Since the establishment of societies by human beings, there have always been the "haves" and the "have-nots" with regard to resources and money. Although the scale of disparity between these two groups can vary greatly, there are some outliers who managed to acquire such an immense amount of wealth that they have gone down in history for it. Take a look to see the richest individuals to have ever lived, and learn how much they were worth in current United States dollars.
Heshen Is Considered One Of The Most Corrupt Officials In History
Born Shanbao in 1750 and later known as Heshen, this official of the Qing dynasty was favored by the Qianlong Emperor. He was a member of the Plain Red Banner, one of the Eight Banners of Manchu military and society, and is widely considered to be one of the most corrupt Chinese officials in history.
Heshen's close relationship with the emperor allowed him to get away with stealing tax revenue and public funds on an unheard-of scale. When he died in 1799, it's estimated that he had accumulated a personal fortune of $132 billion in today's US currency.
John Jacob Astor IV Was America's First Millionaire
John Jacob "Jack" Astor IV was an American writer, businessman, real estate developer, inventor, investor, and lieutenant colonel in the Spanish-American War. A powerful member of the Astor family, he acquired a massive fortune trading furs, establishing a monopoly by controlling the trade between the United States and Canada.
He was the richest person on board of the RMS Titanic and was thought to be the richest person in the world with a net worth of around $87 million, or $2.3 billion as of 2019. He perished when the ship sank in 1912.
Alan Rufus Was William The Conqueror's Nephew
Alan Rufus, 1st Lord of Richmond, also known as Alan the Red, was a nobleman and a companion nephew of William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest.
For his service, William the Conqueror granted Rufus a large fief in 1071, which later went on to be known as the Honour of Richmond. According to historian William Rubenstein, Rufus was worth around $15,000 when he died, around 7% of England's GDP. This would be a staggering $196 billion in 2016.
William De Warenne Had Numerous Prominent Properties
Officially titled William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey, Lord of Lewes, Seigneur de Varennes, de Warenne was a Norman nobleman created Earl of Surrey under William II of Rufus. He's documented as one of the few men who fought under William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
According to the Domesday Book survey of 1086, de Warenne owned land in 13 English counties including Sussex as well as massive properties in Norfolk, Suffolk, Yorkshire, and Essex. Today, he would have been worth $147 billion.
Genghis Khan Practically Ruled The Wold
Born in 1162, Genghis Khan was the first Great Khan and founder of the Mongol Empire, which, following his death, became the largest contiguous empire in history. After establishing his empire, he began invading and conquering most of Eurasia, usually with horrendous large-scale massacres and the exterminations of whole peoples.
Due to his military success and the size of the Mongol Empire, he is considered to be the greatest conqueror of all time. Of course, by dominating much of the planet, he was also insanely wealthy. His net worth is estimated to have been in the hundreds of millions, arguably making him the richest man to have ever lived.
Mansa Musa I Was Practically Made Of Gold
Born in 1280 AD, Musa I, was the tenth Mansa or emperor of the Mali Empire, an Islamic West African State. During his reign, he conquered 24 cities with their surrounding districts and may have been one of the largest producers of gold in the world.
He has been described as one of the richest individuals in history, and certainly in the Middle Ages. Although there is no clear way to gauge just how wealthy Musa I was, it's estimated that he was worth around $400 billion in today's USD.
Henry Ford Revolutionized Mass Production
Born in 1863, Henry Ford was an industrialist and business magnate best known as the founder of the Ford Motor Company. One of the key aspects that made the Ford Motor Company so successful was Ford's development of the assembly line, essentially the beginnings of mass production, leading him to sell more than one million vehicles in 1920.
By the time of his death in 1947, Ford had accumulated a fortune of more than $200 billion in today's money, and the company is still thriving today.
William The Conqueror Was The First Norman King Of England
A descendant of Rollo, William I, otherwise known as William the Conqueror, was the first Norman King of England. He reigned from 1066 until his death in 1087, after his long and laborious conquest of England.
During his conquest, he took lands and treasures from Sussex to Yorkshire, acquiring an estimated net worth of $228 billion in today's money. With his fortune, he acquired jewels and built many of some of England's most iconic landmarks such as the Tower of London.
Andrew Carnegie Built An Empire
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist and a key leader in the steel industry in the United States, becoming one of the richest Americans in history. He was also a major philanthropist, and in the last 19 years of his life, he gave away more than $350 million, almost ninety percent of his total wealth.
This is still one of the most notable families in the United States, and it's estimated that during his life, Andrew Carnegie's fortune reached over $4.8 billion in today's currency.
Augustus Caesar Owned A Large Percentage Of Rome's Economy
Augustus Caesar was a military leader, statesman, and the first emperor of the Roman Empire, reigning between 27 BC until his death in 14 AD. One of the most controversial and effective leaders in history, he led Rome into an age of peace known as the Pax Romana.
While he was coming to power, he also accumulated a significant amount of wealth. His personal fortune is estimated to have been around 20% of the entire empire's economy, which would be around $4.63 trillion today.
Mir Osman Ali Khan Was The Richest Indian To Ever Live
Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi, Assaf Jah VII, was the last ruler of Hyderabad, the largest princely state in British India. In 1911, at the age of 25, he ascended the throne and went on to rule until 1948, when the state was annexed by India.
He was one of the wealthiest people in history, and in 1937, he was featured on the cover of Time magazine as the richest person at the time. He is also the wealthiest Indian to have ever lived, and in the early 1940s, his fortune was worth around 2% of the US economy, an estimated $230 billion today.
John D. Rockefeller Dominated The United States
Widely regarded as the richest person in modern history, John D. Rockefeller was an American business magnate, founding the Standard Oil Company in 1870 and running it until 1897, while remaining its largest shareholder.
His wealth drastically increased as kerosene and gasoline became more prominent, resulting in Rockefeller controlling 90% of all oil production in the United States and becoming the richest American of all time. While the Rockefeller family is still incredibly wealthy, his personal fortune was around $341 billion per the BBC.
Tsar Nicholas II Of Russia Helped Himself To Russia's Wealth
Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, reigning from 1894 until he was removed from the throne in 1917. Under his rule, Russia fell from its position as one of the great economic and military powers of the world.
His reign is considered to be highly controversial and ended after he was executed by the Bolsheviks in 1918. During his time as emperor, he had full access to the nation's wealth, and it's estimated that he helped himself to the equivalent of around $300 billion.
Jakob Fugger "The Rich"
Jakob Fugger was a descendant of the Fugger merchant family and worked himself as a German merchant, mining entrepreneur, and banker. Also known as Jakob Fugger the Rich, he built his family's firm to a business operating throughout all of Europe. He is considered to be one of the wealthiest individuals in history, alongside John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie.
With an estimated $277 million to his name, Fugger was only one of the wealthiest men in Europe and used his money to help influence politics at the time, such as funding the rise of Holy Roman Emperor Maximillian I and the Spanish King Charles V.
King Solomon Was Worth Trillions
According to the Hebrew Bible, Old Testament, Quran, and Hadiths, Solomon was the immensely wealthy king of the United Kingdom of Israel who succeeded his father, King David. It is assumed that Solomon reigned from around 970 to 931 BC.
The Hebrew Bible claims that he built the First Temple of Jerusalem in the fourth year of his reign, using the wealth that he and his father had acquired. It is also rumored that Solomon received 25 tons of gold for each year of his reign, which would be worth trillions of dollars in today's money.
Cornelius Vanderbilt Changed The Geography Of The United States
Cornelius Vanderbilt began his career working in his father's business, making his way up to leadership positions in the railroad industry. Known for owning the New York Central Railroad, as biographer T.J. Stiles noted, "[h]e vastly improved and expanded the nation's transportation infrastructure, contributing to the very geography of the United States."
His work made him an incredibly wealthy man and one of the richest Americans in history, worth an estimated $185 billion in today's money. He also established the Vanderbilt family as one of the most powerful in the nation.
Muammar Gaddafi Made Out With Billions
Muammar Gaddafi, otherwise known as Colonel Gaddafi, was a Libyan politician, revolutionary, and political theorist. From 1969 to 1977, he ruled Libya as the Revolutionary Chairman of the Libyan Arab Republic and as the "Brother Leader" of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 and 2011.
A widely divisive political figure, in 2011, Libyan officials estimated that the deposed leader had hidden $200 billion in secret bank accounts made from questionable investments and stealing from the country's oil revenues.
Akbar I Lead A Massive Empire
Abu'l-Fath Jalal-un-din Muhammad Akbar, also known as Akbar the Great or Akbar I, was the third Mughal emperor, ruling from 1556 to 1605. During his reign, he expanded the Mughal Empire to cover much of the Indian subcontinent.
He had a significant influence over the entire subcontinent due to the Mughal economic, political, and cultural dominance. Because of the size of his empire and his dedication to expanding it, he controlled around 25% of the world's GDP at the time, which would be an estimated $21 trillion today.
Emperor Shenzong Of Song Had More Than $30 Trillion
The sixth emperor of the Song dynasty in China, Shenzong reigned from 1067 to 1085, during a time that's described as "Peace and Prosperity" and "Primary Abundance" in China. During his time as emperor, he controlled around 30% of the world's GDP, which equates to around more than $30 trillion.
Despite his immense wealth, he wasn't necessarily a greedy ruler. He made a point to help the lives of his citizens by implementing his New Policies, which some have suggested were a forerunner of the modern welfare state.
Jeff Bezos Is The Richest Man In The World
Jeff Bezos is an Internet entrepreneur, investor, and media proprietor. He is best known as the founder, CEO, and president of the global technology company Amazon. Currently, the company is the world's largest online sales company and the largest Internet company by revenue.
Bezos has been the richest person in the world most years since 2017, and he was described in 2018 by Forbes as "far richer than anyone else on the planet" with a net worth of $145.2 billion.
The Founder Of Walmart, Sam Walton
There aren't many places that can compete with Walmart. It has all the goods you need in one place, with only a slight drop off in quality compared to Target and other similar franchises.
Sam Walton founded Walmart in 1962 and helped the Walton family become the richest family in America (worth $14 billion). Walton by himself was worth an insane amount as well, coming in at $64.5 billion. Quite the legacy to leave behind.
Providing The Customer Service You Need
Who is Marshall Field? Well, the gentleman lived between 1834 and 1906 and managed to amass a net worth of $66.1 billion along the way. The question is, how did he gain so much wealth?
Field was the founder of Marshall Field and Company, a Chicago-based department store. Marshall Field and Company had a reputation for providing exceptional customer service and outstanding quality. Field knew how to run a business and it helped his pockets grow.
Mastermind Of Transportation
Jason "Jay" Gould was a smart man who found arbitrage in things such as the stock market and transportation. He was a gold speculator, financier, and he worked with railroads.
A man of many hats, it was how he masterminded the transportation boom in America that helped bring him his net worth off $71.2 billion. During the 19th century, he was also a "robber baron" of American capitalism. Gould found a way to manipulate the stock market to his advantage.
Investing Master Buffett
Not many earn a nickname with the word "oracle" in it, but Warren Buffett did. The "Oracle of Omaha" is the most successful value investor of his generation and it isn't close.
It is true that he didn't gain a vast percentage of his wealth until after 50, but he still has a net worth of $73.2 billion. Buffett pledged to give away 99% of his wealth through philanthropic missions. Smart and he's a very noble man.
The Last Tsar And Monarch Of Russia
Not only was Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov the last Tsar, but he was also the final monarch of Russia. Revolutionists decided his reign was over when they overthrew his government in 1918.
They did so by executing him and his family. After the Russian Orthodox Church canonized him, he became the richest saint in history with a net worth of $300 billion. He lived from the years 1868 to 1918.
The Roman Politician
Marcus Licinius Crassus associated with the likes of Julius Caesar and the two even comprised the First Triumvirate with some help from Pompeius Magnus. As for Crassus, he gained his massive wealth through real estate, slaves, and minerals.
At one time, many believed he was the richest in history, but new studies indicate that the Roman currency didn't carry that much worth. Still, having a net worth of $169.8 billion isn't too bad if you ask us.
The First Earl Of Surrey
William de Warenne became known as the first Earl of Surrey. He also was a Norman baron who fought alongside William the Conqueror at The Battle of Hastings in England.
How does this add up to becoming one of the richest people in history? With a net worth of $147.1 billion, that's a great thing to wonder. Thanks to his courage in battle, he received numerous holdings and land grants as a reward. Some payout!
Mr. Microsoft
Bill Gates probably changed the world as we know it more than any other tech person. Sure, there are others that come to mind, but the founder of Microsoft paved the way for a lot of other ambitious minds.
Gates' peak net worth was $136 billion, but is now a little more modest at $78.9 billion. Along with Warren Buffett and others, Gates plans on donating 99% of his wealth to charity. That's a ton of money to give away!
The Son Of King Edward III
His name was John of Gaunt and he was the fourth son of King Edward III. He was also King Richard II's regent. This man was filthy rich thanks to the properties he owned.
John of Gaunt owned estates and castles throughout England and France. As Earl of Lancaster, he had a net worth of $110 billion and became the most magnificent landowner north of England. This man had the right ideas and executed them sharply.
The French-Born Billionaire
Stephen Girard was a savvy man with his money. The French-born created his wealth with shipping and banking and ended up with a net worth of $105 billion. That's a ton of shipping!
Girard even helped bail out America from collapsing during the war of 1812. He would buy the first Bank of the United States and rename it the Bank of Stephen Girard. It kind of has a nice ring to it (not really). He still made a fortune.
A Rich Irish Immigrant
Some people know how to make a profit from the things others need. Alexander T. Stewart was his name and selling dry goods was his game. The Irish immigrant created a profitable business from dry goods.
During his time, he started the largest department store in lower Manhattan. It was this that helped him accumulate a net worth of $90 billion. Not only was it the largest, but it as also the first of its kind.
One Of King Edward III's Most Trusted
This is the first Duke of Lancaster, Henry Duke of Lancaster. He was an English nobleman and also one of King Edward III's most trusted militant men. That already sets up him for success.
How did he get his $85.1 billion net worth? Well, Henry Duke of Lancaster was a founding member of the Corpus Christi College in Cambridge and the Order of Garter. That's a pretty hefty resume to have to your name, isn't it?
Working His Way Through The Timber Business
Friedrich Weyerhauser lived from 1834 to 1914 and created a net worth of $80 million for himself. He is a German-American that made tons of money from the timber business.
It wouldn't take long for him to become the largest private landowner in America while he was alive. He has a real estate investment trust company called Weyerhauser Company and it's one of the biggest private owners of Timberland, the shoe company.
The Warren Buffett Of Mexico
We discussed Warren Buffett earlier, so here is the Buffett in Mexico. From 2010 to 2013, Carlos Slim Helu earned the ranking of the richest person in the world. That's nothing to scoff at!
His business wins by being a diverse portfolio of businesses in nearly every sector of the Mexican economy. To further blow your mind, his companies make up 40% of the listings currently on the Mexican Stock Exchange. That's some major power.
Another Walmart Beneficiary
Jim Walton is the youngest son of Sam Walton. We touched on Sam earlier and how he was the founder of Walmart, but how much of that wealth transfers over to his family?
Well, Jim has a net worth of $46.6 billion, and he doesn't even sit on the board for Walmart anymore. He now focuses on Arvest Bank. That's also primarily owned by the Walton family, so the money never runs out for them.
Making His Money From Railroads
His name was John Insley Blair and he lived from 1802 to 1899, almost making it to the 1900s. Blair earned a net worth of $47.7 billion. He made this money through railroads.
Before planes and cars came around, railroads dominated as the best mode of transportation. Blair was the most prominent owner of railroad property on the planet at one point. He was also the president of 16 railroad companies at once.
The Publishing Billionaire
As a member of the Advertising Hall of Fame, Cyrus H.K. Curtis, many consider him the founder of the modern magazine. That's one of the most prominent titles a person can get when you think about all the magazines there are around the world.
Curtis started publications like Ladies' Home Journal, and would later buy out bigger names. Included in these names are The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Evening Post. His net worth was a whopping $48.3 billion.
Pharmaceutical Man Weightman
Born in Waltham, England, William Weightman grew up to become one of the richest people ever between 1813 and 1904. It was his uncle that requested he move to America, who was a chemist.
In the country, he started a company that made a new synthetic treatment for malaria! You can only imagine how much money that brought in for Weightman. He parlayed his outstanding earnings into a portfolio of real estate holdings over in Philadelphia.
One Brain Behind Google
As a way to escape the Soviet-era discrimination against Jewish people, Sergey Brin and his family immigrated to America not long after his birth (1973). As a project, he and Larry Page, a Stanford computer science student, created Google.
All they wanted to do was make an internet search engine that could rank the most popular results from top to bottom. Not only did they succeed, but they've probably changed the world as we know it. His net worth is $54 billion.
The Other Half Of Google
When you create something as powerful as Google, you better believe you'll have a ridiculous net worth. The other brain behind the search engine alongside Sergey Brin is Larry Page.
He is the son of a computer scientist and programming teacher, so the genes are in his DNA. It only took Brin to help get these two going and to help Page reach a net worth of $55.2 billion. Thank goodness for Google, because who wants to use Bing?
