10 Richest People Who Have Ever Lived
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Carlos “More Money than God” Slim, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffet are three extremely notable wealthy guys of today. However, this does not mean that they are already some of the richest people to have ever lived.
So, who are the wealthiest people to have lived in the history of mankind? This is the question that will fortunately be answered here, after compiling the list of the 10 richest people who have ever lived. The list takes into consideration the inflation rates throughout history. Read on if you want to know who these people are and what they did to become so rich.
10. Cornelius Vanderbilt – $185 Billion
Cornelius Vanderbilt, also known as Commodore, was an American-born philanthropist and industrialist. He was the Vanderbilt family’s patriarch, which is one of the richest families in the entire history of America. Vanderbilt is also Anderson Cooper’s (of CNN) great-great-great-grandfather. He is known for being the third wealthiest American to have ever lived, with assets amounting to $185 billion. His wealth came from different sources, first from steamboats then later on from shipping. He became even wealthier after he made a big move and invested in railroads.
9. Henry Ford – $199 Billion
Born on the 30th of July, 1863 in Greenfield Township, Michigan, Henry Ford was an industrialist who founded the Ford Motor Company. While Ford was not the person responsible for inventing the automobile, he was the one who developed, manufactured, and came out with the first ever vehicle that Americans belonging in the middle-class range were able to afford. He introduced the Model T Automobile, which revolutionized the American automobile industry, eventually improving the means of transportation in the United States. At the time of his death, which was on April 7, 1947, 83 year old Henry Ford had a net worth amounting to around $199 billion in today’s value.
8. Muammar Gaddafi – $200 Billion
Muammar Gaddafi, born Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi and also more popularly known as Colonel Gaddafi, was a politician and revolutionary who ruled the country of Libya for more than 4 decades. He became the Libyan Arab Republic’s Revolutionary Chairman after he was able to take power in the coup d’etat that took place in 1969. At the time of Muammar Gaddafi’s death, he had an equivalent net worth of around $200 billion.
7. William the Conqueror – $229.5 Billion
William the Conqueror, also known as William I and William the Bastard, was England’s first Norman King. He was also a descendant of the Viking raiders. He reigned for more than 20 years, starting from 1066 until he died in 1087. He built his wealth from taking and reigning over kingdoms. When he died in 1087, he passed his riches over to his sons, which in today’s money, is equivalent to $229.5 billion.
6. Osman Ali Khan, Asaff Jah VII – $236 Billion
Osman Ali Khan, Assaf Jah VII, born Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi Bahadur, was the last ruler and leader of the Princely State of Hyderabad and Berar. He reigned over Hyderabad for 37 years, starting from 1911 to 1948. His leadership only ended when Hyderabad became a part of India. When he was still alive, he was considered to be the world’s richest man. He owned a collection of gold that amounted to more than $100 million. He also had jewels worth more than $400 million, with the Jacob Diamond included in his possessions. Today, these jewels are worth $95 million. Rumors say that the former leader had in possession more than 50 different Rolls-Royces. With today’s inflation, his total assets would amount to $236 billion.
5. Tsar Nicholas II – $300 Billion
Tsar Nicholas II came into power after his father, Alexander III, died on the 20th of October, 1894 from liver disease. Nicholas was then 26 years old. Saint Nicholas the Martyr and Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer are just some of his known sobriquets. He was in power for more than 20 years. Known also as the last emperor, Tsar Nicholas II’s assets, taking into consideration today’s inflation, would be worth $300 billion.
4. Andrew Carnegie – $310 Billion
Born on November 25, 1835 in Dunfermline, Scotland, Andrew Carnegie was an industrialist who played a major role in the expansion and the growth of the American steel market and industry. The Scottish-American industrialist was also a high profile philanthropist during his time. Before he began collecting money, he started out as a telegrapher first. It was only in the 1960's when he started making investments in railroad sleeping cars, oil derricks, and bridges. Taking into account today’s inflation rates, Andrew Carnegie’s total assets would be worth around $310 billion.
3. John D. Rockefeller – $340 Billion
John D. Rockefeller, or John Davison Rockefeller, was a U.S.-born philanthropist and industrialist. He founded the Standard Oil Company, which was the leader in the oil industry during his time. This company that he established was also the first ever U.S. business trust. Rockefeller was known for having revolutionized the petroleum industry. All in all, with his total assets amounting to $340 billion after taking into consideration today’s inflation, he was the richest American to have ever lived. Aside from this, John D. Rockefeller was also the first U.S.-born man to have a net worth of more than $1 billion.
2. The Rothschild Family – $350 Billion
The Rothschild Family, also commonly referred to as the Rothschilds, originated in Frankfurt, Germany. The family established a banking dynasty back in the 1760’s. This surpassed even the most powerful families of the same era, such as the Berenberg and the Baring. Today, they are considered to be the richest people in the world. Their total assets amount to $350 billion. Many believe that the Rothschild Family controls more than $1 trillion in banking and real estate assets.
1. Mansa Musa I – $400 Billion
The tenth Mansa, (which means King of Kings) Mansa Musa I leads the pack of the richest people who have ever lived. This Malian Empire ruler made his fortune by producing salt and gold, which accounts for over 50% of the world’s supply. Taking into consideration the inflation rate, Mansa Musa I would be worth around $400 billion.
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