Every year, assets worth over 150 billion euros are inherited in Germany. How can private wealth inheritance be reconciled with the self-understanding of a meritocratic society? This question has been debated by politicians, philosophers, legal scholars, economists, and sociologists for over 200 years. Wealth inheritance is controversial not only from a normative perspective. The consequences of "unearned wealth" for families, the economy, and democracy have also been hotly debated. Jens Beckert traces the disputes over inheritance law in Germany, France, and the United States, with different aspects taking center stage in each of the three countries. In the U.S., the focus is on equal opportunity and the danger of wealth concentration for democracy, while in Germany, the emphasis is on family cohesion and social justice.