uncaptionedThe names are famous and often synonymous with great brands, from spaghetti to tires; those who bear them are without question fabulously wealthy. Yet the Rothschilds, Rockefellers, Michelins and 35 other billionaire families don't appear on the Forbes World's Richest People list. Why not? It's a question of degrees. We have tried to distinguish between fortunes that belong to individuals or nuclear families, and those that have been passed down through more than one branch of the family tree and are often shared by dozens of heirs. Here are eight extended families we find especially noteworthy:

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Rockefeller Family

$8.5 billionUnited States200 members

Descendants of John D. Rockefeller, America's first billionaire and the founder of Standard Oil. The frugal accounting clerk put $4,000 into oil refining in 1863. Furor over Standard Oil monopoly forced the company's breakup in 1911. Only son John Jr. turned to real estate (Rockefeller Center) and philanthropy. Father and son gave away more than $1 billion. John Jr. had six children: Abby Rockefeller; John D. Rockefeller III; former New York governor and U.S. Vice President Nelson Rockefeller; venture capitalist and environmentalist Laurance Rockefeller; former Arkansas governor Winthrop Rockefeller; and former Chase Manhattan Bank head David Rockefeller. Descendants of the Rockefeller clan total over 200, including U.S. Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W. Va.) and Arkansas Lt. Gov. Winthrop Paul Rockefeller.

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Michelin Family

$1.2 billionFranceAt least 400 members

As many as 400 Michelin relatives share the fortune. Based in the Clermont-Ferrand region of France, Michelin pumps out more than 300 million tires every year, including sets of extra-heavy-duty tires produced for the Concorde and the space shuttle. The company is at least 25% owned by the Michelin family and run by three "managing partners," two of whom are Michelins. Harvard-educated partner Edouard Michelin, 39, is the newest member of the senior management team--and a person to watch.

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Mellon Family

$10 billionUnited StatesAt least 100 members

Judge Thomas Mellon founded T. Mellon & Sons in the mid-1800s, the predecessor to what is now Mellon Bank. Sons Andrew and Richard took over the business and largely bankrolled the burgeoning steel industry in Pittsburgh; in the process, they amassed one of the three largest pre-World War I fortunes in the country (along with the Vanderbilts and the Rockefellers). The Mellon family turned a patent for cheaper aluminum manufacturing into Alcoa, and a deed for the vast Spindletop oil fields in Texas into Gulf Oil. They revitalized downtown Pittsburgh, funded numerous charities and philanthropic foundations, as well as Carnegie Mellon University. Best-known living relative: Richard Mellon Scaife, the arch conservative, who backed investigations into the Clinton scandals and publishes the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review newspaper.

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Porsche/Piëch Families

$7 billionAustria50 members

Family members benefit from ownership of Porsche Holding, Austria's largest auto dealer and largest private company. They also own 76% of one of the last remaining independent luxury carmakers, Porsche AG. Porsche is cooperating with Volkswagen to add a sport utility vehicle, the Cayenne, to its traditional lineup of luxury sports cars. Family standout Ferdinand Piëch, the chairman who revived VW in the 1990s, is set to retire in April.

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Bombardier Family

$2.7 billionCanadaAt least 7

Founded by Joseph-Armand Bombardier in 1942, Montreal-based Bombardier Inc. manufactures planes, trains and snowmobiles. Laurent Beaudoin, the current chairman, married Joseph-Armand's daughter in 1959. Beaudoin is single-handedly credited with growing the company from a modest maker of Ski-Doo snowmobiles into the world's third-largest commercial aircraft manufacturer behind Boeing and Airbus, with revenue of $10 billion. Son Pierre, appointed president and chief operating officer of the aerospace division in October, is being groomed to take over. Bombardier took a hit in 2001; its stock plunged due to the airline crisis and fallout from Sept. 11. A booming train business cushioned the blow somewhat. Laurent, Pierre and at least five others share the wealth.

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Rothschild Family

$1.5 billionUnited Kingdom, FranceAt least 10 members

Rothschild has been the first name in European private banking since Mayer Amschel Rothschild's five sons started opening banks in the 1790s. The family's Swiss-based holding company, Rothschilds Continuation Holdings, still manages a top-notch private banking operation, but the focus has clearly shifted away from traditional banking and into the ultracompetitive field of mergers and acquisitions. NM Rothschild & Sons turned up on top-ten lists for M&A deals completed in 2001, trouncing rivals like Lazard. London-based Sir Evelyn, 71, chairs RCH and NMR, but there's talk he may soon pass the baton to his 60-year-old Parisian cousin, Baron David. In addition to Sir Evelyn and Baron David, at least eight other Rothschilds are believed to hold stakes in Rothschild Continuation Holdings.

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Braun Family

$1.2 billionGermany5 members

The Braun family has been in the health care business for more than 160 years. In 1839, Julius Wilhelm Braun bought the first pharmacy. Today, Ludwig Georg, a direct descendant of the founder, heads the family-owned $2.1 billion (sales) B. Braun Melsungen AG, one of the world's largest medical technology companies. The group has pioneered such medical innovations as sutures, infusion solutions and surgical instruments. Five family members share the wealth.

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Lavazza Family

$1.2 billionItalyAt least 7 members

Italy's favorite coffee maker was founded in Turin in 1895 by Luigi Lavazza. At least seven family members are involved in the business, including two cousins: Emilio, chairman; and Alberto, vice chairman. Already dominant in Italy, $685 million (sales) Lavazza has been expanding since 1982. It found success in the U.S., thanks in part to its popular espresso and cappuccino maker. It is also renowned for its annual calendar, shot by some of the world's top photographers.

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Badin Family

$1 billionFrance50 membersThe Badin family--which splits a 6% stake in Carrefour with the Defforey family--joins the family fortune list for the first time this year. Patriarch Jacques Badin is a board member of Carrefour, the $68 billion (sales) French supermarket chain.

Barilla Family

$1.5 billionItalyAt least 6 membersThe Barilla family owns perhaps the best-known pasta company in the world. The group has 25 production facilities, with 18 in Italy and seven in other countries. Barilla opened a bread-and-pasta shop in Parma, Italy, in 1877. Fourth-generation Barilla brothers--Paolo, Luca and Guido, who own 85% of the company--are in charge of the now $2 billion (2001 sales) company. They recently purchased Kraft Food's Mexico-based pasta business.

Boehringer Family

$10.2 billionGermanyAt least 12 membersThe fourth generation of Boehringer, Liebrecht and von Baumbach families owns all of Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical corporations. The $5.5 billion (revenue) company focuses on pharmaceuticals for humans and animals.

Bouriez Family

$1.5 billionFrance 100 membersThe Bouriez clan holds a 58% stake in the Cora Group, a pan-European grocery store chain. Cora was wholly family-owned until 1996, when a handful of family members sold a 42% stake to chief rival Carrefour. Family patriarch and Cora boss Philippe Bouriez was reportedly infuriated by the deal. But he has his hands full trying to fend off a backdoor attempt by partner and rival supermarket chain Groupe Casino to acquire Carrefour's stake, which the grocery giant sold to Deutsche Bank last year. Deutsche Bank, in turn, inked a deal giving the French retailer the option to acquire the Cora stake in five years. Bouriez sued to nix the deal, but in October a court gave it the go-ahead.

Brenninkmeijer Family

$4.1 billionNetherlands 200 membersTwo hundred family members share this fortune, the sources of which include the American Retail Group and the C&A retailing chain in Europe. All male heirs reportedly either work for the secretive retail company or become priests. After a rocky year, which saw C&A shutter all of its U.K.-based stores, the family says business is looking up. It still has a way to go. After they invested heavily to build up the C&A brand in Germany, losses narrowed but sales continued to slump. U.S. sales--which include those of outdoorsy chain Eastern Mountain Sports--are also said to be flat.

Defforey Family

$3.3 billionFrance60 membersFamily patriarch Herve Defforey abruptly resigned his job as finance director at Carrefour, the French supermarket chain, last April. His decision to leave the company marked the first time in the chain's 42-year history a Defforey has not held a top management post. The family hasn't cut its ties entirely: A 3% stake in Carrefour forms the backbone of this family fortune. As for Herve and the "personal projects" he reportedly left Carrefour to pursue? Not a peep from him since his resignation.

De Spoelbergh Family

$1.8 billionBelgiumAt least 10 membersThere are at least three founding families that share control of Belgian brewery giant Interbrew. But the de Spoelbergh family is believed to control the largest individual stake, around 25%. The clan has been in the beer business for generations and was one of the original investors in the Interbrew conglomerate. It's been a heady combination. With more than 200 brands sold in 120 countries, Interbrew's earnings grew more than 30% in the first nine months of 2001, to over $1 billion.

Du Pont Family

$12 billionUnited States300 membersDescendants of Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours (1739-1817), French Physiocrat who fled Revolutionary Terror for America in 1800. Son Eleuthere Irenee, a chemist's apprentice, founded gunpowder factory on Brandywine Creek in 1802. The company and family prospered. After a family battle for control in 1915, Pierre S. du Pont II emerged as the leader. World War I munitions contracts produced massive growth. Christiana Securities was founded as a family holding company for DuPont. They rescued General Motors in the 1920s, taking about one-third. Childless, Pierre divided the bulk of the family fortune among eight siblings before his death in 1958. His branch built Wilmington Trust; dissident branches, Delaware Trust.

Engelhorn Family

$8.4 billionGermanyAt least 20 membersSome 20 Engelhorn family members share nearly 60% of the proceeds from the 1997 sale of pharmaceuticals firms Boehringer Mannheim and DePuy to Roche for $11 billion. Individual billionaire Curt Engelhorn got the rest.

Ferragamo Family

$1 billionItalyAt least 8 membersFounded as a shoemaking business in 1927 by Salvatore Ferragamo, it has become a world trademark of elegance and glamour. At least eight relatives of Salvatore run the still 100%-family-owned business. Wife Wanda Ferragamo is chairman; Ferruccio Ferragamo is chief executive. Other members involved in this family affair: Salvatore's son Massimo, grandsons James Ferragamo and Diego di San Giukliano, Fulvia Visconti Ferragamo, Giovanna Gentile Ferragamo, Leonardo Ferragamo.

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Fleming Family

$1.5 billionUnited KingdomAt least 20 membersThe Fleming family may have struck a deal of a lifetime when they sold their family investment bank to Chase Manhattan Bank (now J.P. Morgan Chase) for $7.7 billion at the height of the market. More than 20 family members share the fortune. More than a year ago, Roddie Fleming, the head of the family, started a new investment firm, Fleming Family & Partners. Several family members are working with him.

Freudenberg Family

$1.7 billionGermanyAt least 280 membersMore than 280 family members own all of the $3.7 billion (sales) Freudenberg Group, an industrial conglomerate established in 1849, which is involved in engineering, leather (Tack brand) and textiles (Vileda brand).

Haindl Family

$3.2 billionGermany32 membersAfter producing paper for more than 150 years, the Haindl family last year sold their company, Haindl Papier GmbH, to the Finnish UPM-Kymmene Group for $3 billion. The family now owns 5% of the quoted Finnish Group and holds leading positions in the newly adapted enterprise. The family also owns regional airline Augsburg Airways.

Haniel Family

$10 billion Germany 930 membersMore than 930 family members share ownership of Franz Haniel & Cie, a conglomerate with $16.75 billion in sales whose businesses span pharmaceuticals, construction materials and environmental cleanup. They also own almost 19% of giant German retailer Metro AG.

Henkel Family

$4.9 billionGermany80 membersEighty family members from three clans share an 80% interest in $11.6 billion (sales) Henkel KGaA, which makes everything from adhesives to dish soap. Henkel has stakes in Clorox and Ecolab, plus has a joint venture with Dial.

Herz Family

$5.8 billionGermany 6 membersSix feuding Herz family members reap the benefits from a fortune based primarily on coffee, skin care and cigarettes. They own all of $4.9 billion (sales) Tchibo, which sells everything from coffee to consumer goods--and even mutual funds--in its coffee shops; almost 30% of hugely successful Beiersdorf, makers of Nivea; and 75.1% of Reemtsma, the world's fourth-largest cigarette maker. Rumors abound that the clan is considering selling Reemtsma and intends to use the proceeds to increase its share of Beiersdorf.

Janssen Family

$1.1 billionBelgium500 membersThe Janssens are one of the founding families of Belgian chemical giant Solvay. Up to 500 family members share the fortune, which flows in large part from the family's stake in Solvay. Family figurehead Baron Daniel Janssen chairs Solvay's board of directors but also boasts outside investments via two holding companies: Financiere de Tubize and Financiere d'Obourg. The family's key non-Solvay holding is a 17.5% stake in Belgian pharmaceutical firm UCB.

Merck Family

$4 billionGermany100 membersMore than 100 family members share over 74% of the wealth generated by $6 billion (sales) Merck KGaA. This premier German pharmaceutical company traces its roots to the Engel Apotheke, a pharmacy founded in 1668.

Mulliez Family

$6.7 billion France350 membersThree hundred and fifty members share this family fortune, derived from large (or controlling) stakes in at least 17 companies, including Auchan, the French supermarket chain, and sporting-goods retailer Decathlon.

Oeri/Hoffman Families

$6.9 billionSwitzerlandAt least 20 membersThe Oeri-Hoffman clan controls Roche pharmaceuticals through a quirk in Swiss law that allows the families to control 50.1% of the company's voting rights while owning only 10% of its share capital. It's a sweetheart deal the families and Roche's board have defended rigorously, saying family ownership allows them to take a long-term outlook. That said, analysts say the dual share structure could make it difficult for Roche to enhance its relatively stagnant business through a merger. The Roche board says it'll address the share structure issue if the right deal comes along. Fair enough--but meanwhile, as the debate has continued, Roche's stock has slipped 21% since May.

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Phipps Family

$7.3 billionUnited States 100 membersHenry Phipps, son of a Philadelphia cobbler, became steel titan Andrew Carnegie's accountant and business partner. With $50 million received from Carnegie sale to J.P. Morgan in 1901, Bessemer Trust--affectionately named after the steelmaking process--was created. The business, which caters to high-net-worth individuals, now counts over $35 billion in assets under management. More than 100 Phipps descendants share the fortune.

Reimann Family

$2.8 billionGermany5 membersThe Reimann family owns 25% of Reckitt Benckiser, maker of such well-known household cleaning products as Calgon, Cling-Free and Lyme-a-Way. Before it merged with Reckitt in 1999, Benckiser, established in 1823, was Germany's oldest chemical company. The family also owns all of privately held fragrance and cosmetic producer Coty, which is working with Spanish lollipop company Chupa Chups to develop a line of fragrances and cosmetics under the Chupa Chups brand.

Rutenberg Family

$1.6 billionGermany65 membersFamily brewery Brauerei Beck, famous in the U.S. for the green bottle with the key, was sold last summer for $1.6 billion to Belgium's Interbrew.

Simon Family

$1 billionGermany30 membersThe seventh generation of the Simon family still produces premium German beer. More than 30 family members share proceeds from the Bitburger Brauerei Th. Simon GmbH, established in 1817. Bitburger's slogan, "Bitte Ein Bit," has been a household phrase in Germany for over 40 years--the equivalent of "It's Miller Time."

Smith Family

$4 billionUnited States 50 membersDescendants of Solomon A. Smith, early president of Merchants' Savings, Loan & Trust. Son Byron founded Northern Trust in 1889, financed Illinois Tool Works in 1912 and later took control. The Smith family continues to have large interests in both firms.

Ströher Family

$2 billionGermanyAt least 5The Ströher family derives its fortune from Wella AG, which started off selling wigs and curlers at the turn of the century. Wella is now one of the world's largest producers of cosmetics, personal-hygiene and hair-care products, with $2.5 billion in sales generated in more than 153 countries, including the U.S., where it sells primarily to professionals.

Vaillant Family

$1 billionGermany 29 membersKeeping people warm is how the Vaillant family made its money. Private Vaillant GmbH, founded in 1874 as a one-man plumbing business, is a successful $1.7 billion (sales) manufacturer of heating equipment and boilers, and one of Europe's market leaders in the field. Now in the sixth generation, the family is not represented in company management.

Von Oppenheim Family

$1.7 billionGermany 40 membersSome 40 family members share in the ownership of Sal. Oppenheim Jr. & Cie. The bank, which was founded in 1789, is Europe's largest ($8 billion in assets) and perhaps most prestigious private bank. It specializes in asset management and private banking.

Von Siemens Family

$3.4 billionGermany180 membersWerner von Siemens and Johann Halske founded $76 billion (sales) Siemens AG in 1847. Nowadays some 180 family members share a lucrative 6.5% portion of the diversified electrical engineering giant, though none are active in management.

Walden Family

$1 billionUnited Kingdom4 membersThe late Lord Walden's roughly 100 acres of prime property in London are now jointly held by his four daughters: the Honorable Mrs. Czernin, the Honorable Mrs. Buchan, the Honorable Mrs. White and the Honorable Mrs. Acloque. The estate had been pretty run down in the early 1990s but is now thriving because of an ambitious redevelopment plan, which attracted many brand-name stores and restaurants into the area.