10 Richest People in History
John Rockefeller
Wealth at its peak: $318 billion (according to the dollar exchange rate at the end of 2007). Age at this time: 74
When John Rockefeller was young, he said that he had two dreams – to earn 100 thousand dollars and live to 100 years old. He died two months before his 98th birthday. But Rockefeller successfully coped with the first task. John Rockefeller was born in a poor family. His father, William Avery Rockefeller, known by his nickname “Big Bill”, was a helpless man who spent most of his time thinking about how to avoid hard work. His mother Eliza, a representative of the Baptist Church, instilled in her son faith in God and a desire to work hard from childhood. Rockefeller started out as a simple accountant, then ran his own small wholesale business, and went on to become the founder of the world’s largest oil company, Standard Oil. His company went down in history as the largest monopoly in the history of the United States. Standard Oil owned 90% of the refined petroleum (kerosene) market in America. In 1911, thanks to the Sherman Antitrust Act, Standard Oil was divided into 34 independent companies, each of which was controlled by Rockefeller. The division of Standard Oil doubled John Rockefeller’s personal capital. Since his first job, Rockefeller has always donated 10% of his income to the church. In addition, he was actively involved in charitable activities, and remained in history as one of the largest philanthropists. The John Rockefeller Charitable Foundation is still doing good deeds.
Andrew Carnegie
Wealth at its peak: $298.3 billion. Age at this time: 68
Andrew Carnegie emigrated to Pittsburgh (USA) from Scotland when she was still just a kid. Already at the age of 13 he began working in a textile factory. Andrew worked 12 hours a day 6 days a week, in exchange for 6 days only $ 2. By the age of 16 Carnegie was employed as a Telegraph operator. Later Andrew became personal assistant to Thomas Scott, superintendent of the Pennsylvania railroad company. There he learned a lot about the railway business. Scott was a good mentor, and Carnegie excellent student. When Andrew turned 20 years old, he laid her mother’s house and made its first investments. Carnegie invested $ 500 into a company Adam Express – FedEx-19th century. Some time later, he invested in a number of other companies, most of which was associated with the railway business. For 30 years his stock portfolio has expanded. Now there were oil companies. In addition, he is heavily invested in companies involved in shipping traffic. But the real money came to Andrew from steel production. In 1880, he built the largest steel company railway rails and some other less important for Carnegie areas. In 1901, at the age of 66 years, Carnegie retired, sold his share to John Pierpont Morgan for $ 225 million. However, Andrew Carnegie was known to the public not only as a successful businessman, but also as one of the major philanthropists of the time. In 1989 he wrote the famous essay “The Gospel of Wealth,” in which he argued that wealth should be distributed in order to improve the welfare of others, thereby enriching society as a whole. Andrew Carnegie was true to his word and spent about 90% of his fortune to charity.
Nicholas II
Wealth at its peak: $235 billion. Age at this time: 49
Nicholas II (Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov) – the last Russian Tsar. He ruled the Empire from 1894 to 1917 revolution. His reign was remembered by the world, first of all, the growing anti-Semitic sentiment in Russia, the defeat in the Russo-Japanese war, revolution, and the illness of his son, who was able to treat only the mysterious Rasputin. Life of the last Russian Tsar surrounded by many mysteries, legends, myths and innuendo. It is interesting that the special merits of the Nicholas that he took third place in the ranking of the richest people in history. All the fortune he had inherited.
William Henry Vanderbilt
Wealth at its peak: $231.6 billion. Age at this time: 64
William Henry Vanderbilt real lucky. He, like Donald trump started his business from scratch. Inherited from his father – Cornelius “Commander” Vanderbilt he got 100 million dollars. Cornelius childhood prepared his son so that he will inherit his father’s. However, Cornelius was quite strict father, sometimes he even called my son “no matter what the good moron”. Of course, William was not and was able to expand the Empire of the father. In the end, between father and son became better understanding, and Cornelius was proud of what I did William. In 1885, when William died, he was the richest man in the world.
Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII
Wealth at its peak: $210.8 billion. Age at this time: 50
Asaf Jah VII was the last ruler of the Kingdom of Hyderabad and Berar, before it was captured by India. According to most of his contemporaries, his Majesty was a benevolent ruler, seriously engaged in promoting education to the masses, science and construction. He made primary education compulsory for all citizens. In addition, by his order it was free for poor people. When Asaf Jаh was 37 years old, he brought in his Principality Railways and electricity. Asaf was a real supporter of progress. In 1937, Asaf Jah appeared on the cover of Time magazine as the richest man in the world.
Andrew Mellon
Wealth at its peak: $188.8 billion. Age at this time: 80
Andrew Mellon is the son of a prominent banker from Pittsburgh Thomas Mellon (who founded the Bank Mellon Bank). In 17 years Andrew has already begun to work, opening its first case on wood processing. After 10 years he headed the Bank of his father. In addition, he was a shareholder of companies related to oil, steel and ship building. In 1921, President Warren Harding appointed Mellon Minister of Finance. Andrew was in this position when three U.S. presidents. In addition, during this time he managed to decrease the rate of taxation, to reduce Federal spending, thereby increasing Federal revenue.
Henry Ford
Wealth at its peak: $188.1 billion. Age at this time: 57
Perhaps the most famous member of the list. And hand on heart can say that the most famous. Henry know everything, because it marked the beginning of the automotive industry. His parents were farmers, but the young Ford quickly realized that he had no desire to spend the rest of his life, working in the field. His childhood was drawn engineering. In 1879 he left home, and went to the factory as a mechanic. He was only 16 years old. At the age of 28 Henry Ford is arranged in the company of Thomas Edison, where he made his first experiments with the engine. When Henry was 36 years old, he opened his first automobile company, which was named “Detroit Automobile Company”. Two years after its founding, it has gone bankrupt. Then, together with his partner, Leland Ford opens the company Henry Ford Company. Soon the partners argued, and Ford left it. Leland without thinking renamed the company in Cadillac. The third company Henry Ford was a success. Helped him a lot investment of the Dodge brothers. Oh, and then you all know. Henry Ford entered the history of the automobile, as the person who implemented the Assembly line in mass production. Well, the Ford T has become legendary, which gave impetus to the industry.
Marcus Licinius Crassus
Wealth at its peak: $169.8 billion. Age at this time: 62
Marcus Licinius Crassus (approximately 115-53 B.C.) was a Roman General and politician, who suppressed the revolt of the slaves, led by Spartacus. He is the earliest historical figure in this list. His status Crassus amassed largely due to the fact that on the cheap, bought back the house “enemies of Rome” (something like “enemies of the people” in the USSR), developed the slave trade, mining for the extraction of silver. He was not a businessman, in the usual sense, and tried wherever possible to use his power. Good power and influence he had. However, the place the business was here. At that time in Rome often broke out real fires. In this case Crassus was a squad of highly skilled builders. During such disasters Marcus bought a burning house, and adjacent to them. Of course, on the cheap. Once the deal was completed, the builders broke a burning house, that he had caused great damage more or less whole. Thus Marcus Licinius Crassus bought property in Rome.
Basil II
Wealth at its peak: $169.4 billion. Age at this time: 67
Basil II was a Byzantine Emperor of the dynasty of Alexander the great. He rules 976 at 1025 years. During the reign of Basil Byzantine Empire was annexed by Bulgaria, and managed to expand its territory, as never before. It seemed that come the Golden years for the Byzantine Empire. But, alas, Basilio did not leave heirs. And after his death the Empire was destroyed in just a half century.
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Wealth at its peak: $167.4 billion. Age at this time: 82
We have already talked about the son of Cornelius. And here is the father. Cornelius had left school at the age of 11 years. Later he would remember: “If I were educated, I wouldn’t have time to learn all these things.” The essence of this phrase, I think, clear. His career Vanderbilt started a ferryman in new York. At age 16 he borrowed money from his mother, to engage in the transportation of personally. Soon the business took off, and Vanderbilt was nicknamed Commander, which has stayed with him for life. Cornelius Vanderbilt remembered as a tough businessman who was ruthless to the competitors. It was one of the traits of his character, which led older Vanderbilt to success. Well, then you know that his son only increased the family fortune.
Afterword: It is worth noting that the article is not about absolute amounts. The entire fortune is measured relative to the GDP of the country where these people lived. (Source: Neatorama.com)