Share |

Diary

December 20, 2012

Here’s today’s feel-good story. A property club for family offices is turning one of its recently acquired buildings into a homeless shelter over Christmas.

France celebrates the Rothschilds

December 18, 2012

The French government might be cracking down on the rich with the introduction of a 75% income tax for the highest earners, but that isn’t stopping the country celebrating one of France’s greatest – and wealthiest – families.

The world's oldest Ford: Keeping it in the family

December 13, 2012

When the oldest known model of a Ford car went up for auction, one man was on a mission to make sure he got his hands on it.

When the oldest known model of a Ford car went up for auction in October, one man was on a mission to make sure he got his hands on it.

And no, it wasn’t some celebrity with a penchant for Fords. It was Bill Ford, the great-grandson of Henry Ford, the founder of the eponymous carmaker.

Bill revealed he was the buyer of the 1903 Model A as part of an employee event to kick off the 150th anniversary celebration of Henry’s birth.

Could a family business be responsible for the next Angry Birds?

October 31, 2012

A simple gaming idea – where angry birds were catapulted at pigs – became a surprise sensation in 2009. But could a family business be behind the next video game phenomenon?

Austrian transport firm Gebruder Weiss has just launched a free gaming app for the iPhone and Android. The idea behind the game, called Logistics Expert, is to move a Gebruder Weiss forklift truck to the loading ramp as quickly as possible.

Move over Carlos Slim – Mansa Musa is the world’s richest man

October 17, 2012

Think Carlos Slim is rich? Well meet Mansa Musa I of Mali – the richest person in history.

His name might leave you scratching your head in confusion, but Mansa Musa, a 14th century African king, topped the 25 Richest People of All Time list by website Celebrity Net Worth.

No song and dance for the Birla family

October 9, 2012

The world of Indian movies is dominated by songs, dances and drama – lots of it. And now, one family business has found itself in the midst of it all due to the lyrics of a song in an upcoming Bollywood film.

The Birla family, which controls multi-billion-dollar conglomerate the Aditya Birla Group, has sent a legal notice to Prakash Jha – the director of a new film called Chakravyuh– objecting to a song in the movie.

And the factory of the year award goes to…

October 2, 2012

The next time you’re sipping on a mug of Galaxy hot chocolate, take a minute to raise the cup to the family business that makes the drink.

UK-based Aimia Foods, owned by the Unsworth family, has been named the factory of the year in an awards ceremony organised by Cranfield School of Management and Works Managementmagazine.

Rich Products: Making Chaplin talk … and sing and dance

September 10, 2012

You’d be forgiven for thinking frozen food, film stars from the silent era and Broadway musicals have little in common. But not so, once you throw a family business into the mix.

Rich Products, the Buffalo-based frozen food producer, has lent its backing to a musical about Charlie Chaplin – the silent film star best known for his portrayal of the Tramp.

Barilla to US: Eat more pasta

September 4, 2012

Italy’s Barilla family, best known for its dry pasta products and sauces, thinks Americans don’t eat enough pasta.

It will try to convince Americans to load up on its spaghetti, penne and ziti, among others, by opening a new chain of Barilla-branded restaurants in the US next year.

As Europe’s economic crisis deepens, the 135-year-old food company is looking for growth in other markets such as the US.

Want to make sure your family remains wealthy? Scientists may have the answer

September 1, 2012

If you’ve ever wondered how you can ensure your family remains wealthy long after you’ve gone, then wonder no more.

Because according to research published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, the answer is simple. Just have a small family.

The researchers found that having fewer children resulted in increased economic success and social position for descendants across up to four generations.