World's First Billionaire Studied Accounting Just For 10 Weeks. This Is His Story (2024)

FAQs

Who was the world's first billionaire and how did he make his money? ›

John D. Rockefeller is often cited as the world's first billionaire, achieving that status in 1916 largely through his ownership of Standard Oil. 2 From that point over a century ago, wealth has multiplied to the point where the richest men and women in the world top out at around $150 billion each.

According to Schwab's Modern Wealth Survey, Americans said last year that it takes an average net worth of $2.2 million to qualify a person as being wealthy. (Net worth is the sum of your assets minus your liabilities.)

The American oil magnate John D. Rockefeller became the world's first confirmed U.S. dollar billionaire in 1916. As of 2018, there are over 2,200 U.S. dollar billionaires worldwide, with a combined wealth of over US$9.1 trillion, up from US$7.67 trillion in 2017.

Rockefeller (1839-1937), one of the most remarkable individuals to define the landscape of American business. Rockefeller's estimated $1.4 billion net worth in 1937 was equivalent to 1.5% of U.S. GDP. According to this metric he was (and still is) the richest individual in American business and economic history.

As of today, no billionaire is within striking distance of becoming a trillionaire. Elon Musk is, at present, the world's richest person, with a net worth of $206 billion, while Jeff Bezos is in the number two position with $179 billion, according to Bloomberg.

Retiring with $7 million means you can bid adieu to financial anxiety. You've amassed a significant nest egg that, when managed prudently, can provide you with a stable and worry-free income for the rest of your life. Basic living expenses like housing, healthcare and groceries will no longer keep you up at night.

To some people, $3 million will sound like a lot. You probably think $3 million is enough to retire if you're among that crowd. But retiring with $3 million at 65 can last depending on your longevity, lifestyle and other factors. Let's break down what you need to consider when determining how much you can afford.

With $8 million in savings, even a modestly invested portfolio can generate enough money to live a very comfortable life indefinitely. Of course, that's all relative as the amount of money you need in retirement is going to vary based on an individual's life choices and desires.

She's worth an estimated $1.1 billion on the low end, based on analyses of her fortune by both Bloomberg and Forbes. While many successful pop stars have generated income streams through brand deals and product lines across industries, Swift has built her empire almost exclusively through her music.

Who is the richest man ever to exist? ›

Wealth. Mansa Musa is renowned for his wealth and generosity. Online articles in the 21st century have claimed that Mansa Musa was the richest person of all time. Historians such as Hadrien Collet have argued that Musa's wealth is impossible to accurately calculate.

Augustus Caesar — Potentially the richest man of all time, he was the first emperor of the Roman Empire and valued at a rough estimate of $4.6 trillion in today's dollars. He personally owned a fifth of the wealth of an empire that accounted for about 30% of the gross domestic product of the whole world.

The Rockefeller family is 200 members strong and has a cumulative net worth of $10.3 billion, according to Forbes. The wealthiest and most prominent family member of this century, David Rockefeller, was the world's oldest billionaire at 101 years old, with a net worth of $3.3 billion when he died in 2017.

Rockefeller's $1.5 billion was about 1.6% of the economy in 1937. Were he to own the same percentage today, his fortune would be almost triple Bezos'. Here's what some of history's richest people at the height of their wealth might be worth now using this approach.

John D. Rockefeller founded the Standard Oil Company, which dominated the oil industry and was the first great U.S. business trust. Later in life he turned his attention to charity. He made possible the founding of the University of Chicago and endowed major philanthropic institutions.

Think about the wealth Elon Musk owns now, then add a couple hundred billion, and you will get close to Mansa Musa's fortune in the 14th century. Economists estimate that the West African emperor possessed riches equal to almost 400 billion US dollars.

The Rockefeller family is 200 members strong and has a cumulative net worth of $10.3 billion, according to Forbes. The wealthiest and most prominent family member of this century, David Rockefeller, was the world's oldest billionaire at 101 years old, with a net worth of $3.3 billion when he died in 2017.