John D. Rockefeller – The Man Who Gave Away Shiny New Dimes

John Davison Rockefeller (July 8, 1839 – May 23, 1937) was an American industrialist and philanthropist. In 1870, he founded the Standard Oil Company and aggressively ran it until he officially retired in 1897. As kerosene and petrol grew in importance, Rockefeller’s wealth soared and he became the world’s richest man .His wealth was estimated at $900 million in 1913, equivalent to $189.6 Billion today. This is more than the riches of Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and the Walton family combined! He was the first American billionaire. Adjusted for inflation, he is often regarded as the richest person in history.

Rockefeller came from humble, meager beginnings.He was born to traveling salesman William Avery Rockefeller and his wife Eliza. John D. Rockefeller was the second-born child; he had five siblings. His mother was thrifty by nature and necessity.He learned his penny-wise ways from his mother’s old saying: “Willful waste makes woeful want.“As a youth, Rockefeller reportedly said that his two great ambitions were to make $100,000 and to live 100 years. Read more of this post