Who is the richest person ever?

**min0 lee** · 12-08-2008, 07:40 AM

Comment Central - Times Online - WBLG: Who is the richest person ever?

Who is the wealthiest person in the history of mankind?

In his book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell poses this question (actually he is looking for the wealthiest American) in order to make a striking point. Gladwell noted how many of the wealthiest Americans were born in a very small period (the decade of the 1830s).

His data comes from the list developed by Forbes magazine and can be found here. Wealthy historical figures 2008 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The top ten for the world is:

1. Genghis Khan

2. John D. Rockefeller

3. Andrew Carnegie

4. Nicholas II of Russia

5. William Henry Vanderbilt

6. Osman Ali Khan

7. Andrew Mellon

8. Henry Ford

9. Marcus Licinius Crassus

10. Basil II of the Byzantine Empire

In case George Osborne and Peter Mandelson wondered what they had got themselves into, Oleg Deripaska ranks 156th in the list of the richest people in the history of mankind.

POSTED BY DANIEL FINKELSTEIN ON DECEMBER 05, 2008 AT 05:22 PM |

**bio-chem** · 12-08-2008, 08:52 AM

i'm actually kind of surprised about #1. interesting list. a couple of the people i didn't even know until I looked them up.

**min0 lee** · 12-08-2008, 09:23 AM

I am disappointed 21inchpump wasn't listed here.

**bio-chem** · 12-08-2008, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

I am disappointed 21inchpump wasn't listed here.

I thought he was #6.

**min0 lee** · 12-08-2008, 09:45 AM

Wasn't he a oil baron?

**tucker01** · 12-08-2008, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

Wasn't he a oil baron?

And his own clothing line.

**bio-chem** · 12-08-2008, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

Wasn't he a oil baron?

then that would be #2

**ZECH** · 12-08-2008, 02:35 PM

#5 does not surprise me. If you have ever been to the Biltmore house and seen what they built back in the 1890's, you know they were rolling in the dough!! Awesome place to visit, even today. It's amazing 2/3 people lived in that huge place. But I'm sure they had hundreds taking care of the house(cooking, cleaning) and the grounds(gardens, livestock-farms)

**Fetusaurus Rex** · 12-08-2008, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by dg806

#5 does not surprise me. If you have ever been to the Biltmore house and seen what they built back in the 1890's, you know they were rolling in the dough!! Awesome place to visit, even today. It's amazing 2/3 people lived in that huge place. But I'm sure they had hundreds taking care of the house(cooking, cleaning) and the grounds(gardens, livestock-farms)

WOOOOOOOOOW

**Fetusaurus Rex** · 12-08-2008, 03:12 PM

I didnt read the site I guess, but is this list comprised of cash and assets that top those who are rich now?

or

In comparison to those who are rich now, but without counting in inflation.

I guess what I am asking is, did these people have more money than Buffett and Gates and those guys, or did they have less money but with a lot less inflation making there value higher?

I hope that makes sense...

**min0 lee** · 12-08-2008, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by Fetusaurus Rex

I didnt read the site I guess, but is this list comprised of cash and assets that top those who are rich now?

or

In comparison to those who are rich now, but without counting in inflation.

I guess what I am asking is, did these people have more money than Buffett and Gates and those guys, or did they have less money but with a lot less inflation making there value higher?

I hope that makes sense...

It made sense.
They say..

Probably John D. Rockefeller (when considering his $Billion + fortune before the 1930s equated to today's economics to be over $300 Billion)...that is if you don't consider mythical individuals like King Midas or Montezuma and their alleged vast cashes of gold.

WikiAnswers - Who's the richest person ever

**bio-chem** · 12-08-2008, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by Fetusaurus Rex

I didnt read the site I guess, but is this list comprised of cash and assets that top those who are rich now?

or

In comparison to those who are rich now, but without counting in inflation.

I guess what I am asking is, did these people have more money than Buffett and Gates and those guys, or did they have less money but with a lot less inflation making there value higher?

I hope that makes sense...

it is measuring purchasing power. I think it said the #2 guy was worth about 2 billion in his time which for us now is about 318 billion or so. his overall purchasing power was like 1/2 the GDP

**The Monkey Man** · 12-08-2008, 04:54 PM

YouTube Video

**maniclion** · 12-08-2008, 07:33 PM

I wish I had been born a Walton....hell I'd settle for number 201 on the list's heir.....

**Fetusaurus Rex** · 12-08-2008, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by maniclion

I wish I had been born a Walton....hell I'd settle for number 201 on the list's heir.....

Why? He looks like teen wolf

you don't want to be a spawn of that.

**ZECH** · 12-09-2008, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by Fetusaurus Rex

WOOOOOOOOOW

I promise you pictures don't do that place any justice. It is americas largest home, 250 rooms!!! It has 65 fireplaces(some are HUUUGGGE), an indoor pool, bowling alley and when it opened on Christmas Eve in 1895, it had full electricty(unheard of then) and sits on 8,000 acres(which started out as 125,000-now part of Pisgah Forest)!!!
It has 4 acres of floor space!!! 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms.
Over a six-year period, an entire community of craftsmen worked to build the country's premier home. The estate boasted its own brick factory, woodworking shop, and a three-mile railway spur for transporting materials to the site.
The place is truely amazing!

**bio-chem** · 12-09-2008, 10:29 AM

we need more castles here in the US.

**min0 lee** · 12-09-2008, 10:30 AM

I want one...with a moat of course.

**bio-chem** · 12-09-2008, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

I want one...with a moat of course.

exactly. I mean we have monticello and mt vernon and a couple of places that have lasted for 200 years, but i want the US to have those stone houses that last for centuries

**tucker01** · 12-09-2008, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by bio-chem

exactly. I mean we have monticello and mt vernon and a couple of places that have lasted for 200 years, but i want the US to have those stone houses that last for centuries

Then go steal them from Europe.

**CORUM** · 12-09-2008, 03:28 PM

i know Warren Buffet just passed Bill Gates in wealth not too long ago

**maniclion** · 12-09-2008, 05:16 PM

I have a brickmaking factory in my house, I use it about once or twice a day depending on my diet......I also do woodworking quite often in several rooms in my house.....

**bio-chem** · 12-09-2008, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by maniclion

I have a brickmaking factory in my house, I use it about once or twice a day depending on my diet......I also do woodworking quite often in several rooms in my house.....

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