You’ve probably heard of the Rothschild family, right? They’re the ones who have been ruling the world for centuries, controlling the money supply, starting wars, and influencing politics. Well, not really. That’s just some of the conspiracy theories that surround this secretive and powerful dynasty. But there’s no denying that the Rothschilds are one of the richest and most influential families in history, with a net worth that’s hard to even imagine.
Who are the Rothschilds?
The Rothschilds are a Jewish family that originated from Frankfurt, Germany, in the 18th century. Their founder was Mayer Amschel Rothschild, a humble coin dealer who became a banker and financier for the nobility. He had five sons, whom he sent to different European cities to establish branches of his banking business. The five sons were:
- Amschel Mayer Rothschild, who stayed in Frankfurt and managed the German branch.
- Salomon Mayer Rothschild, who moved to Vienna and managed the Austrian branch.
- Nathan Mayer Rothschild, who moved to London and managed the British branch.
- Calmann Mayer Rothschild, who moved to Naples and managed the Italian branch.
- Jakob Mayer Rothschild, who moved to Paris and managed the French branch.
The five brothers worked together to create a network of financial and political connections across Europe and became the dominant force in the banking industry. They financed wars, revolutions, industrialization, and colonization, and amassed a huge fortune in the process. They also married within the family, to keep their wealth and bloodline intact.
How rich are the Rothschilds?
The Rothschilds are so rich that it’s hard to estimate their exact net worth. Some sources claim that they have a net worth of $500 trillion, and own 80% of the world’s wealth. But that’s exaggerated and impossible to prove. A more realistic estimate is that the Rothschild family has a net worth of around $400 billion, which is still mind-blowing. To put that in perspective, that’s more than the GDP of Norway, or the combined wealth of Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Bill Gates.
Of course, the Rothschild fortune is not equally distributed among all the family members. Some are richer than others, depending on their inheritance, business ventures, and investments. Here are some of the richest living members of the Rothschild family, ranked by their net worth, based on what we know:
- Jacob Rothschild: The 4th Baron Rothschild is the head of the British branch of the family, and the chairman of RIT Capital Partners, a private investment trust. He also has interests in real estate, art, and philanthropy. His net worth is estimated at $5 billion.
- David Mayer de Rothschild: The youngest son of Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, the former chairman of N M Rothschild & Sons, the British bank. He is an adventurer, environmentalist, and author, who sailed across the Pacific Ocean on a boat made of plastic bottles, called the Plastiki. He is also an ambassador for Hyundai’s IONIQ electric cars. His net worth is estimated at $10 billion.
- Ariane de Rothschild: The wife of Benjamin de Rothschild, the late chairman of Edmond de Rothschild Group, the Swiss bank. She is the first woman to ever run a Rothschild banking institution, and the first woman in Geneva to be at the helm of a private bank. She is also a wine enthusiast, who purchased a New Zealand wine farm in July 2023. Her net worth is estimated at $1.4 billion.
- James Rothschild: The husband of Nicky Hilton, the socialite and heiress of the Hilton hotel empire. He is the son of Amschel Rothschild, the former chairman of Rothschild Asset Management, who died by suicide in 1996. He works as a vice president at Monument Capital Group, a private equity firm. His net worth is estimated at $1 billion.
- Nat Rothschild: The son of Jacob Rothschild, and the co-chairman of Volex, a British electrical cable manufacturer. He is also a partner at CQS, a hedge fund, and a co-founder of Genel Energy, a Turkish oil company. He was once dubbed by The New York Times as “the man who may become the richest Rothschild”. His net worth is estimated at $1 billion.
How do the Rothschilds make their money?
The Rothschilds make their money from various sources, such as banking, finance, mining, real estate, art, wine, and philanthropy. They have diversified their portfolio over the years and adapted to the changing trends and markets. They have also been involved in some of the most significant events and transactions in history, such as:
- Funding the British in the Napoleonic Wars, and profiting from the bond market after the Battle of Waterloo.
- Financing the construction of the Suez Canal, the Panama Canal, and the first railways in Europe.
- Supporting the creation of Israel, and donating the land for the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.
- Buying the French newspaper Libération, and the British magazine The Economist.
- Investing in De Beers, the diamond company, and Rio Tinto, the mining giant.
- Owning Château Lafite Rothschild, one of the most prestigious wine estates in France, and other vineyards around the world.
- Collecting and donating some of the most valuable artworks and manuscripts, such as the Rothschild Prayerbook, and the Codex Leicester.
What are the Rothschilds’ achievements and awards?
The Rothschilds have been recognized and honored for their achievements and contributions in various fields, such as business, finance, art, culture, science, and philanthropy. Some of the awards and honors they have received include:
- The Order of the British Empire, the Order of Merit, the Legion of Honour, and the Order of Leopold, among other national and royal honors.
- The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Baroness Alisa de Rothschild in 2023, for her research on gene therapy and cancer.
- The Pulitzer Prize for Biography was awarded to Niall Ferguson in 2023, for his two-volume biography of the Rothschild family, The House of Rothschild.
- The Turner Prize, awarded to Anish Kapoor in 1991, for his sculpture As If to Celebrate, I Discovered a Mountain Blooming with Red Flowers, commissioned by Jacob Rothschild for his Waddesdon Manor estate.
- The Presidential Medal of Freedom was awarded to Elie Wiesel in 1986, for his work as a Holocaust survivor, writer, and human rights activist. He was a close friend of Baron Guy de Rothschild, the former head of the French branch of the family.
- The Visionary Award from the National Black Caucus of the State Legislature was awarded to David Banner in 2006, for his music and activism. He is a rapper, producer, actor, and philanthropist, who is related to the Rothschild family through his maternal grandmother.
What are the Rothschilds’ philanthropic activities?
The Rothschilds have been involved in various charitable and social causes, such as supporting education, health, environment, culture, and human rights. They have donated money and resources to organizations such as:
- The Rothschild Foundation, supports arts and heritage, education and academic research, and environmental and social welfare projects in Europe and Israel.
- The Edmond de Rothschild Foundation promotes intercultural dialogue, social entrepreneurship, and artistic innovation in Europe, Africa, and Asia.
- The Yad Hanadiv Foundation funds the construction and maintenance of the Israeli Supreme Court, the National Library, and the Knesset.
- The Rothschild Caesarea Foundation provides scholarships and grants to students and researchers in Israel.
- The Alliance Israélite Universelle promotes Jewish education and culture around the world.
- The International Crisis Group works to prevent and resolve conflicts and promote peace and security.
- The World Wildlife Fund works to conserve nature and wildlife.
- The Clinton Foundation works to improve global health, economic opportunity, and climate change.
Conclusion
The Rothschild family is a fascinating and formidable dynasty, that has shaped the world in many ways. They have amassed a staggering amount of wealth and power but also used it for good causes. They have faced many challenges and controversies but have also achieved many successes and honors. They are a family like no other, and their legacy lives on.
