provides grants that help children from lower-income households. The grants go to education, social justice and human services, with a focus on improving the wellbeing and standards of living of all. A board member of Girls, Inc. and the Buffett Foundation, as well as the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, she has a finger on the pulse of the youth and the disadvantaged. Some of this is exampled through her assistance in combating the AIDS crisis internationally and particularly improving the standards of living for the disadvantaged in Africa. You go, girl!
Whitney Kroenke Burditt
Net Worth: $2.6 billion Source: Sam Walton (Walmart) When you’re the granddaughter of a man who was, at one point, the richest man in America, there’s bound to be a heck of a lot of inheritance down the line for you! Such us the case for Whitney Kroenke Burditt, whose grandfather was a Walmart retail tycoon, James Walton.
As an heiress of the Walmart fortune, the Los Angeles-born Kroenke Burditt surely knew she wouldn’t have a problem when it came to dollars in the bank account! The daughter of Ann Walton and Stan Kroenke, Whitney went into film production, and now resides in Hollywood. She works, acts, dances and choreographer for several play productions, including “I Sing” and “Romeo and Juliet,” which was produced in London. As far as her other pursuits go, Whitney is a generous soul, founding the Playing for Change charity, which helps build schools for music and the arts across the world, particularly in low-income and poverty-stricken locations. We’re all for it!
Gwendolyn Meyer
Net Worth: $4.4 billion Source: Cargill The American heiress and equestrian is the great-great-granddaughter of William W. Cargill, the founder of Cargill, which provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products to the world. A multinational corporation, the company’s core business focuses on agriculture and agribusiness. For example, it would provide seed and livestock feed for companies. But aside from its agricultural pursuits, it has a diversified business portfolio, with a hand in the real estate market, as well as in oil, gas, chocolate (duh, important commodity!) and meatpacking. It is the largest privately held corporation in the United States in terms of revenue, is 90% owned by the Cargill family. Just last year, it had an annual turnover of $114.7 billion US. Yeah, big numbers.
Back to our showjumper Gwendolyn, the heiress was born in 1962, and inherited a 7% stake in Cargill. A dedicated equestrian, Meyer over the course of her life has won several prizes, including winning the Prix Credit Suisse at the Geneva International Horse Show. These days, the heiress spends her time on her farm in Rancho Santa Fe, California, training horses that compete in show jumping. Imagine being wealthy enough to just live for your passion, and not worry about the financials!
Peter Brant II
Net Worth: $1 billion Source: White Birch Paper The NYC-born, Greenwich resident (of course, duh), is one of the city’s hottest socialites and heirs. A model and fashion designer, the 25-year-old is the son of businessman and art collector Peter M. Brant and supermodel Stephanie Seymour. He and his brother Harry have been labeled by The New York Times as the “Princes of New York.” Quite the title, eh? We’re not really sold, but we did hear that in 2015 he collaborated with Mac Cosmetics, launching a unisex cosmetics line aimed at the Gender fluid youth movement. We’re all about inclusivity, so we can back him on that one!
His attitude towards his family’s wealth may be somewhat arrogant and unsettling to some (shucks sorry, were we projecting our opinion?), but he did tell Harper’s Bazaar that “We had to do a report about our parents: where they were born, what they did, and all that. Everyone else had to do theirs as homework, but I finished mine before class ended using Wikipedia.” We get it, hotshot. But we aren’t the only ones who are a little irked by his behaviour, Vanity Fair described him as “enfant terrible.” Hilarious. Just a couple of years ago, Peter Brant Jr. was arrested at JFK International Airport after throwing a drunken fit. Brant’s own lawyer laid into him, calling his client “an idiot.” ‘nuff said.