Dynasty Behind 155-Year-Old Business Empire Builds Family Office (1)

The Pon family got its start in 1867 with a small store near Amsterdam that sold soap, sewing machines and tobacco. Today, five generations later, it’s a major retailer of Volkswagen AG cars and Caterpillar Inc. equipment, among other businesses.

Their closely held firm, Pon Holdings, is worth about $6.4 billion after recently reporting 2021 revenue of 8.1 billion euros ($8.5 billion), the highest in at least five years. They’re among the richest families in the Netherlands, along with those behind beermaker Heineken Holding NV and clothing retailer C&A.

To help manage their fortune, the Pons last year set up a family office, Knop ...