How much was Cornelius Vanderbilt worth at his highest level of wealth?

How much was Cornelius Vanderbilt worth at his highest level of wealth?

Cornelius Vanderbilt, byname Commodore Vanderbilt, (born May 27, 1794, Port Richmond, Staten Island, New York, U.S.—died January 4, 1877, New York, New York), American shipping and railroad magnate who acquired a personal fortune of more than $100 million.

What was Cornelius Vanderbilt’s net worth?

At the time of his death, aged 82, Vanderbilt had an estimated worth of $105 million.

How did Cornelius Vanderbilt make his fortune?

Cornelius Vanderbilt initially made his money in the steamships business before investing in railroads. In 1817, Vanderbilt went to work as a ferry captain for a wealthy businessman, Thomas Gibbons, who owned a commercial steamboat service that operated between New Jersey and New York.

How much did George Vanderbilt inherit?

Vanderbilt. George W. Vanderbilt had inherited $2 million from his grandfather and received another million dollars on his 21st birthday from his father. Upon his father’s death, he inherited $5 million more, as well as the income from a $5 million trust fund.

Does the Vanderbilt fortune still exist?

None of the descendants maintain the wealth in the end. Nobody from the Vanderbilt family made it into the wealthiest people in the United States. When 120 members of the Vanderbilt household gathered at Vanderbilt University for their first family reunion in 1973, none of them even had a million fortune left.

Who has the Vanderbilt fortune?

Cornelius Vanderbilt, also known as “The Commodore,” has about 100 million dollars of fortune throughout his life. In today’s value, that will be around 2.5 billion dollars. When he passed away in January 1977, he left 95% of his money to his eldest son William Henry Vanderbilt.

How was the Vanderbilt fortune lost?

Cornelius Vanderbilt II managed the railroads until his death in 1899. It was the third generation who stopped growing the fortune: William’s extensive philanthropy and spending left an estate reportedly worth the amount he had inherited in 1885 when his father died.

What happened to the Vanderbilt family fortune?

When Cornelius Vanderbilt (the Commodore) passed away in 1877, he left the majority of his fortune valued at $95,000,000 to his oldest son. In today’s dollars, this fortune would be worth around $2.1 billion. He left smaller amounts to all of his other children.

What was the net worth of Cornelius Vanderbilt?

As of April 2020, Cornelius Vanderbilt had an estimated net worth of $185 billion. He had made most of his fortune with his career as a business tycoon. He has received $100 reforming land of his father while he was of age sixteen years. How did Cornelius Vanderbilt die?

When did Cornelius Vanderbilt donate money to Vanderbilt University?

In fact, the only substantial philanthropic donation he made was in 1873, toward the end of his life, when he gave $1 million to build and endow Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. (In a nod to its founder’s nickname, the school’s athletic teams are called the Commodores.)

Why did the Vanderbilts lose all their money?

10 Reasons the Vanderbilts Lost the World’s Greatest Fortune. 1 The Breakers. Cornelius Vanderbilt II was the eldest son of William Vanderbilt, and was said to be the Commodore’s favorite grandson. Cornelius 2 Marble House. 3 Buying Acceptance. 4 Frederick William Vanderbilt. 5 The Biltmore Estate.

What kind of railroads did Cornelius Vanderbilt own?

Cornelius Vanderbilt. By the 1850s he had turned his attention to railroads, buying up so much stock in the New York and Harlem Railroad that by 1863 he owned the line. He later acquired the Hudson River Railroad and the New York Central Railroad and consolidated them in 1869. When he added the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad in 1873,…