4 secrets to raising wealthy kids, according to the billionaire Rockefeller family (2024)

In many cultures, there is an age-old saying that wealth is made and lost in three generations. In the U.S. we say, "shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations," and in Japan it's "rice paddies to rice paddies in three generations."

Wealth, in other words, rarely lasts much beyond the grandkids. Taxes, spending, the dilution of wealth through children and their children's children, and the inevitable spoiling effect of so much money, eventually take a toll on family fortunes.

Yet the Rockefeller family has defied all of that. Now entering its seventh generation with as many as 170 heirs, the Rockefeller family has maintained substantial wealth — they had an $11 billion fortune in 2016, according to Forbes. That's more than 100 years after John D. Rockefeller became America's first billionaire after founding Standard Oil Company in the late 19th century.

Even more unlikely, however, is that the family has remained largely united, without the public scandals, feuds, lawsuits and tragedies that typical plague other gilded dynasties. There are now over 250 members of the family who are direct descendants of John D. Rockefeller and Laura Spelman Rockefeller.

Rockefeller family portrait, summer of 1920, Seal Harbor, Maine/ From left: Laurance, Babs, John D III, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller holding David Senior, Winthrop, John D Rockefeller Junior, and Nelson.

Rockefeller Archive Center

Sure, the Rockefellers started out very rich, which helps over time. But so did the Vanderbilts and Carnegies and Astors, but you don't see them still giving away billions like the Rockefeller family. In May, Christie's will auction off the collection of the late David and Peggy Rockefeller, including art and valuables expected to go for over $500 million, and possibly as much as $1 billion, with all the proceeds going to charity. During his lifetime, David Rockefeller gave away more than $1 billion.

So what's the Rockefeller secret?

In a rare interview, David Rockefeller Jr., chairman of Rockefeller & Co., said that the family has developed a system of values, traditions and institutions that have helped the family stay together and preserve their wealth. They are useful to any family trying to raise children with good money values — even if you're not wealthy.

David Rockefeller Jr. and Susan Rockefeller

Getty Images | Monica Schipper

He pointed to four main components.

The first is regular family meetings.

Courtesy of Rockefeller Archive Center

"We meet as a family twice a year, often more than 100 of us in a same room for a Christmas lunch for example," he said. "We have something called the family forum. When you are 21, you get invited to those meetings." At the gatherings, the family talks about its direction, projects, new members and any other family news related to careers or important milestones. It's important that everyone feel a part of the family, even if they married into it.

Rockefeller says it's also important to maintain family history.

The Rockefellers do this in part via their family "homesteads," where they can gather and connect with their past.

"It's places that were familiar and that were passed down over generations," he said. "I can go back to the place where my great grandfather lived over 100 years ago and see how he lived and see how his son and their grandchildren lived."

No longer having a family business is important as well, says Rockefeller. Many of the disputes within rich families start over business — who should run it, how it should be run, and who should benefit.

The Rockefellers haven't had a family business to fight over since 1911, when Standard Oil was broken up by the government into publicly traded companies due to then-new antitrust laws. With that single stroke, the Rockefeller fortune was transformed from a single giant company to multiple publicly listed companies. Combined with a well-written series of trusts, the stocks and financial holdings were more easily passed down to future generations and less subject to financial battles.

"The wealth in our family, of course, came out of the oil business, of Standard Oil," Rockefeller said. "But the business hasn't kept us together and there are many families who it's pulled apart, frankly. By chance, I think, we were lucky that we didn't have a business that was pulling us apart. We had a business that supplied — through generation-skipping trust — wealth that went down through the generations and dispersed through more and more people, but still was retained. But we didn't have a core business."

The strongest glue keeping the Rockefeller family together is family values, specifically philanthropy. Their various family foundations, including the Rockefeller Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the David Rockefeller Fund have a combined endowment of over $5 billion.

Family members are encouraged to be involved in the foundations and help choose the causes they support. By making giving the center of the family's identity, the Rockefellers have maintained the core values of John Rockefeller Jr., whose mantra is inscribed in stone at Rockefeller Center: "For every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty."

David Rockefeller Jr. remembers giving to charity with his very first allowance at the age of 10. He would get his allowance on Sunday and give a portion of that to church or another cause — just as John D. Rockefeller tithed his salary from his first paycheck.

"If the values weren't lived, the words wouldn't have had an impact," David Rockefeller Jr. said. "So I think the family has tried its best to live those values, to whom much is given, much is expected."

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4 secrets to raising wealthy kids, according to the billionaire Rockefeller family (1)

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4 secrets to raising wealthy kids, according to the billionaire Rockefeller family (2024)

FAQs

What was the Rockefeller family method? ›

The 'Rockefeller Method' of estate planning has succeeded for over six generations through a careful family constitution and irrevocable trusts. In addition, the family ensured that the trusts remained well-funded using the proceeds of life insurance policies for each passing family member.

How did the Rockefeller family get so rich? ›

Rockefeller used the $2000 as a seed to grow a huge, multimillion dollar fortune. That year oil was discovered in western Pennsylvania. Rockefeller and a business partner became oil refiners. From this small start, grew the Standard Oil Company.

What is the Rockefeller formula? ›

What is the Rockefeller Formula? It's a little known set of financial strategies that uses a whole life insurance policy to give you cash benefits and help you build wealth. Here is how it works: You set up a whole life insurance policy with the ability to add cash above the minimum required premium.

How did Rockefeller make money as a child? ›

Rockefeller: Early Years and Family. John Davison Rockefeller, the son of a traveling salesman, was born on July 8, 1839, in Richford, New York. Industrious even as a boy, the future oil magnate earned money by raising turkeys, selling candy and doing jobs for neighbors.

What are the 3 pillars to the Rockefeller habits? ›

These three fundamental habits - Priorities, Data and Rhythm - could be seen over one hundred years ago in John D. Rockefeller's unprecedented success as the founder of Standard Oil, and they can still be observed in successful companies today.

What are the three Rockefeller habits? ›

How To Scale Your Business: 3 Rockefeller Secrets used by PTG
  • Set Your Priorities. According to the Rockefeller habits, you should know the one critical thing that will move your company forward this quarter. ...
  • Rely on Real-time Data. ...
  • Meetings Should Have a Rhythm. ...
  • Scaling UP.
Aug 12, 2019

Why was Rockefeller so successful? ›

Rockefeller get famous? John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company acquired pipelines and terminal facilities, purchased competing refineries, and vigorously sought to expand its markets. Those practices enabled the company to negotiate with railroads for favoured rates on its shipments of oil.

Who is the richest family on earth? ›

Top 10 Richest Families In The World – 2023 List
  • Walton Family- $247 Billion: The Walton family is the world's richest family, with an estimated net worth of $247 billion. ...
  • Mars Family- $120 Billion: ...
  • Koch Family- $109.7 Billion: ...
  • Al Saud Family- $95 Billion: ...
  • Wertheimer Family- $54.4 Billion: ...
  • Ambani Family- $48.5 Billion:
Mar 9, 2023

Who was the first billionaire on earth? ›

The American business magazine Forbes produces a global list of known U.S. dollar billionaires every year and updates an Internet version of this list in real-time. The American oil magnate John D. Rockefeller became the world's first confirmed U.S. dollar billionaire in 1916.

What is the millionaire formula? ›

The 15*15*15 rule is one of the most basic rules that can help an investor become a 'crorepati' or millionaire. The rule states that if you invest Rs 15,000 per month for a period of 15 years in a stock, the stock can offer you an annual interest of 15%. Here is all you need to know about it.

What method did Rockefeller use to build his fortune? ›

Rockefeller demanded rebates, or discounted rates, from the railroads. He used all these methods to reduce the price of oil to his consumers. His profits soared and his competitors were crushed one by one. Rockefeller forced smaller companies to surrender their stock to his control.

What is the wealthy equation? ›

Put simply, the wealth equation states that a household's wealth should be equal to 10% of the age of the highest income earner in the household multiplied by the household's combined income.

Who runs the Rockefeller family now? ›

Management of this fortune today also rests with professional money managers who oversee the principal holding company, Rockefeller Financial Services, which controls all the family's investments, now that Rockefeller Center is no longer owned by the family. The present chairman is David Rockefeller Jr.

Does the Rockefeller family still exist? ›

These days, the fifth generation descendants of the legendary oil baron rule the roost, and are keeping the Rockefeller legacy alive in the worlds of finance, fashion, philanthropy, and beyond.

Who was America's first billionaire? ›

John D. Rockefeller

What were 3 things that Rockefeller spent his money on? ›

Retired from his day to day experiences, Rockefeller donated more than $500 million dollars to various educational, religious, and scientific causes through the Rockefeller Foundation. He funded the establishment of the University of Chicago and the Rockefeller Institute, among many other philanthropic endeavors.

What is the Rockefeller Foundation motto? ›

Our Mission

We improve lives and the planet, and unleash human potential, through innovation.

How did Rockefeller build his trust? ›

To implement his trust, Rockefeller and his associates persuaded the stockholders of forty companies to exchange their stock for trust certificates. Within three years, the Standard Oil Trust had consolidated crude‑oil buying throughout its member firms and slashed the number of refineries by half.

What do the Rockefellers eat? ›

Diet Was 75 Per Cent Vegetables

Rockefeller's diet. It was known, however, to have consisted during the last few years of at least 75 per cent vegetables. He received green vegetables from all over the world and many were grown in his own gardens at Lakewood, Ormond Beach and Tarrytown.

How many Rockefeller habits are there? ›

Best-selling author Verne Harnish studied John D. Rockefeller in-depth to determine the 10 Rockefeller Habits to his continued success. The 70,000 businesses who follow the Scaling Up methodology worldwide use this checklist as a “How-To-Guide” to Execution.

What is the secret to success Rockefeller? ›

10 key management principles from John D. Rockefeller, America's first billionaire
  • Be honest and trustworthy. The oil titan was a stickler for the truth. ...
  • Take time to rest. ...
  • Schedule your day. ...
  • Keep a close watch on company finances. ...
  • Delegate tasks. ...
  • Strive for perfection. ...
  • Create unity. ...
  • Establish a support system.
Jul 24, 2018

What personality type was Rockefeller? ›

From a very early age John Rockefeller exhibited strong features of The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator ESTJ type. His mother taught him to be thrifty and efficient. In school he was reserved, methodical and had a great mind for numbers and detailed accounting.

What characteristics made Rockefeller successful? ›

Rockefeller is regarded as one of the most successful business leaders of all time, and his success was surely more than just a coincidence. He had several noteworthy traits that made him stand out including perseverance, leadership courage, benevolence toward others, honesty, and balance in priorities.

Who is the richest black family in the world? ›

Aliko Dangote: $14 billion

Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote saw his fortune grow from around $11.5 billion on last year's list. Dangote founded and owns nearly 88 percent of publicly-traded Dangote Cement.

Who are the 3 richest families in America? ›

The top 10 richest families in 2022 by estimated wealth are: The Walton family with $224.5 billion. The Mars family with $160 billion. The Koch family with $128.8 billion.

Who is the richest person in child? ›

The title of world's richest kid is held by none other than Princess Charlotte of Cambridge. She is a member of the British royal family and the second child and only daughter of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, duch*ess of Cambridge.

Who is a Quadrillionaire? ›

quadrillionaire (plural quadrillionaires) Somebody whose wealth is greater than one quadrillion units of the local currency. quotations ▼ (by extension) An extremely wealthy person.

Who is the first woman billionaire? ›

2021 list
No.NameBirth date
1Françoise Bettencourt Meyers10 July 1953
2Alice Walton7 October 1949
3MacKenzie Scott7 April 1970
4Julia Koch12 April 1962
6 more rows

Who is the first black male billionaire? ›

BALTIMORE — Reginald F. Lewis was a visionary entrepreneur, philanthropist, and most notably - the first African American to build a billion-dollar company, TLC Beatrice International Holdings Inc.

What is Rule 72 millionaire? ›

The rule of 72 tells you how long it will take for your investment to double . The only variable you need is an estimated rate of return on your investments. You divide 72 by your annual rate of return, and that is how many years it will take to double your money.

How much cash does a millionaire have? ›

There are three primary definitions of a "millionaire."

An asset millionaire is someone who, if they had to sell everything and pay off any liabilities, would have $1,000,000 left over. A net-worth millionaire is someone who has a net worth of at least $1,000,000.

What are the 3 ways to build wealth? ›

The first step is to earn enough money to cover your basic needs, with some left over for saving. The second step is to manage your spending so that you can maximize your savings. The third step is to invest your money in a variety of different assets so that it's properly diversified for the long haul.

What are the three types of wealthy? ›

Wealth can be categorized into three principal categories: personal property, including homes or automobiles; monetary savings, such as the accumulation of past income; and the capital wealth of income producing assets, including real estate, stocks, bonds, and businesses.

What determines wealthy? ›

Based on that figure, an annual income of $500,000 or more would make you rich. The Economic Policy Institute uses a different baseline to determine who constitutes the top 1% and the top 5%. For 2021, you're in the top 1% if you earn $819,324 or more each year. The top 5% of income earners make $335,891 per year.

Is Elon Musk Rockefeller? ›

Musk was inspired by Alexander and Napolean, says his father. Elon Musk is a combination of Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla, and John D. Rockefeller, according to Dolly Singh, a former SpaceX executive who worked with Musk between 2008 and 2013.

How many Rockefellers are left today? ›

Even more unlikely, however, is that the family has remained largely united, without the public scandals, feuds, lawsuits and tragedies that typical plague other gilded dynasties. There are now over 250 members of the family who are direct descendants of John D. Rockefeller and Laura Spelman Rockefeller.

Who is the richest Rockefeller still living? ›

These direct descendants are almost certainly wealthier than their cousins, as evidenced by the fact that David Rockefeller, the oldest living member of the family, and its founder's grandson, is the only Rockefeller still found on Forbes' list of the 400 richest Americans.

What banks do the Rockefellers own? ›

The Rockefeller family banks are the First National City Bank and the Chase Manhattan Bank. The Chase Manhattan is the third largest banking establishment in the world; and while only number three, it is by far the most influential.

What companies do the Rockefellers own? ›

Well known companies included General Mills, Kellogg, Nestle, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Procter and Gamble, Roche and Hoechst (Sanofi-Aventis). The Rockefeller empire, in tandem with Chase Manhattan Bank (now JP Morgan Chase), owns over half of the pharmaceutical interests in the United States.

How much did Rockefeller have before he died? ›

Wealth. At the time of his death, Forbes estimated Rockefeller's net worth was $3.3 billion.

Who is world youngest billionaire? ›

But old age is not a requirement for amassing great wealth. In fact, there are 15 people around the globe who boast a three-comma fortune despite being 30 years old or younger. The youngest of this mostly lucky bunch are Clemente Del Vecchio and Kim Jung-youn, neither of whom have hit their 20s yet.

Who was richer Vanderbilt or Rockefeller? ›

Rockefeller atop the list of the richest Americans in history, followed by Cornelius Vanderbilt and John Jacob Astor. Bill Gates was the top living person, coming in fifth.

Who was the 2nd billionaire? ›

2021
No.NameNet worth (USD)
1Jeff Bezos$177 billion
2Elon Musk$151 billion
3Bernard Arnault & family$150 billion
4Bill Gates$124 billion
6 more rows

Who is John D. Rockefeller and what methods did he use to become successful? ›

John D. Rockefeller founded the Standard Oil Company, which dominated the oil industry and was the first great U.S. business trust. Later in life he turned his attention to charity. He made possible the founding of the University of Chicago and endowed major philanthropic institutions.

How did Rockefeller make his money and what did he control? ›

His monopoly of the American oil industry, though raising several ethical questions, made him millions. As the founder of Standard Oil, Rockefeller controlled 90% of the oil refineries and pipelines in the United States. He was rigorously hard working and ruthlessly entrepreneurial.

How did Rockefeller treat others? ›

Benevolence Toward Others

Rockefeller routinely praised his employees, and it was not uncommon for him to join them in their work and urge them on. Rockefeller believed in giving his employees praise, rest, and comfort in order to get the best work out of them.

Who was the 1st billionaire? ›

The American business magazine Forbes produces a global list of known U.S. dollar billionaires every year and updates an Internet version of this list in real-time. The American oil magnate John D. Rockefeller became the world's first confirmed U.S. dollar billionaire in 1916.

What tactics did Rockefeller use to grow his profits? ›

He was ruthless.

To crush his competitors, Rockefeller would create a shortage of the railroad tank cars that transported oil. He'd then buy up all the barrels on the market so his competitors would have no place to store or ship their oil. He bought up all the available chemicals that were necessary to refine oil.

Who controls Rockefeller fortune today? ›

The present chairman is David Rockefeller Jr.

How did Rockefeller change the world? ›

The impact Rockefeller had on the Americans prompted the creation of new laws and legislation to combat unfair commercial practices and to promote the concept of capitalism. During his tenure in the oil sector, Rockefeller owned over 90% of the pipelines and refineries in the United States.

How much did Rockefeller give away? ›

John D. Rockefeller's commitment to philanthropic giving created a lasting legacy. Rockefeller gave away more than $540 million in his lifetime, including funding toward medical research, addressing poverty in the South, and educational efforts for African Americans.

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