Top 14 Wealthiest Figures in History

John D. Rockefeller was born in 1839 and passed away in 1937. An American businessman, he is famously known as the king of oil. He began investing in the oil industry in 1863, and within 20 years, his company controlled 90% of the gasoline and oil production in the United States after acquiring numerous refineries.

At the time of his death, Rockefeller's net worth was around $1.5 billion, equivalent to 2% of the U.S. GDP. In today's terms, his wealth would be approximately $340 billion. Despite being a wealthy capitalist, he led a simple life and practiced frugality throughout his life.

The steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, born in 1835 and passed away in 1919, was a Scottish-American entrepreneur who rose from poverty to become the wealthiest man in America through his own efforts. He founded the Carnegie Steel Company and earned a vast fortune from the steel industry.

According to Time magazine, his fortune was valued at $372 billion in 2014. Carnegie was also known for his philanthropy, donating 90% of his wealth to charity, including funding the construction of schools, universities, and libraries around the world.

Emperor Akbar I, also known as Akbar the Great, born in 1556 and passing in 1605, was the architect of the golden age of the Mogul dynasty (India). Ascending the throne at just 13, he led numerous military campaigns to expand his empire and solidify his power by annexing large regions of northern and central India.

More remarkable than his military prowess, however, were his economic reforms that transformed his country into a thriving, prosperous nation. The economic strength of the Mogul empire during his reign was even compared to that of Elizabethan England. Historians estimate that the GDP of the Mogul empire reached 25% of the global GDP at the time, demonstrating just how wealthy the emperor was.

Emperor Song Shen Zong, whose given name was Zhao Zhongshan, was born on May 25, 1048, and passed away on April 1, 1085. He was the sixth emperor of the Song dynasty and a wise and capable ruler. His vision for the restoration of the Song dynasty was carried out through numerous reforms, many of which were proposed by the renowned statesman Wang Anshi.

At that time, the Song dynasty was one of the most powerful empires in the world. With reforms that spurred technological advancements and tax system changes, along with tribute from neighboring nations, it is estimated that the Song dynasty accounted for 25%-30% of the world's economic output during that era.

Augustus Caesar, born on September 23, 63 BC, and passing away on August 19, 14, was the first emperor of the Roman Empire. After his death, he was deified by the Roman Senate, and his name was given to the month of August.

The Roman Empire, known for its grandeur and prosperity, was as rich and powerful as the Song dynasty. Under Augustus Caesar, the Roman economy contributed approximately 30% of the global GDP, with his wealth amounting to one-fifth of the national treasury. His net worth was estimated at 4.6 trillion USD in 2014. His fortune was amassed through long-lasting military conquests and key economic reforms.

Mansa Musa, born in 1280 and passing away in 1337, was the 10th emperor of the prosperous Mali Empire. Although he may not be a well-known name, history has recognized him as the wealthiest individual of all time.

Ascending to the throne in 1312, Mansa Musa ruled over a nation that controlled vital trade routes and was the world's largest source of gold. In fact, half of the world’s gold and salt once passed through Mali.
His pilgrimage was considered the most extravagant and grand journey any ruler has ever undertaken, accompanied by 60,000 attendants, including 12,000 slaves, 500 silk-clad envoys, and a caravan of camels carrying gold bars and bags filled with gold to distribute to any poor individuals he encountered, in keeping with Islamic pilgrimage tradition.

While stopping in Cairo and Medina, his excessive gold spending led to inflation that affected the regions for decades. To remedy the situation, he had to buy back gold from moneylenders. Mansa Musa was perhaps the first and only man in history to have controlled the price of gold across the Mediterranean region.
Professor Rudolph Ware, a history lecturer at the University of Michigan, described Mansa Musa’s wealth: “They are trying to find words to explain it. There are illustrations of Musa holding a golden scepter, sitting on a golden throne, wearing a golden crown. Imagine the greatest amount of gold anyone could own, then double it. That’s what everyone is trying to describe. When no one can comprehend how wealthy a person is, it means they are extremely, extraordinarily rich.”

Henry Ford was born on July 30, 1863, and is the founder of Ford Motor Company. His passion for automobiles led him to develop the first affordable car for middle-class families in America. While not the inventor, he played a key role in the production and development of the vehicle.

Ford designed the Model T by implementing an assembly line process to produce cars more quickly and cost-effectively, sparking a revolution in the American automotive industry. His total net worth reached $188 billion.

Osman Ali Khan Bahadur was the last ruler of the Hyderabad State in India and Berar. During his reign, he was known as one of the richest individuals in the world, with a fortune valued at $2 billion in 1940, which is worth even more today. He was also the founder of the Hyderabad House in India’s capital, Delhi, which was used for hosting diplomatic meetings of the Government.

In the 19th century, Hyderabad was the largest exporter of diamonds to the rest of the world, and Osman Ali Khan’s wealth stemmed from his family inheritance. It is believed that his gold collection was equivalent to over $100 million, with his jewelry collection estimated to be around $400 million.

Jakob Fugger was a merchant, banker, and mining entrepreneur. He is recognized as one of the wealthiest citizens of his time, and his influence reshaped the course of history, even after his death. Born in Augsburg to a prominent business family in Bavaria, Fugger primarily built his career by establishing textile and import businesses in Venice, Italy.

He monopolized the European copper market and accumulated significant wealth through mining and by providing loans to the King of Hungary and the Habsburgs. His total fortune amounted to $277 billion.

Nathan Mayer Rothschild was one of the five sons of the wealthy Rothschild family, with an estimated fortune of $450 billion. He was a shrewd businessman, a financial expert, and a banker. Rothschild began his career in the textile trade.

From 1804 onwards, he started working with the London Stock Exchange and began trading a wide range of financial instruments. By 1809, he had ventured into the gold bullion trade and expanded his business operations.

Marcus Licinius Crassus was a Roman general and politician who commanded the left wing of Sulla's army in the Battle of the Colline Gate, suppressed the slave revolt led by Spartacus, provided political and financial support to Julius Caesar, and became part of the political alliance known as the First Triumvirate with Pompey and Caesar. At the peak of his fame, his fortune was estimated to exceed 200,000,000 sestertii.

He is considered one of the wealthiest men in Roman history, and possibly one of the richest in all of history. Crassus, however, sought recognition for his military victories, a desire that ultimately led him to Syria, where he was defeated and killed in the Roman defeat at Carrhae by the Parthian general Surena.

Genghis Khan, born in 1162 and died in 1227, was the ruler of the Mongol Empire. When one thinks of Genghis Khan, they immediately recall a brilliant general, a conqueror, and the king of the vast Mongol Empire whose territory stretched across almost all of Asia and even reached into Europe as far as Austria.

However, few know that through his conquests and annexations, he amassed a vast fortune from the regions his army captured. With such wealth, had he been like other kings and kept it for himself, he could have been the richest person in human history.

Nevertheless, historians note that Genghis Khan always shared his spoils with his soldiers and trusted commanders. The wealth captured was distributed fairly and equitably among the soldiers. He personally accumulated no personal fortune. Because the wealth was shared among thousands of soldiers, it was almost impossible for him to possess much personal wealth.

He never had grand palaces, luxurious tombs, or any ostentatious display of wealth. Even upon his death, he was buried like an ordinary man. With all these facts in mind, historians still agree that he deserves a spot among the wealthiest individuals in history, not for personal wealth, but for his control over a vast empire, his generosity toward his men—qualities that few others in his position could have exhibited.

Bill Gates, born William Henry Bill Gates III on October 28, 1955, is the founder, chairman, and former chief software architect of Microsoft, a position he held until June 27, 2008. Though he no longer oversees day-to-day operations, Gates still serves as chairman of Microsoft. As of 2016, his net worth was estimated at 81.6 billion USD.

This name needs little introduction—Bill Gates is synonymous with the powerful empire of Microsoft, the company he founded, which has kept him at the top of the world's wealthiest lists for many years. He is an idol to many young entrepreneurs. Beyond his business success, Gates is also a well-known philanthropist, having donated much of his wealth to charitable causes. It is estimated that he has given around 30 billion USD to charity.

Alan Rufus, born in 1040 and passing away in 1093, was the grandson of Emperor William I. He owned vast estates in Rouen, the capital of Normandy, and was the lord of Richemont in Upper Normandy before 1066. He participated in the Norman Conquest and, though not widely known, he is believed to have amassed a fortune far surpassing even Bill Gates'. Alan Rufus was also known for his substantial charitable contributions to various churches, particularly St. Mary’s Church.

Time magazine reported that after his death, he left behind more than 11,000 pounds, which represented 7% of England's GDP in 1093. This amount was valued at a staggering 194 billion USD in today's terms.