Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Carlos Slim are the only living men who crack the list -- and that's only counting their net worth at bubble peaks in 1999 and 2007. You'll notice much of the list come from England and America. Partly this happens because that's were estimates were available. But it's also true that extreme private wealth occurred only several times in history, such as: The great lords of England, the Gilded Age, and today's credit bubble. Source of wealth: Many. He is most famous, however, for having big holdings in major telecom companies, especially America Movil, one of the largest corporations in Latin America. Estimate from 2008 Forbes list of billionaires, adjusted for inflation. Image: wikipedia Source of wealth: He started the retail store chain Marshall Field and Co. in Chicago during the Civil War. Estimate from economist Peter Bernstein via Forbes, adjusted for inflation. Source of wealth: Major of the US Militia and member of the New York State Assembly, Rensselaer was also heir to one of the most well-endowed estates in the US. He founded the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a portion of his wealth. Source of wealth: Railroad baron and gold speculator, Jay Gould masterminded the 19th century transportation boom in America. He and financier James Fisk also bought up a dominating share of the gold market at the time - enough to directly affect market movements during Gould's lifetime. Source of wealth: English diplomat, noble, soldier, and founding member of the Order of the Garter.. He is remembered today for his peace talks with France and for being a patron of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge Estimate from historian William Rubenstein via The Times, converted to dollars at average rate since '07 (1:1.7) and adjusted for inflation. Image: wikipedia Source of wealth: He founded Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the biggest timber company in the United States, after he arrived to America from Germany in the 19th century. Estimate from economist Peter Bernstein via Forbes, adjusted for inflation. Source of wealth: Richard II's regent during much of the latter's rule and the father of Henry Bolingbroke (who would eventually come back from exile to depose Richard and take the English throne into his hands). One of Shakespeare's meekest characters. Estimate from historian William Rubenstein via The Times, converted to dollars at average rate since '07 (1:1.7) and adjusted for inflation. Image: wikipedia Source of wealth: Successful in the shipping trade, he was a French-born American merchant that went into the banking business later in his life, owning a bank that was called "Girard's Bank". Estimate from economist Peter Bernstein via Forbes, adjusted for inflation. Source of wealth: The Earl of Arundel and quite the military leader. He fought in the Scottish Independence wars and in the Hundred Years' War. Subsequent Earls of Arundel -- his sons -- would make this list, but we're only counting that money once. Estimate from historian William Rubenstein via The Times, converted to dollars at average rate since '07 (1:1.7) and adjusted for inflation. Image: wikipedia Source of wealth: A successful fur trader, he established a near monopoly within the U.S. by around 1800. He subsequently switched trades and went on to investing in real estate, focusing on New York City. Estimate from economist Peter Bernstein via Forbes, adjusted for inflation. Image: wikipedia Source of wealth: Originally from Normandy, William I de Warenne participated in the battle of Hastings and was rewarded with properties in Sussex, Northfolk and Yorkshire. He became the first Earl of Surrey. Estimate from historian William Rubenstein via The Times, converted to dollars at average rate since '07 (1:1.7) and adjusted for inflation. Source of wealth: Founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975. He held onto shares as Microsoft dominated the age of computers, peaking in personal wealth at the top of the Dot Com Bubble. Estimate from wide-spread reports of a $101 billion net worth for a period in 1999, adjusted for inflation. Image: Daily Mail Source of wealth: A Norman who joined William The Conqueror in the invasion of Britain in the 11th century, Alan "The Red" had 250,000 acres of land from Yorkshire to London. He also owned Richmond Castle in North Yorkshire, which, for the time, was considered very comfortable. Estimate from historian William Rubenstein via The Times, converted to dollars at average rate since '07 (1:1.7) and adjusted for inflation. Image: wikipedia Source of wealth: In 1862, he began to buy railroad lines. Although already 70 years old, his wealth mostly comes from this business of the 19th century. Prior to that, he was known as a cold-blooded steam-boat entrepreneur. Estimate comes from economist Peter Bernstein via Forbes, adjusted for inflation. Source of wealth: Was called 0William the Bastard until he led the last successful foreign invasion of England in 1066. Although he became a monarch, we're counting the spoils of war before he took the throne, based on what he gave out to his sons Odo and Robert. Estimate from historian William Rubenstein via The Times, converted to dollars at average rate since '07 (1:1.7) and adjusted for inflation. Image: wikipedia Source of wealth: He founded Standard Oil in 1870, at the age of 31, and bought up most of the oil refineries in the United States, eventually controlling about 90% of the American oil business. Estimate comes from economist Peter Bernstein via Forbes, adjusted for inflation. Image: wikipedia The Rothschilds: Scholars put the Rothschild fortune during the 19th century at £400,000,000 in 1961 money. Converted to dollars and adjusted for inflation, they don't make the list. (Portrait Of A Dynasty, page 57) Genghis Khan: Owned most of Asia, but we couldn't find an estimate. Image: www.sawf.orgThe 20 Richest People Of All Time
#20 Carlos Slim
#19 Warren Buffett
#18 Sam Walton
#17 Marshall Field
#16 Stephen Van Rensselaer
#15 Jay Gould
#14 Henry Duke of Lancaster
#13 Frederick Weyerhaeuser
#12 A.T. Stewart
#11 John of Gaunt
#10 Stephen Girard
#9 Richard Fitzalan 10th Earl of Arundel
#8 John Jacob Astor
#7 William de Warenne
#6 Bill Gates
#5 Alan Rufus
#4 Cornelius Vanderbilt
#3 William The Conqueror
#2 Andrew Carnegie
#1 John D. Rockefeller
Bonus: Some people who didn't make the list
How do you spend all that money? Check out...
The 20 Most Awesome One-Of-A-Kind Billionaire Toys
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/richest-people-in-history-2010-8#ixzz0yPSUjFGr
Thursday, 2 September 2010
Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Carlos Slim are the only living men who crack the list -- and that's only counting their net worth at bubble peaks in 1999 and 2007. You'll notice much of the list come from England and America. Partly this happens because that's were estimates were available. But it's also true that extreme private wealth occurred only several times in history, such as: The great lords of England, the Gilded Age, and today's credit bubble.The 20 Richest People Of All Time
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/richest-people-in-history-2010-8#ixzz0yPSUjFGr
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