It’s easy to look at the rich and powerful of the 20th century; the Murdochs, the Buffetts, the Waltons and wonder at their wealth and influence. The truth is though that the tycoons of the 20th century were far less impressive than their 19th century predecessors who exceeded them in wealth, wit and spirit. Here are the greatest, most formidable tycoons of the 19th century.
CORNELIUS VANDERBILT
One of the richest men who ever lived, Cornelius Vanderbilt or ‘The Commodore’ was a magnate and philanthropist who earned his wealth through shipping and railroad building. After starting life as a ship’s hand on his father’s ferry, he soon began operating his own boats, hence the sobriquet ‘The Commodore’. Vanderbilt gives his name to the prestigious Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.
JOHN JACOB ASTOR
The founder of the notable Astor family was born in Germany and emigrated to the United States as a young man. Astor, who made his fortune trading in furs and then speculating upon real estate, had an uncanny knack for clairvoyance and could see what was going to happen long before anybody else. He was the great-grandfather of John Jacob Astor IV, himself an oligarch and survivor of the infamous Titanic ocean liner.
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER
Although it’s hard to judge accurately, what with inflation, fluctuating currencies and erratic property values, John D. Rockefeller is probably the richest man ever to have lived, with a fortune (in today’s money) of $336 billion. He made his fortune in the oil business and at one time controlled 90% of all the oil in the USA. He spent much of the second half of his life enjoying retirement and dedicated himself to philanthropy, enabling the first attempts at medical research.
EDWARD L. DOHENY
Perhaps the most immoral oligarch on the list, Doheny was the real life inspiration for J. Arnold Ross in Upton Sinclair’s novel Oil (Daniel Plainview in the 2007 film adaptation There Will Be Blood). In 1892 Doheny drilled the first successful oil well in the Los Angeles Oil Field, setting off a petroleum boom in the region as a result.
ANDREW CARNEGIE
Andrew Carnegie was one of the greatest and most forward-thinking men of his day. A completely self made man, Carnegie was born in poverty in Dunfermline and emigrated to the United States as a child. An industrialist, he made his money in the burgeoning steel industry and ended up giving away 90% of his money to philanthropic causes.
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