The Rothschild Family's net worth

The Rothschild Family's net worth is estimated to be approximately $400-500 billion.

How did the Rothschild family build their net worth?

The Rothschild family built their immense net worth after generations in international finance, trade, investing, real estate, and other business ventures.

The family consisted of five sons and five daughters, and the family dynasty was built through the work and intelligence of Mayer A. Rothschild. They forged strong, lasting relationships with the right people, creating a solid foundation for their immense success.

During the 19th century, the Rothschild family possessed the largest private fortune in the world and modern world history. The family's wealth declined over the 20th century as it was divided among many descendants. Today, their interests cover various fields, including financial services, real estate, mining, energy, agriculture, winemaking, and non-profit organizations.

The father, Mayer, and his five canny sons focused on the development of international finance. They initiated and maintained offices in Naples, Paris, London, Vienna, and Frankfurt. The smallest trader to the largest conglomerate borrowed the Rothschild's money to build their businesses for a price. Trade support, foreign exchange services, asset management, merchant banking, venture capital, investments, commodities, mergers and acquisitions, insurance venture capital, and even foreign debt management were services they offered to a growing clientele.

Here are some of the businesses that the Rothschilds invested in, which explains their great net worth today, as every one of these is worth billions.

• Alliance Assurance (1824) (now Royal & Sun Alliance)
• Chemin de Fer du Nord (1845)
• The Rio Tinto mining company (1873) (from the 1880s onwards, the Rothschilds had complete control of Rio Tinto)
• Eramet (1880)
• Imerys (1880)
• De Beers (1888)

They were well known for investing in projects that benefited basic infrastructures such as railroads, tunnels, bridges, and canals — notably the Suez Canal, which they financed the building. They were and are active in the transportation, media, and wine sectors.

Prominent members of the Rothschild family who are still living are David Mayer de Rothschild, a billionaire and environmentalist; Nathaniel P. Rothschild, co-chairman of Atticus Capital; Hannah M. Rothschild, a documentary filmmaker; James Rothschild, who married Nicky Hilton, the hotel heiress.

How has the Rothschild family spent their wealth?

One cannot hear the name of Rothschild without thinking of extravagance and great wealth. Apart from the usual trappings of wealth such as cars, jewelry, and lavish parties through the ages, they spent some of their money on incredible and rare works of art and copious purchases of palaces and country estates. By the end of the century, the family owned or had built over 41 palaces on a scale and luxury that would have been the envy of the richest of any of the royal families.

They are also well known for their philanthropy, donating millions to charitable causes.