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Cornelius Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt was an American business magnate who built his wealth in railroads and shipping.After working with his father's business, Vanderbilt worked his way into leadership positions in the inland water trade and invested in the rapidly growing railroad industry. Nicknamed "The Commodore", he is known for owning the New York Central Railroad. He embraced new technologies and new forms of business organization, and used them to compete. -
Andrew Carnegie
Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, business magnate, and philanthropist. Carnegie led the expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century and became one of the richest Americans in history. During the last 18 years of his life, he gave away $350 million to charities, foundations, and universities His 1889 article proclaiming "The Gospel of Wealth" called on the rich to use their wealth to improve society. -
J.P. Morgan
J.P. Morgan was a American financier and banker who dominated corporate finance on Wall Street throughout the Gilded Age. As the head of the banking firm and he played a central role in the wave of industrial consolidation during the late 19th and early 20th century. -
Jhon D. Rockefeller
American industrialist John D. Rockefeller built his first oil refinery near Cleveland and in 1870 incorporated the Standard Oil Company. By 1882 he had a near-monopoly of the oil business in the U.S., but his business practices led to the passing of antitrust laws. Late in life, Rockefeller devoted himself to philanthropy.
