Top 10 Richest Men Of All Time
1. John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) -- $200 billion
If you have a center named for you in New York City, you must be someone notable. Rockefeller was a luminary who built, dominated, controlled, and ultimately lost the Standard Oil Company. If you are interested in business, politics and wealth then get yourself his biography, Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller Sr. and you will understand why America is the place to be if you want to get rich."
2. Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) -- $110 billion
Carnegie was an incredible philanthropist. He had given away over $350 million by the time he passed away in 1919. If you want to know why, understand it in his own words:
"My heart is in the work... the duty of the man of wealth... is to set an example of modest unostentatious living, shunning display; to provide moderately for the legitimate wants of those dependent upon him; and, after doing so, to consider all surplus revenues which come to him simply as trust funds which he is strictly bound as a matter of duty to administer in the manner which, in his judgment, is best calculated to produce the most beneficial results for the community."
3. Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877) -- $100 billion
Cornelius Vanderbilt was so established and well-respected that he had universities take his name. He was an American steamship and railroad builder, financier, promoter, and executive with incredible energy, and obviously remarkable time-management abilities. His intricate sense of business left his rivals in the dust. Vanderbilt left an estate of roughly $100 million, which, in 2001 dollars, represents an astonishing $100 billion.
4. John Jacob Astor (1763-1848) -- $85 billion
Despite never setting a trap himself, the "the Self-Made Money-Making Machine" German-born Astor, became synonymous with the American Fur Trade. Astor went from nothing to complete financial success and today is know for being a symbol of the American Dream.
5.William Gates III -- $60 billionToday
With a $60 billion fortune, Gates is the world’s richest man, but he is not free from controversy-people either love him or hate him. He has promised to contribute over 90% of his wealth to charities when the big guy calls his number. We hope that will not be anytime soon, as he and his wife Melinda French Gates run the world's largest philanthropic association. Gates' fortune was reaching the $100 billion mark at one time, but the DOJ's Anti-trust case, as well as an overall meltdown in the high-technology market, hurt the Harvard dropout.
6. Lawrence J. Ellison -- $55 billion
Driven is one word to describe the world’s current second richest man, Lawrence Ellison. Oracle's Chief Executive Officer is a charismatic visionary who briefly sat atop the Fortune Hierarchy, and whose managerial skills, target-setting abilities and execution capabilities make up B-School curriculums. Ellison is also recognized for his womanizing tendencies, thrill-seeking and adventure-chasing exploits, aside from his $55 billion worth.
7. King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz Alsaud -- $30 billion
Talk about royalty. This 77 year-old Saudi Arabian King has been in power since 1982, but has recently greatly increased his fortune. Leading one of the world's top oil-producing countries, the King has financial clout and more power than one can imagine with oil prices currently vastly increasing
8. Warren Buffett -- $28 billion
Warren Buffett’s distaste for investing in technology stocks kept him near but not on this list during the 1990’s. The "Oracle of Omaha" has apparently had the last laugh as technology stocks melted. Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is going strong, as his $28 billion account statement can attest.
9.Paul Allen -- $25 billion
Allen has become well-known and lucrative through a myriad of business ventures. He is Microsoft co-founder and Vulcan Ventures founder, a Redmond, Washington-based software giant. But Allen is known also for his unique intellect, vision, and good-natured, fun-loving demeanor, as well as his guitar skills. Even if he wasn’t number 9 on the list, we would want to pick his brain and maybe jam a few tunes with him as well.
10. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan -- $ 23 billion
In power since 1966, the Sheikh is the man behind the United Arab Emirates with considerable property ownership and other large investments, as well as substantial oil holdings. His financial wealth is estimated to be just over $23 billion. That’s enough money to make us say, “Holy Sheikh!”
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