J. D. Rockefeller

J. D. Rockefeller, or John D. Rockefeller, is many things. Some think of him as an entrepreneur and innovator, while others think of him more like a Bond villain. No matter what you think of Johnny D., only one thing is certain: he was one of the richest and most powerful men of his time (the late 1800s through 1937), and has had a lasting influence.

So how did JDR get so rich? In a word: oil. He was in the right place at the right time, had a great education when he was young, and got started early in the business world (what were you doing when you were 16?).

How'd he do it? By not taking risky risks (like...what were the odds that oil would be highly in demand at the advent or the beginning of the auto industry?).

He was exceptional in his understanding of risk and what it took to grow vertically and horizontally, and he more or less monopolized elements of the oil industry along the way, creating an ability to raise prices, more or less, however he pleased.

Using his oil money, he built and bought railroads, and grew so big that the U.S. government had to tap him on the shoulder and say, “hey, did you know about these things we call Anti-Trust laws?”

After all the hubbub of his younger years, he decided to spread his wealth via philanthropy. Legend has it that if you’re on 5th Ave in NYC, you’ll hear his name.

Well, if you walk by the Rockefeller Center, anyway.