Anheuser and Busch Families

When German soap manufacturer Eberhard Anheuser joined forces with son-in-law Adolphus Busch, they built an empire that made their names synonymous with American brewing. Anheuser founded the Anheuser Brewing company in 1852 with silent partner William D’Oench. In 1869, Adolphus Busch purchased D’Oench’s share and served as company secretary. Ten years later, they formally launched the Anheuser-Busch Brewery and quickly made Budweiser and Busch household brands. Part of the family’s great success can be attributed to Adolphus Busch’s early adoption of the practice of vertical integration. Early on, he saw the immense value in owning bottling companies, trucking firms and hops farms. The Busch family would go on to have a hand in many other business and philanthropic activities in the midwestern United States. Four generations of Adolphus Busch’s heirs (August Bush I-IV) would each helm Anheuser-Busch until 2008 when the InBev merger was forced upon them in a hostile takeover under August Busch IV’s watch. The Busch family has investments in banks and commercial property and owned the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team from 1953 until 1989. The Busch family has an estimated net worth of $13 billion spread amongst approximately 30 family members.