The Kennedy family remains one of the most storied political dynasties in US history.
Descending from humble Irish roots in County Wexford, the Kennedy family -and those who have married into it - has gone on to enjoy great success both politically and financially in the US.
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Forbes reported that as of 2015, the Kennedy family, accounting for some 30 individuals, was valued at $1.2 billion. (For comparison, in 2018, the Walton family behind the American department store Wal-Mart, was valued at $152 billion making them the richest family in America.)
In 2017, The International Business Times reported that the Kennedy family’s “lasting wealth is attributed to the fact that Joseph P. Kennedy, who made his fortune in insider trading, tucked the money into dozens of trusts. Those trusts are managed by Joseph P. Kennedy Enterprises, the investment firm headed by Chris Kennedy.”
Presently, the Kennedy family with the highest net worth who is still alive is considered to be Caroline Kennedy, with a staggering estimated net worth of $250 million.
Below, TheRichest has compiled a list of Kennedy family members who they believe to have the highest net worths.
Jean Kennedy Smith
Estimated net worth: $100,000-$1 million
Jean Kennedy Smith, pictured in 2014 (Getty Images)
The late Jean Kennedy Smith, sister to President John F. Kennedy, was the eighth of nine children born to Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald. She served as the US Ambassador to Ireland from 1993 - 1998 during the Clinton presidency.
Conor Kennedy
Estimated net worth: $10 million
Conor Kennedy at 2019 New York Fashion Week (Getty Images)
Conor Kennedy is the son of Robert Kennedy, Jr, and his second wife Mary Robinson. The young Kennedy briefly dated pop star Taylor Swift, and in 2017, was arrested in Aspen, Colorado following a bar fight in which he was allegedly defending his friend from homophobic comments.
Joseph P. Kennedy III
Estimated net worth: $43 million (as of 2016)
Joseph P. Kennedy, III (Getty Images)
US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland Joseph P. Kennedy, III is the grandson of the late Robert 'Bobby' F. Kennedy.
Edward ‘Ted’ Kennedy
Estimated net worth: $49 million
Ted Kennedy, pictured here in 2006 (Getty Images)
The late Massachusetts Senator Edward 'Ted' Kennedy is often fondly remembered as the 'lion' of the Senate. He was the brother to both President John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy, who were both assassinated in the 1960s.
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Estimated net worth: $50 million
Jackie Kennedy (Getty Images)
Jackie Kennedy was the widow of President John F. Kennedy and mother to the couple's three children. She later remarried to Aristotle Onassis, an extremely wealthy Greek shipping magnate.
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President John F. Kennedy
Estimated net worth: $100 million
President John F. Kennedy (Getty Images)
President John F. Kennedy was the first person of Irish Catholic descent to become president of the United States, as well as the first US President to visit Ireland while in office. He was famously assassinated in November 1963 in Dallas, Texas during his first presidential term.
Maria Shriver
Estimated net worth: $100 million
Maria Shriver (Getty Images)
The daughter of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Maria Shriver is currently a journalist and founder of the Women's Alzheimer's Movement.
John F. Kennedy, Jr
Estimated net worth: $100 million
John F. Kennedy, Jr pictured here in 1998 (Getty Images)
John F. Kennedy, Jr, the son of the late President John F. Kennedy, was a lawyer and founder of the magazine 'George' before his tragic death in 1999.
Caroline Kennedy
Estimated net worth: $250 million
Caroline Kennedy, pictured here in 2018 (Getty Images)
Caroline Kennedy, the eldest and only surviving child of President John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy, is a lawyer and author who served as the US Ambassador to Japan between 2013 and 2017.
Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr
Estimated net worth: $200 + million (not adjusted for inflation)
Joseph P. Kennedy, pictured here in 1940 (Getty Images)
The grandson of four Irish immigrants, Joseph Patrick Kennedy is considered the source of the Kennedy family's lasting fortunes. Aside from being a successful businessman and investor, Kennedy, Sr. served as the US Ambassador to Great Britain between 1938 and 1940. He and his wife had nine children, including President John F. Kennedy.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Estimated net worth: $15 million
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The controversial son of Robert F. Kennedy, RFK Jr. is an environmental lawyer and a prominent anti-vaccine activist.
Kennedy became the fifth member of his family to seek the presidency of the United States when he filed his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in April 2023. He has since announced that he will run as an independent candidate in next year's election.
*Originally published in June 2019, updated in Nov 2023.
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