17. The Gottwald Family

Philanthropists/Ethyl Corp.

If you had a million dollars for every Gottwald in Richmond … well, then your net worth would still pale next to the Gottwalds, whose surname is reflected in philanthropic efforts from the arts (CenterStage and the Virginia Museum) to the sciences (UR's science center). The Gottwalds — Bruce and Nancy, Floyd, John, Teddy, William and so on — are enmeshed in NewMarket Corp., formerly Ethyl Corp. It's not a great time to be in the fuel-additive business, but electric cars aren't taking over anytime soon, and the company expects 2010 to beat 2009. Significantly this year, John D. retired as president and chief executive of Ethyl spinoff Tredegar Corp.

Next: 18. Jeffrey M. Lacker –>

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