Forbes says the family that owns H-E-B is one of the richest in the nation. The Butt family fortune is estimated at nearly $18 billion, making them the 15th wealthiest American family. Still topping the Forbes list of richest families is the Walton family, owners of Walmart, who are worth $247 billion. Florence Butt opened a small grocery store in 1905 in Kerrville. Today, the company has more than 340 locations across Texas and Mexico.