Andrew Carnegie supplied America's steel in the late 1800s, when steel was the world's hottest commodity. His steel mill debuted in 1875. Over $300 million was paid for his Carnegie Steel Company in 1901.
Henry Ford—and the affordable Model Ts that rolled off of his ingenious assembly lines—completely revolutionized the modern world as we know it.
John of Gaunt, Edward III's fourth son, was humble. Despite never ruling a kingdom, he succeeded. Due to his royal birth, property grants, and wealthy marriages, he became one of the world's wealthiest and most powerful.
Jay Gould was maybe the least popular of 19th-century America’s Robber Barons. He made his money in railroads and on the stock market—but his business practises weren’t exactly on the level.
Jay Gould tried to corner the gold market, but he had nothing on Mansa Musa I. Leader of the Mali Empire in the 14th century, Musa controlled trade across the Sahara.
The ruler of the princely state of Hyderabad during the British Raj, Time magazine called Mir Osman Ali Khan “richest man on the planet” in 1937.
The son of a con artist, John D. Rockefeller’s shrewd instincts led to the creation of Standard Oil, which, before it was broken up in a landmark antitrust suit, refined up to 90% of all American oil.
Alan Rufus is proof that it’s not about how great you are—it’s about who you know. At first, Rufus was just a relatively minor landowner in Normandy.