The Henry Ford

Henry Ford

One of the icons of American business and automobile industry. He revolutionize the manufacturing of cars, bringing it to the masses. His innovations gave him a sparkling name, but his later years, tarnished his reputation and became notorious in the eyes of the public. Henry Ford rose from humble beginnings into one of the greatest magnates in the early 1900's.

Ludvig Nobel and the Baku Oil Industry

The 18th century saw a boom in the oil industry. The United States dominated the industry with its leading company, Standard Oil. But it faced competition from the other side of the world – Russia. The oil city of Baku challenged American domination of world’s oil supply. In this city, it saw the rise of another member of the Swedish family Nobel – Ludvig or Ludwig Nobel.

Samuel Slater: The Father of American Industrial Revolution

Samuel Slater

Samuel Slater was born in June 9, 1768 in Belper, Derbyshire, England. He came from a prosperous farming family. At a young age, he did not show huge enthusiasm towards becoming a farmer. Instead, he showed skills in mechanics and arithmetic at a young age.

Andrew Mellon: Investor to Secretary of Treasury

Andrew Mellon

J.P. Morgan was not alone in having a keen eye for investments. Morgan, a financier with powerful influence and enormous wealth, had made investments in scientific discoveries as well as ventures that became successful. But Morgan did not have the monopoly of having a foresight for profits. Andrew Mellon was also a financier, visionary, and, government official. Mellon would bet his money in several ventures and capitalize in new technologies. From his sound investment decision he accumulated huge wealth and influence and allowed him to be respected and trusted by the Presidents of the United States.

Charles Schwab: Steel Maker and a Tragedy

Charles M. Schwab

One of the most desired resources during the Industrial Revolution was steel. Most countries that wanted to become industrialized must be able to produce their own steel. And the United States, one of the most industrialized and advance countries during the late 19th century, had produced their steel. Several men managed to capitalize on the need of steel and became rich. Among these men were Andrew Carnegie. But within the mist of Carnegie, another man grew to become an iconic industrialist. His name was Charles Schwab.

Wealth From Vices: James Buchanan Duke

James B. Duke

Cigarettes are vices for some, but a necessity for others. Regardless, some business profit from cigarettes, especially during its advent in the late 1800’s. It revolutionized how people can consume tobacco for a way cheaper and easier way. One man from the era of big business came to dominate the whole tobacco industry with cigarettes as his source of his wealth. 

John Warne Gates: From Barbed Wire to Riches

John Warne Gates

Barbed wire is a small tool that changes the world. It changed how ranchers grew their livestock. It’s a tool used to keep prisoners inside their prison. It changed the faces of battlefields forever. During the advent of this small but decisive tool, many took the opportunity to make some money from it. But one man stood to dominate the industry. A man that did not invent barbed wire but used it to made a fortune from it. A fortune that so huge that a million dollars can be easily loss in one poker game. 

Cornelius Vanderbilt: Ferry Owner Turned Railroad King

Cornelius Vanderbilt

Transportation is a viable mode of traveling from one place to another. It allowed economies to grow. It allowed people to see different places besides their home. The bigger your country, the more the mode and more integrated the transportation should be. The United States is one example of these big countries and during the 18th-century, many cash in on this industry. Among of this transport tycoons is the competitive "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt. 

J.P. Morgan: The Giant of Financial World

J.P. Morgan

Most of the greatest tycoons of the Gilded Age were rags to riches stories. From a poor humble background, to a self-made man, to a great industrialist criticized for his practices, this is the usual story line of great businessmen like Rockefeller and Carnegie. However, it cannot be said the same for John Pierpont Morgan. His story was that of someone born to a rich and affluent family. 

Andrew Carnegie: Steel Man and Philanthropist

Andrew Carnegie

The modern world has seen developments in communication with smart phone flooding the market. Most people now live in cities with skyscrapers appearing over the skies. Weapons of war developed rapidly with new modern tanks and fighter planes liter the battlefield. All of these developments owed to one material – Steel. During the 19th-century, steel was just at its infancy. However, many saw potential with these new material. One man that made a huge profit out of it and began to produce it in large quantities, paving the way for a new modern industrialize America.

Yataro Iwasaki: Founder of Mitsubishi

Yataro Iwasaki

The world in the 19th century had seen the rapid growth of industries and technology. Political changes as well as boundaries changes occurred during this century which would define the following one hundred years. In Europe, new nation were forge by blood or iron. Machinery had replace many manual jobs and increase the supply of once scarce goods. Ideologies, such as communism and socialism, began to appear and questioned the status quo. In Asia, the whole 19th century would be characterize by submission or resistance to the western powers. India had become a jewel in the British crown. The Europeans had sliced into their own colonies the whole of Southeast Asia. In East Asia, resistance to the “foreign devils” became stronger. But some men in the region had envisioned of learning from the westerners and applying those lesson to their own country. This idea became most prominent in the region of Japan, where men like Yataro Iwasaki would build the industries that would lead their Empire to the world stage.

Viscount de Mauá: Story of Success and Tragedy

Irineu Evangelista de Sousa, Viscount of Mauá

During the 19th century, Brazil had a rising economy. It had an export led economy with agriculture as the most dominant sector. The agricultural economy of Brazil brought huge changes to the country. Because of export crops, such as coffee, infrastructure developed alongside with progress in the society. Many Brazilians began to profit from the growth of the Brazilian economy. Among these of Brazilian entrepreneurs was the rich, but tragic man, the Viscount of Mauá, Irineu Evangelista de Sousa.

Richard Arkwright: Father of the Factory System

Richard Arkwright

Factories build the modern world. It is from these establishments where many of our needs and wants are built. From our pillows, to our toothpaste, to our cellphones and cars, all of these are built in a factory. The start of the factory system was said to have begun in England during the 18th century, the dawn of the Industrial Revolution.

John D. Rockefeller: Robber Baron, Oilman, Billionaire

John D. Rockefeller

Oil is one of the most treasured and valuable commodity in the world. Many countries, especially China, want to get a hold of it. Most of the oil reserve is owned by great billion-dollar companies such as Chevron, Mobil, and Exxon. But during the 1800’s, the advent of the black gold, a company was formed that became the root of the mentioned companies and from a man that is known as the richest person ever.