The term Robber Baron refers to individuals in the late 1800s and early 1900s, U.S. financiers who earned enormous amounts of money through often highly questionable practices.
Corporate greed is nothing new in America. Anyone who has been the victim of restructuring, hostile takeovers, and other downsizing efforts can attest to this. Nevertheless, some say that the country was built on the efforts of people like the men on this list, all of whom were citizens of the United States. Some of the individuals were also philanthropists, especially upon retirement. However, the fact that they gave money out later in life did not affect their inclusion in this list.
John D. Rockefeller
John D. Rockefeller (1839–1937) is considered by most people to be the wealthiest man in American history. He created the Standard Oil Company in 1870 along with partners including his brother William, Samuel Andrews, Henry Flagler, Jabez A. Bostwick, and Stephen V. Harkness. Rockefeller ran the company until 1897.
