The Top 20 Richest People in the History of America

Introduction

All of us know today’s richest people in the world like Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk but many of them are not even richer than some of the richest businessmen, bankers, and entrepreneurs in the history of America.

In this article, we’ve put together a list of the 20 Richest People in the History of America from 1790 to 1990. This list includes many well-known people like John D. Rockefeller, Jp morgan, Andrew Carnegie, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and more.

Here Are the Top 20 Richest Businessmen, Bankers, and Entrepreneurs in the History of America (From 1790 to 1990)

1. John D. Rockefeller

John D. Rockefeller Net Worth: $400 Billion

John D. Rockefeller is the founder of the Standard Oil Company, which dominated 90% of the oil industry in the United States and it was the first great U.S. business trust which made John the richest man in the history of America. At his death, John D. Rockefeller’s net worth was estimated to be around $400 Billion.

2. Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Carnegie Net Worth: $350 Billion

Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, philanthropist, and one of the richest American businessmen in history. He built the first steel plants in America and by 1900 Andrew‘s company was producing more steel than the entire nation of Great Britain. At his death, Andrew Carnegie’s net worth was estimated to be around $350 Billion.

3. Cornelius Vanderbilt “The Commodore”

Cornelius Vanderbilt Net Worth: $185 Billion

Cornelius Vanderbilt nicknamed “the Commodore” was an American business magnate who built his wealth in railroads and shipping. start accumulating his fortune by dominating the ferry business and then the railroad. Vanderbilt was a smart businessman who seized on any opportunity in his way. At his death, Cornelius Vanderbilt’s net worth was estimated to be around $185 Billion.

4. Alexander Turney Stewart

Alexander Turney Stewart Net Worth: $90 Billion

Alexander Turney Stewart was a Scots-Irish entrepreneur who moved to New York to become a rich man. He built a large marble-fronted store on Broadway between Chambers Street and Reade Street, which was devoted to the wholesale branch of his business. His business made him one of the richest men in America. At his death, Alexander Turney Stewart’s net worth was estimated to be around $90 Billion.

5. Frederick Weyerhauser

Frederick Weyerhauser Net Worth: $85 Billion

Friedrich Frederick Weyerhäuser also known as “timber-king of the Northwest” was a German-American timber mogul and founder of the Weyerhaeuser Company, which owns sawmills, paper factories, other companies, and large areas of forested land. He made billions of dollars through his company and became one of the richest men in America with a net worth of $85 Billion at his death.

6. Jay Gould

Jay Gould Net Worth: $77 Billion

Jason Gould was an American railroad magnate and financial speculator who is generally identified as one of the Robber barons of the Gilded Age. His sharp and often unscrupulous business practices made him one of the wealthiest men of the late nineteenth century. Gould didn’t care who he had to crush to achieve his goals. At his death, Jay Gould’s net worth was estimated to be around $77 Billion.

7. J. P. Morgan

J. P. Morgan Net Worth: $75 Billion

John Pierpont Morgan was an American financier and investment banker who was the most powerful man in the history of American finance. Morgan dominates the banking industry, the steel industry, and the railroad industry. At his death, J. P. Morgan’s net worth was estimated to be around $75 Billion.

8. Marshall Field

Marshall Field Net Worth: $66 Billion

Marshall Field was an American entrepreneur who had an instinct for retailing, he is the founder of Marshall Field and Company, the Chicago-based department store. He was the first to introduce many merchandising innovations such as bargain-basement, window displays to attract new customers, personal shopping assistants, and more. Marshall Field became a rich man and the largest manufacturer of dry goods in the world with an estimated net worth of $66 Billion before his death.

10. Henry Ford

Henry Ford Net Worth: $33.6 billion

Henry Ford was an American industrialist, business magnate, founder of the Ford Motor Company, and chief developer of the assembly line technique of mass production. Ford built the first automobile that middle-class Americans could afford. Before his death on April 7, 1947, Henry Ford became one of the richest men alive with a net worth of $33.6 Billion.

11. Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis

Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis Net Worth: $43.2 Billion

Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis was an American publisher of magazines and newspapers, including the Ladies Home Journal and The Saturday Evening Post. Curtis was one of the richest men in America and the 51st richest person in the modern world. At his death, Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis’s net worth was estimated to be around $43.2 Billion.

12. Andrew Mellon

Andrew Mellon Net Worth: $17 Billion

Andrew Mellon was an American banker, businessman, industrialist, philanthropist, art collector, and politician. Mellon was born into a wealthy family, he took this wealth and multiplied it many times at peak of his fortune, in 1929-1930, Mellon was worth $17 Billion. Through his Mellon bank, he was the driving force behind Alcoa, gulf oil, Union Steel, and more. At his death, Andrew Mellon’s net worth was estimated to be around $17 Billion.

13. Richard B. Mellon

Richard B. Mellon Net Worth: $8 Billion

Richard B. Mellon was a banker, industrialist, and philanthropist. He worked as president of many large companies including Mellon Bank, and the Aluminum Company of America. Mellon also co-founded Idlewild Park in Ligonier, Pennsylvania and he was the founder of Rolling Rock Club. At his death, Richard B. Mellon’s net worth was estimated to be around $8 Billion.

Stephen Girard Net Worth: $5.1 Billion

Stephen Girard was an American philanthropist, banker, and slave owner of French origin. He was the savior of the United States government from financial collapse during the War of 1812, this act made him become one of the wealthiest people in America. Before his death, he devoted much of his fortune to philanthropy, particularly the education and welfare of orphans. Stephen Girard’s Net worth is estimated to be around $5.1 Billion at his death.

15. Edward Henry Harriman

Edward Henry Harriman Net Worth: $4.2 Billion

Edward Henry Harriman was an American financier and railroad executive. He was controlling the Union Pacific, the Southern Pacific, Saint Joseph and Grand Island, the Illinois Central, the Central of Georgia, the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and the Wells Fargo Express Company. At his death, Edward Henry Harriman’s net worth was estimated to be around $4.2 Billion.

16. John Jacob Astor

John Jacob Astor Net Worth: $2.3 Billion

John Jacob Astor was a German-American businessman, merchant, real estate mogul, and investor who made his fortune mainly in a fur trade monopoly, by smuggling opium into China, war bond investing and investing in real estate in or around New York City. At his death, John Jacob Astor’s net worth was estimated to be around $2.3 Billion.

17. John Insley Blair

John Insley Blair Net Worth: $2 Billion

John Insley Blair was an American entrepreneur, railroad magnate, philanthropist, and one of the 19th century’s wealthiest men in America. He started by buying store shares and then he was able to own five stores, each one run by one of his brothers. Blair also was one of the owners of  Lackawanna Coal and Iron Company and other companies. At his death, John Insley Blair’s net worth was estimated to be around $2 Billion.

18. Moses Taylor

Moses Taylor Net Worth: $1.9 Billion

Moses Taylor was a New York banker and merchant in the 19th-century. Taylor at that time was one of the richest men in America.  He controlled the National City Bank of New York, the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, and the Moses Taylor & Co. import business, and he held numerous other investments in railroads and industry. At his death, Moses Taylor’s net worth was estimated to be around $1.9 Billion.

19. Russell Sage

Russell Sage Net Worth: $1.9 Billion

Russell Risley Sage was an American politician, financier, railroad executive, and Whig politician from New York. he is also a frequent partner of Jay Gould in various transactions; he amassed a fortune. Sage was elected as an alderman in Troy and served seven years as treasurer of Rensselaer County. At his death, Russell Sage’s net worth was estimated to be around $1.9 Billion.

20. James Graham Fair

James Graham Fair Net Worth: $1.2 Billion

James Graham Fair was a highly successful mining engineer and businessman that migrated from Irish to America, searching for a better life. His investments in silver mines in Nevada made him a millionaire, and he was one of the famous “silver kings” who became wealthy on the Comstock Lode. At his death, Richard B. Mellon’s net worth was estimated to be around $1.2 Billion.

Summary

1. John D. Rockefeller
2. Andrew Carnegie
3. Cornelius Vanderbilt “The Commodore”
4. Alexander Turney Stewart
5. Frederick Weyerhauser
6. Jay Gould
7. J. P. Morgan
8. Marshall Field
9. William Weightman
10. Henry Ford
11. Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis
12. Andrew Mellon
13. Richard B. Mellon
14. Stephen Girard
15. Edward Henry Harriman
16. John Jacob Astor
17. John Insley Blair
18. Moses Taylor
19. Russell Sage
20. James Graham Fair

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