Jemima McEvoy

The years leading up to Clif Bar’s agreement last week to sell itself for $2.9 billion were full of challenges: management turmoil, layoffs and defections, a failed $20 million ad campaign and a succession of CEOs. Now ex-employees speak out on the surprising sale.

More than two decades after turning down a $120 million offer from Quaker Oats, Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford, the majority owners of Clif Bar, have agreed to sell the energy bar company to snack giant Mondelez for $2.9 billion.

One of them, Rob Walton, just led a family group to bid $4.65 billion for the Denver Broncos NFL team. Here are the other heirs that rank the highest on Forbes’ list.

Emma Grede spent her childhood saving spare change to buy fashion magazines. Now she’s making millions helping one of America’s most famous families start and run their businesses.

Paige Mycoskie’s Aviator Nation took off during the pandemic as TikTok teens embraced the Venice Beach vibe by snapping up its pricey smiley-faced sweatpants and rainbow-striped hoodies.