Another source of sub-rosa funds: the Palestine Liberation Organization, headed by Mahmoud Abbas and its treasurer, Ahmed Qurei, the PA prime minister-both possible Arafat successors.

FORBES: Grabbing The Purse Strings

Subpar growth had USAA firing the funds two sub-advisors, The Boston Company and Batterymarch Financial.

FORBES: USAA Takes New Shot At Emerging Markets

That matches the 54 months of sub-zero real rates which the Fed Funds delivered in the 1970s.

FORBES: Real U.S. Interest Rates Deeper Below Zero Than Even In 1970s

Some advisors have outsourced tactical asset allocation decisions to sub-advisors who run model portfolios using index funds and ETFs.

FORBES: More Advisors Suffer from Alpha Delusion

In practice, each of these sub-categories is comprised of specific products (such as private equity funds or intentionally defective trusts) and services (bill paying and close protection personnel, for example) based on the needs of the underlying families.

FORBES: What Is A Family Office?

Today the firm contracts with other money managers, as sub-advisers, who actually manage many of its equity and other style investment funds.

FORBES: Conflicts Abound at American Airlines' Pension and 401(k) Plans

The Bitcoin sub-fund was incorporated as a Bermuda exempted company and is registered as a segregated account company receiving funds at Citibank London.

FORBES: First Bitcoin Hedge Fund Launches From Malta