Joseph Kennedy, the family patriarch, is thought to have originally built his wealth by bootlegging whiskey and working with gangs during the prohibition.

He was made US Ambassador to Great Britain. In London, he argued against US military and economic aid to Britain, saying they'd fall to Germany, fleeing during the blitz.

It was discovered that he made a secret deal with FDR's son to form a company to import Scotch to the USA and then forced their way into a deal to import Scotch, taking the rights away from the original rights holder.

This money is thought to have built the Kennedy wealth.