W.W. Cargill founded Cargill Inc in 1865 as a small grain storage company. Today, Cargill is the largest privately owned company in the world, serving food and beverage manufacturers, food service companies and food retailers globally with its 53,000 employees operating in 70 countries.
Known for being secretive, the Cargill family still owns 88 per cent of Cargill Incorporated. Four generations of the family share in its accumulated wealth. W.W.’s son Austen served as president of the company until his death in 1957. His son, James Cargill, passed his share of the family’s fortune to his three children, James Cargill, Austen Cargill and Marianne Liebmann, who each own one-eighteenth of the family share and remain members of The Forbes 400 ranking of the wealthiest Americans. Austen’s daughter, Margaret, gave her one-sixth share of the company to charity.
W.W.’s daughter Edna married John MacMillan, who became CEO of the company until his death in 1960. Edna MacMillan’s son Cargill MacMillan Sr. died in 1968. His three children, Whitney MacMillan, Cargill MacMillan and Pauline MacMillan Keinath, each own one-ninth of the family’s business.
Cargill Sr.’s brother John MacMillan Jr. had three children. His daughter, Marion MacMillan Pictet retains one-ninth ownership of the company, while her two brothers, John Hugh and Whitney Duncan, passed away in 2008 and 2006, respectively.
