Net worth: $23.5 billion
Source of wealth : Marriott International
The Marriott family’s legacy traces back not just to hotels, but also to root beer. In 1927, John Willard “J.W.” Marriott began selling A&W root beer at a small shop in Washington, DC; the venture quickly expanded into drive-in diners as the menu expanded, and by 1953, his Hot Shoppes company went public, per Marriott’s website.
It wasn’t until 1957 that Marriott opened its first lodging location, a motel in Arlington, Virginia. By 1981, the company had opened its 100th hotel, and by 1989, its 500th.
Today, the company’s portfolio includes brands like Sheraton, Ritz-Carlton, and…
