Wealthiest Americans EVER!
By Caroline Rogers
The "Average" Billionaire:
The Wealthiest Americans all were alive around the same time- all around the Gilded Age(1800's)
An exception would be Warren E. Buffett-he is still alive today and he has made $46 billion! Also, Bill Gates of course.
Most of these billionaires made their money by heavy industry (Automobile, mining, petroleum, and steel industries) and also finances in (stock markets and investments).
The textile industry was the biggest money maker for these individuals.
1: John D. Rockefeller-$192 Billion
-He established Standard Oil by the age of 31
-Within the first 10 years of the founding of Standard Oil, it owned 90% of the nation's oil business.
16: Warren E Buffett-$46 Billion
-An Astute Banker
-He used Berkshire Hathaway which was a New York Stock Exchange holding company, to create a portfolio that has at times yielded ample returns.
30: James C. Flood-$36 Billion
-He was one of the Silver Kings of the 1870's.
-He was the mind behind the Nebraska enterprise
But how honest were they?
The Gilded Age was centered around making money fast even if that meant getting money in a not so honest fashion. That being said, scandal and corruption were two main themes of the Gilded Age, so their intentions weren't as true as people might have thought.
Overall the rail lines were the most corrupt part of the Gilded Age.