1-10
| 11-50 |
51-100 |
101-150 |
151-200|
201-250
The World’s 250 Largest
Family Businesses
51.
Gerling-Konzern Versicherungs-Beteiligungs AG
(60)
Gerling/Cologne, Germany
Industry: Insurance
Revenues: $11.73 billion
Employees: 12,500
www.gerling.com
Holding company (founded 1904) for group of insurance and reinsurance
carriers that provide credit, health, life and property/casualty
insurance in some 30 countries on six continents (although nearly half
its business is in Germany). Rolf Gerling, grandson of founder Robert, is
majority shareholder.
52. Bechtel
Group (32)
Bechtel/San Francisco
Industry: Engineering and construction
Founded: 1898
Revenues: $11.6 billion
Employees: 47,000
www.bechtel.com
World’s largest construction company started by rancher Warren A. (“Dad”)
Bechtel, who built railroads in Oklahoma and moved to California 1914.
His son Stephen Sr. built Liberty ships for government, World War II;
Stephen Jr., now 78, took over 1965, established reputation for
megaprojects: airports; nuclear plants; trans-Alaska pipeline;
Washington, D.C., subway; the Chunnel; “new city” of Jubail, Saudi
Arabia, etc. His son Riley Bechtel, 51, has been president since 1989.
53. Comp.
Brasileira de Distribuic (109)
Diniz/São Paulo, Brazil
Industry: Retailing
Founded: 1948
Revenues: $11.2 billion
Employees: 50,106
www.grupopaodeacucar.com.br
Brazil’s second-largest retailer: operates the Pao de Acucar and
Barateiro supermarket chains. Founding Diniz family owns majority of
voting shares; three family members in top management.
54. Meijer
(51)
Meijer/Grand Rapids, Mich.
Industry: Retailing and groceries
Founded: 1934
Revenues: $10.9 billion
Employees: 83,402
www.meijer.com
Dutch immigrant Hendrik Meijer opened barber shop 1914, added groceries
to help pay rent. Son Frederik, now 83, pioneered “one-stop shopping”
concept in 1960s, expanded chain to 160 mega-stores in Midwest today.
Still family-owned. Founder’s grandson Hendrik (“Hank”) Meijer, 50, is
CEO; Doug Meijer, 48, is co-chairman.
55. Suntory Ltd.
(49)
Saji, Torii/Osaka, Japan
Industry: Liquor
Revenues: $10.87 billion
Employees: 4,870
www.suntory.co.jp
Keizo Saji (d. 1999) built father’s small brewery into Japan’s top
whiskey distiller, also food conglomerate. In 1990 he handed reins to
nephew Shinichiro Torii. Family owns 90% of company.
56. *Heineken
(NR)
Heineken/Amsterdam, Netherlands
Industry: Brewing
Revenues: $10.788 billion
Employees: 48,237
www.heinekeninternational.com
Global brewing giant sells beer in more than 170 nations. Heineken is
second-leading imported brand in U.S. (behind Grupo Modelo’s Corona). Its
other global brands include Amstel and Murphy’s. Charlene de Carvalho
inherited largest shareholding on death of her father, Freddie Heineken,
in 2002.
57. *Henkel
Group (44)
Henkel/Düsseldorf, Germany
Industry: Chemicals
Revenues: $10.121 billion
Employees: 48,638
www.henkel.com
Chemical giant operates 340 companies in 70 countries, makes detergents,
adhesives, soap, much more; owns 27% of Clorox in U.S. Albrecht Woeste,
great-grandson of founder, Fritz Henkel, current family patriarch.
Fifth-generation Christoph Henkel, 43, serves on influential
Shareholders’ Committee. About 80 descendants of founder, sprinkled among
three clans, share majority interest.
58. *Investor AB
(54)
Wallenberg/Stockholm, Sweden
Industry: Industrial holdings
Revenues: $9.986 billion
Employees: 627
www.investorab.com
Former sailor André Wallenberg founded Enskilda Banken (still a leading
Swedish bank) in mid-19th century; company expanded into Investor AB,
investment vehicle for Sweden’s pre-eminent business family. Holdings
include Ericsson (mobile phones), Electrolux (appliances), AstraZeneca
(pharmaceuticals), power generation, industrial building systems, much
more. Wallenberg family interests own more than 40% and actively manage.
59. H.E. Butt
Grocery (61)
Butt/San Antonio, Texas
Industry: Food stores, bakeries
Founded: 1905
Revenues: $9.9 billion
Employees: 60,000
www.heb.com
Florence Butt opened first store in Kerrville, Texas, with $60. Son
Howard took over 1919, opened second store 1927. Howard’s son Charles
took over 1971 at age 33, expanded $200 million chain into nation’s 12th
largest food retailer (first in South) with 300 supermarkets. Company
still family-owned, but CEO Charles, now 65, is a bachelor. Company
donates 5% of pre-tax earnings to education, art and food programs.
60. Cox
Enterprises (62)
Cox/Atlanta
Industry: Newspapers, TV
Founded: 1898
Revenues: $9.9 billion
Employees: 77,000
www.coxenterprises.com
Reporter James M. Cox bought Dayton (Ohio) Daily News 1898,
Atlanta Constitution 1950; died 1957. Company now owns 17 daily
newspapers, cable systems and radio and TV stations. Founder’s daughters
Anne Chambers, 83 (U.S. ambassador to Belgium under President Carter),
and Barbara Anthony, 80, control 98% of stock. Barbara’s husband, Garner
Anthony, stepped down as CEO 1987, succeeded by James Cox Kennedy, now
56, Barbara’s son by previous marriage.
61. SHV Holdings
N.V. (56)
Fentener van Vlissingen/Utrecht, Netherlands
Industry: Energy holdings
Revenues: $9.833 billion
Employees: 28,300
www.shv.nl
Largest private company in the Netherlands, with global interests in
energy, retail and raw-material distribution businesses. Also owns U.S.
scrap metal company David J. Joseph and 60% of metal recycling firm
Thyssen Sonnenberg Recycling; operates its Makro store chain in Asia and
South America; has also acquired NPM Capital, one of the Netherlands’
biggest venture capital firms. Firm is controlled by Fentener van
Vlissingen family and run by Paul Fentener van Vlissingen. (See also BCD
Holdings, #128 below.)
62. *Hutchison
Whampoa (71)
Li/Hong Kong, China
Industry: Telecom, retail, energy
Revenues: $9.645 billion
Employees: 117,843
www.hutchison-whampoa.com
Founder Li Ka-shing, 75, started as maker of plastic flowers in 1940s,
cobbled together empire that ranges from telecommunications and ports to
supermarkets. Widely considered Hong Kong’s most powerful person.
Hutchison Whampoa, his most prominent company, dominates Hong Kong’s port
and owns large stakes in ports of Shanghai, Shenzhen and Xiamen; Li
family owns 49.9%. Son Richard, 35, followed him into the business in
1999.
63. *Reliance
Industries (42)
Ambani/Mumbai, India
Industry: Chemicals
Revenues: $9.634 billion
Employees: 12,915
www.ril.com
India’s largest petrochemical manufacturer; also makes textiles. Family
of late self-made founder Dhirubhai Ambani owns 26%; sons Mukesh and Anil
now run the business. Socially conscious family spent $10 million to
provide drinking water to drought-prone areas.
64. *Illinois
Tool Works (58)
Smith/Glenview, Ill.
Industry: Industrial equipment
Founded: 1912
Revenues: $9.468 billion
Employees: 48,700
www.itw.com
After founding Chicago’s legendary Northern Trust Co. in 1889, patriarch
Byron L. Smith (1853-1914) financed two Swedish toolmakers to form ITW,
later took control and handed operation to younger sons Walter and Harold
C. (Eldest son remained at bank.) Harold C.’s son Harold Byron Smith (d.
1990) took charge after World War II, diversified from fasteners, screws
and washers into packaging systems, engineering components and medical
and computer supplies through 600 separate companies. His son Harold Jr.,
69, has headed ITW executive committee since 1982.
65. *Masco
(65)
Manoogian/Taylor, Mich.
Industry: Building materials
Founded: 1929
Revenues: $9.419 billion
Employees: 61,000
www.masco.com
Founder Alex Manoogian (d. 1996) perfected single-handle Delta faucet.
His Yale-educated son Richard, now 67, took over 1968 and acquired more
than 100 building and home improvement companies (Home Depot, Delta
faucets, KraftMaid cabinets, etc.) in past 30 years.
66. El Corte
Inglés (59)
Alvarez/Madrid, Spain
Industry: Retailing
Revenues: $9.133 billion
Employees: 59,000
www.elcorteingles.es
Department store giant run by Isidoro Alvarez is Spain’s largest family
company. It also owns about 17% of Gottschalks, the California-based U.S.
department store chain. Also offers financial services, insurance, online
shopping, retail consulting and telecommunications services, movie
theaters and auto dealerships.
67. Huntsman
Corp. (64)
Huntsman/Salt Lake City
Industry: Chemicals
Founded: 1970
Revenues: $9 billion
Employees: 15,000
www.huntsman.com
Former Huntsman Container Corporation best known for container that
housed McDonald’s Big Mac. Acquisitions by CEO and founder Jon M.
Huntsman, now 66, have made it North America’s largest privately held
chemical company, with facilities in more than 40 countries. Six sons and
three sons-in-law all work in the business.
68. Fidelity
Investments (FMR Corp.) (55)
Johnson/Boston
Industry: Mutual funds
Founded: 1930
Revenues: $8.9 billion
Employees: 29,000
www.fidelity.com
Department store heir turned mutual fund pioneer Edward C. Johnson II
bought Fidelity Fund in 1946, fired its investment adviser and managed
fund himself, stressing instincts and knowledge over prudence. Assets
under management multiplied 1,000 times (from $3 million to $3 billion)
by time son Edward C. (Ned) III succeeded him, 1972. Now leading mutual
fund company worldwide, with 340 funds, 18 million customers, $775
billion assets managed. Ned, 73, reduced ownership share in parent FMR
Corp. to 12% 1995, making daughter Abigail, 41, company’s largest
shareholder (with 25%) and likely heir. Johnson relatives and top
Fidelity execs own the rest. Abigail, senior VP, runs a Fidelity equity
funds group.
69. *Marriott
International (53)
Marriott/Washington, D.C.
Industry: Hotels, casinos
Founded: 1927
Revenues: $8.441 billion
Employees: 144,000
www.marriott.com
From D.C. root beer stand opened 1927, J. Willard Marriott (1900-1985)
and his wife, Alice, expanded into hotels and restaurants. Now world’s
largest lodging company with some 2,600 owned or franchised properties in
65 countries. Son John, now 70, named president 1964, added retirement
homes, financing. He now runs Marriott International while brother
Richard, 64, heads family’s Host Marriott luxury hotels division (see
#134 below). Alice died 2000, age 92. Marriott family owns about 12% of
stock.
70. *Clear
Channel Communications (69)
Mays/San Antonio, Texas
Industry: Broadcasting
Founded: 1972
Revenues: $8.421 billion
Employees: 41,800
www.clearchannel.com
Founder Lowry Mays, 67, started buying distressed radio stations in
mid-sized markets with fellow Texan Red McCombs. Company is now #1 U.S.
radio station owner (some 1,225), world’s largest outdoor advertising
company (more than 775,000 displays); also owns or manages 39 TV
stations. Lowry is still CEO; three children are active, including
president Mark, 39, and EVP/CFO Randall, 37.
71. Tata Group
(70)
Tata/Mumbai, India
Industry: Textile, steel, autos
Revenues: $7.959 billion
Employees: 250,000
www.tata.com
Founded as textile trader in 19th century, Tata Enterprises has grown
into India’s largest industrial conglomerate, with more than 80 companies
in steel, automobiles, agribusiness, chemicals and pharmaceuticals,
consumer products, energy, engineering, exports, finance, information
technology and telecommunications, metals, and service industries. Ratan
N. Tata is current CEO.
72. *Parmalat
Finanziaria S.p.A. (75)
Tanzi/Milan, Italy
Industry: Dairy products
Revenues: $7.955 billion
Employees: 36,356
www.parmalat.net
One of world’s largest dairy companies, operating in 30 countries. Also
produces vegetables, baked goods, fruit juices. Now #3 cookie maker in
U.S. (behind Kraft Foods’ Nabisco and Kellogg’s Keebler) with its
Archway, Mother’s and Salerno brands. Founder Calisto Tanzi and family
own 98%.
73. Boehringer
Ingelheim (82)
Boehringer/Ingelheim, Germany
Industry: Pharmaceuticals
Founded: 1885
Revenues: $7.945 billion
Employees: 31,846
www.boehringer-ingelheim.com
Founded as chemical maker in 1885, Boehringer still makes bulk
pharmaceutical ingredients and other chemicals for food and drug
industries. Best seller: Flomax. Boehringer family controls company
through its parent, C.H. Boehringer Sohn.
74. *Dillard’s
(66)
Dillard/Little Rock, Ark.
Industry: Department stores
Founded: 1938
Revenues: $7.911 billion
Employees: 55,208
www.dillards.com
Founder William T. Dillard’s department store chain (third largest in
U.S., behind May and Federated) operates some 330 upscale, medium-sized
stores in 29 states. Founder died 2002, age 87. All five children are
active: William II (president and CEO), 58; Alex (president), 53; three
others as VPs. Some 30 Dillard family members own 10% of stock but
control 99% of Class B stock, which elects two-thirds of company’s
directors.
75. *SAP
(77)
Hopp/Walldorf, Germany
Industry: Software
Revenues: $7.786 billion
Employees: 29,374
www.sap.com
One of world’s largest independent software companies. Co-founder Dietmar
Hopp and family, plus two other co-founders, control about 35% of
company.
76. *Thomson
Corp. (74)
Thomson/Toronto, Canada
Industry: Media
Revenues: $7.756 billion
Employees: 42,000
www.thomcorp.com
Former giant newspaper chain now specializing in niche information
services. Thomson family owns 73%.
77. JM Family
Enterprises (72)
Moran/Deerfield Beach, Fla.
Industry: Auto dealerships
Founded: 1968
Revenues: $7.6 billion
Employees: 3,227
www.jmfamily.com
Starting with gas station, Chicagoan James Moran moved up to used-car
dealership, Hudson franchise, then Ford franchise. Moved to Florida for
his health in 1960s; acquired regional Toyota distributorship and built
family company into world’s largest independent auto dealer. Founder now
84 and honorary chairman; daughter Pat is chairman.
78. *Grupo
Financiero BBVA-Bancomer (73)
Garza/Mexico City, Mexico
Industry: Banking
Revenues: $7.577 billion
Employees: 36,349
www.bancomer.com.mx
Chairman Eugenio Garza Laguera, 78, and family own 25% of stock of
Mexico’s second-largest bank. Their 70-year-old Bancomer merged in 2000
with BBVA-Probursa and regional player Banca Promex, now operates 1,600
Mexican branches, may expand into U.S. Garza also heads big brewer FEMSA
(see #97 below).
79. Tetra Laval
(68)
Rausing/Pully, Switzerland
Industry: Packaging
Revenues: $7.441 billion
Employees: 25,000
www.tetralaval.com
Hans Rausing invented milk carton, built Swedish firm Tetra Pak into
world’s largest packaging manufacturer. Brother Gad Rausing and family
bought out Hans 1996. Gad died 2000, age 77; his three children sit on
board of directors.
80. *Interbrew
(NR)
Leuven, Belgium
Industry: Brewing
Revenues: $7.328 billion
Employees: 35,044
www.interbrew.com
Among world’s largest brewers (closely ranked with Heineken, which trails
Anheuser-Busch and SABMiller), with some 200 brands of lagers, premium
beers and specialty brews (Stella Artois and Bass Ale, Rolling Rock,
etc.), sold in 120 countries. A voting trust of Interbrew’s founding
families owns more than 60% of company.
81. *Associated
British Foods (78)
Weston/London, United Kingdom
Industry: Food, household products
Revenues: $7.095 billion
Employees: 34,957
www.abf.co.uk
Weston family controls about 55% of Associated British Foods, maker of
Twinings Tea, Wagon Wheels snack cakes, British Sugar products;
introduced sliced bread in 1930s. Also operates the Penneys and Primark
clothing store chains in Ireland and the U.K. At least 40% of family’s
stake in company is pledged to a charitable trust.
82. *Cemex
(76)
Zambrano/Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Industry: Building, materials
Revenues: $6.538 billion
Employees: 26,452
www.cemex.com
World’s second-largest cement company, with operations in 30 countries.
Gutsy, technology-savvy CEO Lorenzo Zambrano, 59, and extended family own
about 35%. Marcelo Zambrano Hellion is honorary chairman.
83. Enterprise
Rent-A-Car (81)
Taylor/St. Louis
Industry: Car rentals and leasing
Founded: 1957
Revenues: $6.5 billion
Employees: 50,000
www.enterprise.com
On a hunch that drivers would rather lease than buy, Jack Taylor launched
firm in basement of Cadillac dealership. It now has 525,000 cars in 4,000
locations. Firm was named after aircraft carrier U.S.S. Enterprise,
where Jack flew fighters as Navy pilot, World War II. Son Andy, 55, now
runs company; Jack is 81 and semi-retired.
84. *Dollar
General Corp. (89)
Turner/Goodlettsville, Tenn.
Industry: Retail stores
Founded: 1939
Revenues: $6.1 billion
Employees: 53,500
www.dollargeneral.com
Retailer commands a chain of more than 6,300 discount stores in 27
states, mostly in Southeast and Midwest. CEO Cal Turner Jr., grandson of
company’s founder, owns about 15% of Dollar General.
85. *Mercadona
(103)
Roig/Spain
Industry: Supermarkets
Revenues: $6.064 billion
Employees: 40,000
www.mercadona.es
Spain’s leading supermarket chain, with 700 low-price stores. Juan Roig
is current CEO.
86. Heraeus
Holding GmbH (NR)
Heraeus/Hanau, Germany
Industry: Precious metals
Founded: 1850
Revenues: $6.057 billion
Employees: 9,181
www.heraeus.com
Chemist Wilhelm Carl Heraeus inherited father’s pharmacy 1850, discovered
new elements caesium (1860) and ribidium (1861), became supplier of
platinum to goldsmiths. Company now major trader and recycler of precious
metals; also 100 other subsidiaries. Still owned and run by 150
descendants of founder. Great-grandson Jergen Heraeus is current CEO.
87. Aditya Birla
Group (NR)
Birla/Pilani, India
Industry: Conglomerate
Revenues: $6 billion
Employees: 72,000
www.adityabirla.com
India’s second-largest conglomerate, started in mid-19th century in
northern Indian town of Pilani with a single cotton trader named Seth
Shivnarain Birla. His descendants expanded into textiles and fibers,
aluminum, cement and chemicals. Group’s operations today span 40
companies in 17 countries and generate $6 billion in annual revenues.
88. *Nordstrom
(84)
Nordstrom/Seattle
Industry: Clothing stores
Founded: 1901
Revenues: $5.975 billion
Employees: 52,000
www.nordstrom.com
Swedish immigrant John W. Nordstrom opened Seattle shoe store 1901,
retired 1928. His three sons built it into largest independent U.S. shoe
chain by 1963. Grandsons Bruce, John and Jim Nordstrom and cousin-in-law
Jack McMillan diversified into upscale specialty retailing; now 140
stores in 25 states, known for impeccable service. Family owns about 30%
of stock. Founder’s grandsons all retired 1995; six fourth-generation
Nordstroms (Bill, Blake, Dan, Erik, Jim and Peter) were appointed to
co-presidency, under a non-family CEO. Bruce Nordstrom, 69, came back
from retirement 2000 as chairman; his son Blake, 42, is president.
89. *Haci Ömer
Sabanci Holding (83)
Sabanci/Istanbul, Turkey
Industry: Conglomerate
Revenues: $5.857 billion
Employees: 31,380
www.sabanci.com.tr
Company owns 40% of Akbank, one of Turkey’s largest banks; has operations
in textiles, synthetic fibers, cement, cars, tires, food, energy,
insurance, Internet access and tobacco. Chairman Sakip Sabanci, 70, and
family own about 85%. More than a dozen relatives active, including
(rarity for Turkey) women executives: Guler Sabanci, 49, helped build
firm; Suzan Sabanci, 38, Boston University MBA being groomed to succeed
her father, Erol, at Akbank.
90. Sonepar
(80)
Mulliez/Paris, France
Industry: Electrical equipment
Revenues: $5.846 billion
Employees: 19,465
www.sonepar.com
World’s leading distributor of electrical equipment, with 1,100 branches
in 29 countries across four continents.
91. Marmon Group
(79)
Pritzker/Chicago
Industry: Mining equipment, railroad cars
Founded: 1953
Revenues: $5.756 billion
Employees: 35,000
www.marmon.com
Chicago lawyer A.N. Pritzker (1896-1986) used legal knowledge to assemble
real estate and manufacturing empire that his sons Jay and Robert
multiplied many times over through shrewd acquisitions and astute
management (Hyatt Hotels, Marmon Group, American Medical International,
etc.). Altogether about 550 facilities in more than 40 countries, still
family-owned. Dealmaker Jay died in 1999; engineer Bob ran Marmon Group
until retiring this year. See also H Group Holding, #198 below.
92. *Grupo Carso
(85)
Slim/Mexico City, Mexico
Industry: Conglomerate
Revenues: $5.595 billion
www.gcarso.com.mx
Sprawling conglomerate includes Sanborns department store chain, an 85%
stake in Sears Roebuck de Mexico and troubled U.S. computer retailer
CompUSA. Patriarch Carlos Slim Helu, 63, Latin America’s wealthiest man,
and family own majority stake. Turned reins to son Patrick Slim Domit
after 1997 heart attack; another son, Marco Antonio, 35, heads family’s
financial arm. Carlos Slim is also chairman of Teléfonos de Mexico S.A.,
Mexico’s former phone monopoly.
93. *ERG S.p.A.
(87)
Garrone/Genoa, Italy
Industry: Oil, energy
Revenues: $5.506 billion
Employees: 1,289
www.erg.it
Independent oil company (formerly Raffinero Edoardo Garrone) with more
than 2,100 retail outlets. Also distributes oil products directly to
agricultural, industrial and utility customers. Now moving into electric
power. Garrone family owns 60%, through Polcevera SA (Luxembourg).
94. De Beers
Consolidated Mines (NR)
Oppenheimer/Kimberley, South Africa
Industry: Diamonds
Founded: 1917
Revenues: $5.3 billion
Employees:
www.debeersgroup.com
World’s largest diamond miner and marketer produces more than 38 million
carats yearly. DBCM and sister company De Beers Centenary were taken
private in 2001 under De Beers SA, a holding company owned by South
Africa’s Anglo American and Oppenheimer family (45% each). Nicky
Oppenheimer, grandson of Anglo American’s founder, Ernest Oppenheimer, is
executive chairman; fourth generation also on board.
95. *Estée
Lauder Cos. (96)
Lauder/New York
Industry: Cosmetics
Founded: 1946
Revenues: $5.118 billion
Employees: 21,500
www.elcompanies.com
Founded by Joseph Lauder (d. 1983) and legendary wife Estée, now 95.
Company today controls 45% of prestige cosmetics industry with Clinique,
M.A.C., Aveda, etc. Son Leonard, 70, CEO, holds controlling stock (58%,
good for 90% of voting stock) with brother Ronald, 59. Leonard’s son
William, 42, is COO.
96. Dogus Group
(91)
Sahenk/Istanbul, Turkey
Industry: Banking, construction
Founded: 1951
Revenues: $5.1 billion
Employees: 20,000
www.gbm.ru/garantiholding.htm
Founder Ayhan Sahenk, now 74, launched Dogus (means “birth”) 1951, built
into leading builder of Turkish roads, ports, hospitals. Diversified into
banking 1970s; now 70% of business, with dominant role in Turkey’s
banking system. Also in autos, retail, tourism, media and technology.
With 12 acquisitions inn past three years, group now comprises more than
100 companies. Founder’s son Ferit Sahenk, 39, now chief executive,
leading charge into Internet technology.
97. *Fomento
Económico Mexicano (FEMSA) (88)
Garza/Monterrey, Mexico
Industry: Brewing
Revenues: $5.096 billion
Employees: 41,656
www.femsa.com
Century-old FEMSA, as it’s known, is Mexico’s leading brewer and Coke
bottler. Garza family owns 47% (also owns big stake in Grupo Financiero
BBVA-Bancomer, #78 above).
98. *Pernod
Ricard (NR)
Ricard/Paris, France
Industry: Distiller
Revenues: $5.068 billion
Employees: 12,526
www.pernod-ricard.com
World’s third-largest spirits firm (Wild Turkey whiskey, Pernod, Ricard,
Chivas Regal, etc.). Patrick Ricard is CEO.
99. *H&M Hennes
& Mauritz AB (124)
Persson/Stockholm, Sweden
Industry: Clothing retailer
Revenues: $5.026 billion
Employees: 25,674
www.hm.com
Designer and retailer of chic clothing sold in 845 H&M stores in 14
countries. First women’s store opened 1947 in Sweden as Hennes (Swedish
for “hers”); company later bought the hunting and men’s clothing store
Mauritz Widforss. Chairman Stefan Persson (son of founder Erling Persson)
and family control company.
100. S.C.
Johnson & Son (102)
Johnson/Racine, Wis.
Industry: Home and personal care products
Founded: 1886
Revenues: $5 billion
Employees: 9,500
www.scjohnson.com
Founded by Samuel Johnson, carpenter who went from floors to polishes.
Great-grandson Samuel C. Johnson, 75, longtime CEO, sustained kids’
involvement by creating separate fiefdom for each. Consumer products
(Windex, Pledge, Glade, Edge, Saran Wrap, Off!) went to H. Fisk, 45, now
chairman; commercial business (floor care, polymers) to S. Curtis, 48
(see Johnson Diversey, #187 below); recreation (Johnson Worldwide)
already headed by daughter Helen Johnson-Leipold, 46. Fourth child,
Winifred, on board of Johnson International and runs Johnson Family
Foundation.
