Finance & Mortgage

5 Wealthy Families Who Lost Their Fortunes

Many are excited to know who made it to the Forbes' List, but some have made it already on top but lose on the end of the streak. Reversal of fortunes, these five families are once fortune inheritors but some major investments and decisions lead them to the end of the game. (Source: Bankrate)

1. The Vanderbilts

The Vanderbilts started their fortune in the railroad and shipping company starting with Cornelius "Commodore" Vanderbilt. Among their other properties are the vast mansions on Fifth Avenue, New York and some luxurious vacation homes in Rhode Island. One home of the Vanderbilts known as The Breakers in Rhode Island was reportedly one of the largest properties in the area  with 154 rooms.

According to Bankrate, the fortune that Cornelius started "are no longer in the family after six generations."

2. The Hartfords

Huntington Hartford, the heir of the chain of grocer empire, A&P and Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. who lost his multi-million fortune due to multiple failed investments. One of the investments that Hartford made was the Paradise Island in the Bahamas which he shelled out $30 million and sell it only for $1 million. Apart from this, he also invested on art causes such as the study of handwriting and a gallery museum in New York according to LA Times.  

3. The Kluges

Patricia Kluge was the former wife of the network billionaire named John Kluge. Patricia after her divorce with John earned her less than a million in her name even a 45-room mansion in Virginia according to Forbes. But apparently Patricia dwindled her fortunes through unpaid loans in the bank and a vineyard business.

4. The Strohs

The Strohs were known from their beverage empire company known as Stroh Brewery Company. Bernhard Stroh started his brew business in 1850s in which he sells it via wheelbarrow. The company lost their billion inheritance from multi-million bank loans that didn't recover.

5. The Pulitzers

After Peter Pulitzer inherited the fortune of his grandfather Joseph Pulitzer and ending up with a net worth of $23 million after his divorce with wife Roxanne Pulitzer. Peter lost his finances due to a failed thousands of citrus grove in 2006 which his former wife Roxanne helped him to get out of.


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