When the Crowns bought the Chicago Cubs in 2009 for about $845 million, everyone thought it was a vanity move. Nope. The family runs the Cubs like a business—because to them, it is. They installed Tom Ricketts, the son of the family’s money, as the chairman. But here’s the kicker: Tom doesn’t have absolute power. He has to check with the rest of the Crowns before spending on a new shortstop. Imagine having to call Uncle Phil for permission to sign a pitcher for $100 million. That’s family dinner with stakes higher than a turkey.
Line of Succession to the British Throne 2026 | Order of succession
Taxes, Lawyers, and Secret Handshakes
Crown family royalty works like a giant game of monopoly—except the banker is a team of lawyers. The family uses limited partnerships and holding companies to keep control. For example, they have a company called CC Industries (that’s Crown Capital, not crazy cat ladies) that holds everything from concrete plants to airport parking lots. You park your car at O’Hare? You’re paying rent to a family that probably owns a yacht named “Tax Write-Off.”
The surprising truth? There’s no official “Crown king.” The family votes on decisions, and majority rules—like a really expensive episode of Survivor. And if a Crown heir wants to sell their shares? They can only sell them back to the family. That’s right: you can’t just sell your crown on eBay. No PayPal, no “buy it now” for a slice of the empire.
British Royal Family Line Of Succession | Naked Grapefruit
