Atlanta-area families – Forbes’ 2026 ranking put 54 families among America’s richest, including Atlanta-area dynasties such as the Cathy family behind Chick-fil-A and the Cox family tied to Cox Enterprises—each with tens of billions in wealth and long-running business empires.
Two families with deep Atlanta roots helped shape the top end of American household wealth in Forbes’ 2026 report, which named 54 families as the richest in the country.
The list spans major consumer brands, media empires, construction materials, and industries that rarely make headlines—plus carefully held fortunes passed down for generations. Among the Atlanta metro area’s representatives, the Cathy family and the Cox family both sit high in the ranking.
With the wealth figures stretching into the tens of billions. the report also shows how power can look different depending on the sector: some fortunes are built on everyday brands with thousands of storefronts. while others rely on infrastructure-heavy businesses and family control that stays mostly out of view.
At No. 8, the Cathy family is tied to one of Georgia’s most recognizable restaurant names: Chick-fil-A. Forbes puts the family’s wealth at $40.2 billion. S. Truett Cathy founded the food chain in an Atlanta mall in 1967. and since then the chain has grown to more than 3. 000 restaurants across 48 states. largely owned by franchisees.
The Cathy fortune, according to the report, has been passed down for four generations. Family members have held roles across the company, including chairman, executive vice president, company ambassadors and CEO.
The Cox family follows at No. 10. Forbes pegs their net worth at $38 billion, based on their ownership of Cox Enterprises. Through that ownership. the report lists Cox Enterprises as the parent company of Cox Communications. Cox Automotive (including Autotrader. Kelley Blue Book and Manheim). and media outlets such as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The Cox family sold their majority stake in television stations for $3 billion, and the company is operated by fourth-generation Cox family member Alex Taylor, who serves as chairman and CEO.
The report also ties the Cox group’s corporate timeline to federal approvals. The FCC approved the sale of Cox Enterprises to Charter Communications for $21.9 billion in February, but the deal still needs approval by regulators in California.
Further down the list, the Winchester family comes in at No. 28 as a newcomer. Forbes describes them as the second-highest-wealth new family on the list, with a net worth of $18 billion earned through the building and construction industry.
Their company, Quikrete, is described as the largest producer of concrete and cement mixes in the United States and Canada. Forbes traces its origins to founder Gene Winchester. who started the business in 1951 in Columbus. Ohio. before moving the company’s headquarters to Atlanta in 1981. shortly after The Home Depot also moved to the city.
The report adds that Quikrete is not currently led by a family member, but Gene Winchester’s sons still sit on the company’s board. It also lists Will Magill—identified as the former president and COO—as CEO.
At No. 44, the Rollins family built its fortune in pest control after Wayne and John Rollins acquired Orkin in 1964. Forbes notes the brothers had already made millions in regional radio stations before diversifying into other markets.
Their net worth is listed at $12.7 billion, largely from Rollins, Inc., which owns Orkin and Critter Control. The report says Rollins, Inc. is the largest pest control company by revenue on the continent.
Even while the family remains heavily involved, the report points to sell-down activity: the family has sold $2.6 billion of Rollins, Inc. stock since 2023, but it still owns 35% of the publicly traded company.
Atlanta-area influence extends beyond the families ranked in the top tier. Another Georgia family is also on the list: the Richards family, based in Carrollton, Georgia. Forbes ranks them 41st among the richest American families through their investment in the cable and wire manufacturing industry.
The Richards family’s net worth is listed at $13.1 billion following the founding of Southwire in 1950. Forbes says Southwire is still 100% family-owned and accounts for half of all cable and wire production in the United States for material used to transmit electricity.
The roster of top families. according to Forbes. includes the Walton Family (Walmart); the Koch Family (Koch. Inc. formerly Koch Industries); the Mars Family (Mars. Inc.); the (Edward) Johnson Family (Fidelity); the Cargill-MacMillan Family (Cargill Inc.); the Pritzker Family (Hyatt Hotels); the Duncan Family (pipeline industry); the Cathy Family (Chick-fil-A); the S.C. Johnson Family (cleaning products); the Cox Family (media and communications).
Forbes richest families Atlanta metro Cathy family Chick-fil-A Cox family Cox Enterprises Cox Communications Cox Automotive Quikrete Winchester family Rollins family Orkin Richards family Southwire