My great-great grandfather invented one of America’s most beloved beverages – we’re the 16th richest family, worth $18b
THE BUSCH Family has built a $17.6billion fortune off the back of beers such as Budweiser and Michelob. Despite the massive returns the Anheuser-Busch company has delivered, things haven’t always been happy in the brewing family. GettyAugust Busch IV is the great-great-grandson of the inventor of Budweiser[/caption] GettyHe served as chief executive officer until 2008, when he reluctantly relinquished family control of the business[/caption] DYNASTY BEGINS The roots of Anheuser-Busch go back to 1852 when German American Brewer George Schneider opened a brewery in St.Louis, Missouri, where the company has remained headquartered throughout its history. In 1860, the brewery was purchased by another German-born businessman, Eberhard Anheuser, and his business partner, William D’Oench. The first Busch to enter the fold would be Adolphus Busch, who began working as a salesman for the company after fighting in the Civil War. He later purchased William D’Oench’s share and assumed the role of company secretary – beginning the family dynasty. BOOMING BUSINESS Adolphus was the first American brewer to use pasteurization to keep the beer fresh and use refrigerated railroad cars to transport bottles nationwide. In 1876, Adolphus discovered a new pilsner beer in Europe brewed in the German town of Budweis. He took the name Budweiser and applied it to his new beer, which became America’s national beer brand thanks to the company’s transportation capabilities. In 1913, Adolphus died and passed control of the company to August Anheuser Busch Sr, beginning several decades of family succession. Anheuser-Busch survived prohibition by temporarily selling ice cream and nonalcoholic malt beverages. By 1957, the company was the largest brewer in the United States. LAST IN LINE The final member of the Busch family to be chief executive officer was August Busch IV, the great-great-grandson of founder Adolphus. August worked his way up from the bottom, originally starting as a brewing apprentice. As he grew more senior in the company, he discovered a knack for marketing and helped reinvent the brand in the 1990s. Under his watch, Budweiser and Bud Light commercials were crowned the best Super Bowl ads every year from 1999 to 2008 by USA Today Super Bowl Ad Meter. However, August would be the last ever family chief executive officer. After he took the position in 2006, Belgian-Brazilian brewery company InBev began making offers to buy the company. Although August said the family company would not be bought “on my watch,” other members of the family, including his own father, favored the deal. In 2008, A-B was sold to InBev, ending 156 years of family control. August stayed on with the company as a board member and consultant. TROUBLED SON Throughout his life, August has been plagued with legal troubles – including two suspicious deaths surrounding him. While a 19-year-old student at the University of Arizona, Busch was in an auto accident that resulted in the death of a local model and waitress. After leaving a bar, August’s Corvette flipped and the woman was killed after she flew through the sunroof and the car rolled over her. August left the scene without telling anyone but was never charged with any wrongdoing. Eyewitnesses from the bar said August did not appear to be under the influence of alcohol, and blood and urine samples taken by police were lost at the hospital. Two years later, August was arrested following a high-speed car chase that ended with the cops shooting out his rear tire. Police accused him of trying to run over two officers with his Mercedes-Benz, but he was later acquitted of assault. In 2010, his divorcee girlfriend Adrienne Nicole Martin was found dead at his home. The St.Louis County Prosecutor ruled that the divorcee died of an accidental overdose, while August would later pay out $1.5 million to Adrienne’s ex-husband in a wrongful death lawsuit, as reported St. Louis Post Dispatch. LIFE TODAY August has been keeping a low profile over the last decade, while the Busch family is estimated to be worth a total of $17.6billion, according to Forbes. As of 2020, that made them the 16th richest family in America. Meanwhile, AB InBev delivers a profit of $6.093billion a year thanks to consolidated brands including Budweiser, Stella Artois, and Corona. Another American family has racked up an $11.7billion fortune after keeping the business under family control for 150 years. And see why the founder of the biggest computer software supplier is leaving only a “minuscule portion” of his wealth to his children.
THE BUSCH Family has built a $17.6billion fortune off the back of beers such as Budweiser and Michelob.
Despite the massive returns the Anheuser-Busch company has delivered, things haven’t always been happy in the brewing family.
DYNASTY BEGINS
The roots of Anheuser-Busch go back to 1852 when German American Brewer George Schneider opened a brewery in St.Louis, Missouri, where the company has remained headquartered throughout its history.
In 1860, the brewery was purchased by another German-born businessman, Eberhard Anheuser, and his business partner, William D’Oench.
The first Busch to enter the fold would be Adolphus Busch, who began working as a salesman for the company after fighting in the Civil War.
He later purchased William D’Oench’s share and assumed the role of company secretary – beginning the family dynasty.
BOOMING BUSINESS
Adolphus was the first American brewer to use pasteurization to keep the beer fresh and use refrigerated railroad cars to transport bottles nationwide.
In 1876, Adolphus discovered a new pilsner beer in Europe brewed in the German town of Budweis.
He took the name Budweiser and applied it to his new beer, which became America’s national beer brand thanks to the company’s transportation capabilities.
In 1913, Adolphus died and passed control of the company to August Anheuser Busch Sr, beginning several decades of family succession.
Anheuser-Busch survived prohibition by temporarily selling ice cream and nonalcoholic malt beverages.
By 1957, the company was the largest brewer in the United States.
LAST IN LINE
The final member of the Busch family to be chief executive officer was August Busch IV, the great-great-grandson of founder Adolphus.
August worked his way up from the bottom, originally starting as a brewing apprentice.
As he grew more senior in the company, he discovered a knack for marketing and helped reinvent the brand in the 1990s.
Under his watch, Budweiser and Bud Light commercials were crowned the best Super Bowl ads every year from 1999 to 2008 by USA Today Super Bowl Ad Meter.
However, August would be the last ever family chief executive officer.
After he took the position in 2006, Belgian-Brazilian brewery company InBev began making offers to buy the company.
Although August said the family company would not be bought “on my watch,” other members of the family, including his own father, favored the deal.
In 2008, A-B was sold to InBev, ending 156 years of family control.
August stayed on with the company as a board member and consultant.
TROUBLED SON
Throughout his life, August has been plagued with legal troubles – including two suspicious deaths surrounding him.
While a 19-year-old student at the University of Arizona, Busch was in an auto accident that resulted in the death of a local model and waitress.
After leaving a bar, August’s Corvette flipped and the woman was killed after she flew through the sunroof and the car rolled over her.
August left the scene without telling anyone but was never charged with any wrongdoing.
Eyewitnesses from the bar said August did not appear to be under the influence of alcohol, and blood and urine samples taken by police were lost at the hospital.
Two years later, August was arrested following a high-speed car chase that ended with the cops shooting out his rear tire.
Police accused him of trying to run over two officers with his Mercedes-Benz, but he was later acquitted of assault.
In 2010, his divorcee girlfriend Adrienne Nicole Martin was found dead at his home.
The St.Louis County Prosecutor ruled that the divorcee died of an accidental overdose, while August would later pay out $1.5 million to Adrienne’s ex-husband in a wrongful death lawsuit, as reported St. Louis Post Dispatch.
LIFE TODAY
August has been keeping a low profile over the last decade, while the Busch family is estimated to be worth a total of $17.6billion, according to Forbes.
As of 2020, that made them the 16th richest family in America.
Meanwhile, AB InBev delivers a profit of $6.093billion a year thanks to consolidated brands including Budweiser, Stella Artois, and Corona.
Another American family has racked up an $11.7billion fortune after keeping the business under family control for 150 years.
And see why the founder of the biggest computer software supplier is leaving only a “minuscule portion” of his wealth to his children.
