John D. Rockefeller

John D. Rockefeller was born in Richford, New York on July 8, 1839.  As a teenager, he worked several small jobs to make money and gradually worked his way up to success.  Eventually, he built an oil refinery near Cleveland.  Not too long after that he started the Standard Oil Company in 1870.  He eventually became the wealthiest man to ever live, his net worth being over $300 Billion.

Rockefeller was known for buying up his competition in order to eliminate his competitors, which was ironic because he was a very religious man who gave a lot of money to his church.  You would think doing that would make someone feel guilty, but he had to work somehow for his earnings.  Just like other industrialists, he knew that playing dirty like that was the only way to succeed in his line of business.  Rockefeller demanded that he get refunds on public rates.  The Standard Oil Company was convicted of the monopolistic practices in Federal Court.  After the Standard Oil Company broke up in 1911, Rockefeller remained a big Philanthropist, giving away a lot of his money to charity.

Sources:
www.biography.com
www.u-s-history.com
http://johndrockefeller.org/

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John D Rockefeller