Eric Schmidt’s family office, Hillspire, led CNBC’s first-ever Inside Wealth Family Office 15 ranking, securing the top position after completing 15 direct investments in 2025. The majority of those deals focused on artificial intelligence.
The ranking, compiled using exclusive data from wealth intelligence platform Fintrx, highlights the most active U.S. single-family offices based on the number of publicly disclosed direct investments made during the year.
Hillspire Takes the Lead
Hillspire’s 2025 investments spanned a range of sectors, though AI dominated its portfolio. Notable deals included backing a Paris-based AI voice startup, a fusion energy company and a luxury travel software platform.
Schmidt’s strong AI focus mirrors his public advocacy for the technology. The former Google CEO co-authored The Age of AI with Henry Kissinger, funds the AI-focused Special Competitive Studies Project and has publicly predicted rapid advancements in AI’s ability to independently generate new knowledge.
Other Highly Active Family Offices
Following Hillspire, Jeff Bezos’ family office, Bezos Expeditions, ranked second with 14 disclosed investments. Its activity included investments in energy-efficient AI computing, robotics and a property investment platform that allows individuals to purchase fractional shares in rental homes.
Tied for third place were Laurene Powell Jobs’ Emerson Collective and Jim Pallotta’s Raptor Group, each completing 12 direct investments.
- Emerson Collective focused heavily on AI with a human-centred approach, alongside healthcare and biotech innovation.
- Raptor Group concentrated on electronics, radar technology, gaming and consumer products.
Lukas Walton’s Builders Vision secured fifth place with 11 investments, many targeting sustainable food systems, agriculture and clean energy solutions.
Other firms featured in the ranking included Thiel Capital, Euclidean Capital, Duquesne Family Office, Access Industries, Foris Ventures and Jaws Estates Capital.
A Combined 120+ Deals
Together, the 15 family offices executed more than 120 investments in 2025 across sectors including robotics, software, biotech, sports, blockchain and food and beverage.
The ranking focuses exclusively on single-family offices managing at least $1 billion in assets, based on Fintrx estimates. These entities invest only for one individual or family and do not manage external capital. Real estate deals were excluded from the rankings.
Because family offices are not required to publicly disclose holdings or returns, the list captures only reported direct investments and may not reflect the full scope of activity.
AI Dominates Investment Themes
Artificial intelligence emerged as the clear standout theme. According to a recent JPMorgan survey, 65 percent of family offices cited AI as their primary investment priority. Across CNBC’s ranking, AI, software and related technology accounted for more than one-third of all disclosed deals. Healthcare and biotech followed as the next most active sectors.
The Expanding Influence of Family Offices
Family offices now control an estimated $3 trillion in assets globally. Deloitte projects their numbers will rise from roughly 8,000 last year to more than 10,700 by 2030.
Their growing scale has made them increasingly influential in mergers and acquisitions, private company funding rounds and startup capital raises. As a result, banks, asset managers, private equity firms and insurers are competing aggressively to serve them.
Despite this rising influence, family offices remain intentionally private. Analysts suggest that tracking co-investment trends and sector concentration offers one of the few practical insights into how the ultra-wealthy deploy capital.
