The Watson Family

Net Worth: $600 million

Source of Wealth: Real estate

Residence: Southern California

The Watson family’s roots in Los Angeles go about as deep as anybody’s. It started in 1784, when King Carlos III of Spain granted Juan Jose Dominguez 76,000 acres of land for his service as a soldier in the Spanish Colonial Army.

Descendant Marie Dolores Dominguez married Yankee gunslinger James Alexander Watson in 1855. From their holdings grew Carson-based Watson Land Co., which was first incorporated as Watson Estate Co. in 1912. Their great-granddaughter Susana married William T. Huston, now chairman of Watson Land.

Over the last 30 years, the company has developed more than 550 acres into industrial centers, office buildings and warehouses. It now owns and manages 9.6 million square feet. Watson Land is building another 550,000 square feet of warehouses in Carson, and plans to begin construction on half a million more square feet this fall.

Watson Land is a privately held corporation partially owned by about 100 family members, including distant cousins and relatives by marriage. Family members own just over half the company.

The only family members running things on a day-to-day basis are William T. Huston and his two sons Tom Huston, a leasing and asset manager, and Bob Huston, a member of Watson Land’s board.