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The Irving family is a wealthy Canadian family based primarily in New Brunswick. The family is associated with the privately held Irving Group of Companies, which includes major interests in forestry, manufacturing, transportation, media, and energy in Canada and the United States. [1]
The origins of the modern Irving business group trace to James Dergavel Irving (1860–1933), a Bouctouche-based businessman and the founder of what became J.D. Irving, Limited. [2]
His son, industrialist K. C. Irving (1899–1992), significantly expanded the family’s holdings during the mid-20th century and became one of the most influential business figures in New Brunswick history. [3]
K. C. Irving had three sons—James K. Irving (1928–2024), Arthur Irving (1930–2024), and John E. Irving (1932–2010)—who later assumed leadership roles in different parts of the broader Irving business group. [4]
Because many Irving-related companies are privately held, public estimates of the family’s wealth vary. Maclean’s ranked the Irving family among Canada’s wealthiest families in its 2024 list of the country’s richest people, estimating the family’s net worth at approximately $14.47 billion. [5]
Forbes has also published individual wealth estimates for members of the family, including Arthur Irving, noting the inherent uncertainty involved in valuing private holdings. [6]
The Irving family’s business interests include J.D. Irving, Limited, a New Brunswick-based conglomerate with operations across Canada and the United States, and Irving Oil, an international energy company headquartered in Saint John, New Brunswick. [7] [8]
Irving Oil operates the Irving Oil Refinery in Saint John. According to the Canada Energy Regulator, the Saint John refinery is the largest oil refinery in Canada, with a processing capacity of approximately 320,000 barrels per day. [9]
The scale and influence of Irving-related companies in New Brunswick have been the subject of extensive media coverage, including reporting on offshore corporate structures following the release of the Paradise Papers by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. [1] [10]
Members of the Irving family who have established independent notability include:
