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Are any Rockefellers alive?
David Rockefeller (June 12, 1915 – March 20, 2017) was an American investment banker who served as chairman and chief executive of Chase Manhattan Corporation. He was the oldest living member of the third generation of the Rockefeller family, and family patriarch from July 2004 until his death in March 2017.
What did John D Rockefeller do with his money when he died?
Rockefeller retired from business in 1896 and devoted his life to philanthropy. He donated hundreds of millions of dollars to charity during his lifetime and, along with his son, John Jr., set up the Rockefeller Foundation to continue that work after his death, which it still does.
What did Rockefeller do before his death?
His money helped pay for the creation of the University of Chicago (1892), to which he gave more than $80 million before his death. He also helped found the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research (later named Rockefeller University) in New York and the Rockefeller Foundation.
When did Rockefeller die?
May 23, 1937John D. Rockefeller / Date of deathRockefeller, in full John Davison Rockefeller, (born July 8, 1839, Richford, New York, U.S.—died May 23, 1937, Ormond Beach, Florida), American industrialist and philanthropist, founder of the Standard Oil Company, which dominated the oil industry and was the first great U.S. business trust.
Are the Rockefellers still wealthy?
How much is the Rockefeller family worth today? Rockefeller family's Net Worth is over $360 Billion Dollars.
Who was America's first billionaire?
magnate John D. RockefellerThe American business magazine Forbes produces a global list of known U.S. dollar billionaires every year and updates an Internet version of this list in real time. The American oil magnate John D. Rockefeller became the world's first confirmed U.S. dollar billionaire in 1916.
How much money did Rockefeller give away in his lifetime?
During his life Rockefeller donated more than $500 million to various philanthropic causes.
How much would John Rockefeller be worth today?
On September 29, 1916, Rockefeller became the first person ever to reach a nominal personal fortune of US$1 billion (equivalent to US$17 billion in 2020). Rockefeller amassed his fortune from the Standard Oil company, of which he was a founder, chairman and major shareholder.
Why was Rockefeller so rich?
Rockefeller used the $2000 as a seed to grow a huge, multimillion dollar fortune. That year oil was discovered in western Pennsylvania. Rockefeller and a business partner became oil refiners. From this small start, grew the Standard Oil Company.
Who is head of the Rockefeller family today?
David Rockefeller Jr.The present chairman is David Rockefeller Jr. In 1992, it had five main arms: Rockefeller & Co.
How did Rockefeller treat his workers?
Rockefeller was a bona fide billionaire. Critics charged that his labor practices were unfair. Employees pointed out that he could have paid his workers a fairer wage and settled for being a half-billionaire. Before his death in 1937, Rockefeller gave away nearly half of his fortune.
How much money did Rockefeller have?
Rockefeller (1839-1937), one of the most remarkable individuals to define the landscape of American business. Rockefeller's estimated $1.4 billion net worth in 1937 was equivalent to 1.5% of U.S. GDP. According to this metric he was (and still is) the richest individual in American business and economic history.
Who inherited Rockefeller's fortune?
David Rockefeller Sr. is the only surviving grandchild of legendary oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller. He has donated more than a billion dollars to various causes, including $225 million willed to the Rockefeller Brothers Fund for the eradication of poverty.
What was John D Rockefeller worth when he died?
But there was another side to him. “Rockefeller's fortune peaked in 1912 at almost $900,000,000, but his estate totaled only $26,410,837 when he died,” Parr writes, “making him the biggest philanthropist ever to live.”
Who was the richest man who built America?
John Rockefeller Net Worth Introduction Arguably the richest man ever lived John Rockefeller was an industrialist, oil business magnate, and philanthropist. The wealthiest American of all time had a net worth of around $340 billion.
Where did Rockefellers get their money?
Rockefeller built Standard Oil through generating enormous levels of cash and acquiring competitors. It's a playbook today's business executives still follow. By the turn of the century, American crude oil accounted for 85 percent of the global market.
How did John D. Rockefeller get famous?
John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company acquired pipelines and terminal facilities, purchased competing refineries, and vigorously sought to exp...
What were John D. Rockefeller’s accomplishments?
John D. Rockefeller founded the Standard Oil Company, which dominated the oil industry and was the first great U.S. business trust. Later in life h...
What was John D. Rockefeller remembered for?
John D. Rockefeller was remembered for his wealth and for the aggressive competitive practices of the Standard Oil Company. Public hostility toward...
What happened to Nelson Rockefeller?
Wikimedia Commons Nelson Rockefeller hanging off the back of a car while on the Presidential campaign trail.
How did Nelson Rockefeller die?
On January 26, 1979, at 12:20 AM, former Vice President Nelson Rockefeller died from a heart attack while sitting at his desk at Rockefeller Center, working on a book about his personal art collection.
What time did Rockefeller die?
Morrow claimed that he had been found by his chauffeur, who had called the police, that Rockefeller was checked into the hospital at 11:15 p.m., and that he had died at 12:20.
When did Nelson Rockefeller collapse?
The true story was laid out in the official police report. Shortly before 11 PM, on January 26, Nelson Rockefeller collapsed at his townhouse in Midtown Manhattan.
How old was Rockefeller's grandson?
Finally, Nelson Rockefeller’s grandson, 18-year-old Steven Rockefeller publicly acknowledged the possibility of the affair, hoping to end the rumors once and for all. He even directed some of his comments at Marshack, saying that if he ever had the chance to tell her something, it was that he hoped she made his grandfather happy.
Did Ponchitta Price call the police?
Ponchitta Price had called the police, not Marshack, and furthermore, one news outlet had gotten in contact with Marshack shortly after Rockefeller’s death, and she had admitted to being in New York City. Before long, the twisted details of his death had turned Nelson Rockefeller from a distinguished man into a tabloid frenzy.
Did Nelson Rockefeller stay in his office?
Morrow then released a second statement, that admitted that actually, Nelson Rockefeller had not been in his office, but at a townhouse that he kept on 54th street. Again, the blonde was not mentioned, and again, the press called for Morrow to release more details.
Who is John Rockefeller?
Eliza Davison. Relatives. Rockefeller family. John Davison Rockefeller Sr. (July 8, 1839 – May 23, 1937) was an American business magnate and philanthropist. He is widely considered the wealthiest American of all time and the richest person in modern history.
Where did Rockefeller live?
Rockefeller spent much of the last 40 years of his life in retirement at Kykuit, his estate in Westchester County, New York, defining the structure of modern philanthropy, along with other key industrialists such as steel magnate Andrew Carnegie.
How did Rockefeller impact the oil industry?
Rockefeller revolutionized the petroleum industry and, through corporate and technological innovations, was instrumental in both widely disseminating and drastically reducing the production cost of oil. His company and business practices came under criticism, particularly in the writings of author Ida Tarbell .
What did Rockefeller use to fuel his refinery?
While other refineries would keep the 60% of oil product that became kerosene, but dump the other 40% in rivers and massive sludge piles, Rockefeller used the gasoline to fuel the refinery, and sold the rest as lubricating oil, petroleum jelly and paraffin wax, and other by-products. Tar was used for paving, naphtha shipped to gas plants. Likewise, Rockefeller's refineries hired their own plumbers, cutting the cost of pipe-laying in half. Barrels that cost $2.50 each ended up only $0.96 when Rockefeller bought the wood and had them built for himself. In February 1865, in what was later described by oil industry historian Daniel Yergin as a "critical" action, Rockefeller bought out the Clark brothers for $72,500 (equivalent to $1 million in 2020 dollars) at auction and established the firm of Rockefeller & Andrews. Rockefeller said, "It was the day that determined my career." He was well-positioned to take advantage of postwar prosperity and the great expansion westward fostered by the growth of railroads and an oil -fueled economy. He borrowed heavily, reinvested profits, adapted rapidly to changing markets, and fielded observers to track the quickly expanding industry.
How much money did Rockefeller borrow from his father?
Clark initiated the idea of the partnership and offered $2,000 towards the goal. Rockefeller had only $800 saved up at the time and so borrowed $1,000 from his father, "Big Bill" Rockefeller, at 10 percent interest. Rockefeller went steadily ahead in business from there, making money each year of his career.
How much was Rockefeller worth in 1913?
His personal wealth was estimated in 1913 at $900 million, which was almost 3% of the US GDP of $39.1 billion that year.
Why did the coal mines in Colorado never reopen?
Due to reduced demand for coal, resulting from an economic downturn, many of CF&I's coal mines never reopened and many men were thrown out of work. The union was forced to discontinue strike benefits in February 1915. There was destitution in the coalfields. With the help of funds from the Rockefeller Foundation, relief programs were organized by the Colorado Committee on Unemployment and Relief. A state agency created by Governor Carlson, offered work to unemployed miners building roads and doing other useful projects.
What were the causes of the Sherman Antitrust Act?
The aggressive competitive practices of Standard Oil, which many regarded as ruthless, and the growing public hostility toward monopolies, of which Standard was the best-known, caused some industrialized states to enact antimonopoly laws and led to the passage by the U.S. Congress of the Sherman Antitrust Act in 1890 ( see also antitrust law ). In 1892 the Ohio Supreme Court held that the Standard Oil Trust was a monopoly in violation of an Ohio law prohibiting monopolies. Rockefeller evaded the decision by dissolving the trust and transferring its properties to companies in other states, with interlocking directorates so that the same nine men controlled the operations of the affiliated companies. In 1899 these companies were brought back together in a holding company, Standard Oil Company (New Jersey), which existed until 1911, when the U.S. Supreme Court declared it in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act and therefore illegal. Standard Oil’s questionable ethics were also taken to task by American journalist Ida Tarbell in her 19-part exposé and commentary called The History of the Standard Oil Company, which was released in installments by McClure’s Magazine between 1902 and 1904.
Why is John Rockefeller so famous?
Rockefeller was remembered for his wealth and for the aggressive competitive practices of the Standard Oil Company. Public hostility toward monopolies, of which Standard was the best known, caused some countries to enact anti-monopoly laws. For these reasons, Rockefeller and other heads of monopolistic companies were called robber barons by their critics.
How did Rockefeller make his fortune?
John D. Rockefeller made his immense riches from monopolizing America’s oil industry. Conspiring with refinery owners, he helped found what became known as the Standard Oil monopoly. The consortium colluded with the railroads to monopolize oil delivery, prompting competitors to allow themselves…
How did Rockefeller evade the decision?
Rockefeller evaded the decision by dissolving the trust and transferring its properties to companies in other states, with interlocking directorates so that the same nine men controlled the operations of the affiliated companies.
How much did Rockefeller give to charity?
Rockefeller’s benefactions during his lifetime totaled more than $500 million.
When did Standard Oil Company become illegal?
In 1899 these companies were brought back together in a holding company, Standard Oil Company (New Jersey), which existed until 1911, when the U.S. Supreme Court declared it in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act and therefore illegal.
Where did Rockefeller live?
He moved with his family to Moravia, New York, and, in 1851, to Oswego, New York, where he attended Oswego Academy.
How old was Steven Rockefeller when Marshack died?
Eighteen-year-old Steven Rockefeller, the dead man's grandson, finally broke the family's silence. He was satisfied, he said, that Marshack and everyone else had done everything they could to save his grandfather.
How did Nelson Rockefeller die?
on Saturday the 26th of January 1979, 70-year-old Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller, former four-term governor of the State of New York and former vice president of the United States of America, was declared dead, apparently of a heart attack. Forty minutes later, Rockefeller family spokesman Hugh Morrow began unspooling ...
What did Rockefeller say to Megan Marshack?
Asked what he would say to Megan Marshack, the young Rockefeller said: "I would tell her, `I hope you made my grandfather happy.' "
How did the shoeless man jump start his heart?
His body was warm, but they couldn't find a pulse. Now they began administering oxygen and injecting powerful drugs into the shoeless man's veins to jump-start his heart .
What happened to Rockefeller?
Solemnly, Morrow told reporters Rockefeller had suffered a heart attack at 10:15 Friday night in his office at 30 Rockefeller Plaza and that a security aide, the only other person present, had tried to revive him and failed.
Was Marshack with Rockefeller?
Marshack was gone now too visiting friends in the country, Morrow said, he didn't know where. That story collapsed when it was learned that The Associated Press had reached Marshack by phone four hours after Rockefeller's heart stopped beating, and that she'd told the AP that Morrow was with her.
Did Rockefeller die at his townhouse?
The following day, Morrow admitted he 'd gotten one or two details wrong. Actually, Rockefeller had died at his 54th St. townhouse, he said. A chauffeur also had been there at the time. Of the blonde, there was still no mention.
What did Rockefeller see in his life?
In his lifetime he saw automobiles replace horses and carriages, airplanes challenge automobiles and railroad trains as common carriers. He saw great steel combines grow as his oil empire grew.
How much money did Rockefeller give to educational institutions?
Once called the world's richest man, Mr. Rockefeller had given more than $530,000,000 to various educational, scientific and religious institutions, thus winning for himself the right to be called the world's greatest philanthropist.
How old was John Rockefeller when he died?
John D. Rockefeller Dies at 97 in His Florida Home; Funeral to be Held Here
Why was the bell tolled at the Union Baptist Church in Ormond?
At the Union Baptist Church in Ormond where Mr. Rockefeller was a frequent attendant up to three years ago, the bell in the steeple was tolled to mark his passing.
What highway was blocked off along the entire estate frontage?
The river highway, between the estate and the Halifax, was blocked off along the entire estate frontage and cars were directed to adjacent roads.
When did Rockefeller come to the cases?
Mr. Rockefeller came to The Casements in October, following an annual custom of many years' standing.
Where did Rockefeller abandon his golf game?
For the last few years Mr. Rockefeller's failing strength has forced him to abandon his golf games on the Ormond Beach links.
How did Rockefeller die?
Rockefeller died from a heart attack on Jan. 26, 1979, at age 70, not that surprising, even if, as I spread out the paper that fateful morning, I was surprised. (Rockefeller was fond of seeing a psychic for some of life’s stickier moments, so he should have seen it coming.)
How many people died in Rockefeller's Attica Prison?
Like? Like in 1972, when, as governor of New York, he set the National Guard loose on rioting inmates at Attica Prison, which left 39 people dead, 10 of them hostages. And then breezily explained it away later while chatting with President Richard Nixon by saying, according to The New York Times, “That’s life.”
How many times did Rockefeller serve as a cabinet secretary?
In addition to vice president and governor, Rockefeller did time, twice, as a cabinet secretary. First as assistant secretary of state for American republic affairs under Roosevelt and then Truman. And second as under secretary of health, education and welfare in the Eisenhower administration. But that high-profile public service is not how he’s remembered or why we’re talking about him here.
How old was Megan Marshack when she was attacked?
In attendance was a 25-year- old “aide,” name of Megan Marshack. Which was a little more surprising, and which the media had a field day with, which really should surprise no one.
Was Rockefeller a pragmatist?
Nevertheless, oilman John D. Rockefeller was a pragmatist.
Was Rockefeller a Republican?
Rockefeller was the rarest of creatures — one that we don’t see much of these days: a liberal Republican.
Who wrote the word "brobdingnagian"?
By Eugene S. Robinson. Brobdingnagian, a word penned by Jonathan Swift in Gulliver’s Travels, comes closest to describing politician Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller’s peregrinations on this planet as a man of both towering intellect and colossal blind spots. Which also probably pegs his appeal, since there have not been many figures in public life who ...
I Think I Can Make It
The last known words spoken by Rockefeller were heard by anthropologist René Wassing as Michael jumped from their catamaran, which had overturned in the Betsj River 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the shore of West Papua. He had decided to try to swim to shore for help through crocodile infested waters.
People Were Finally Willing to Talk
When Hoffman began investigating Rockefeller's disappearance, he realized that after the initial search party failed to find Rockefeller in 1961, no one had really given it a good look.
How Michael Rockefeller Allegedly Died
The how of why Rockefeller died, according to Hoffman, is straightforward. He washed ashore, exhausted and weak from swimming for miles after the boat he and Wassing were in overturned. On shore, he saw familiar faces — those of the Otsjanep warriors.
The Forces That Led to Rockefeller's Death
In the years before Rockefeller stepped foot in an Asmat village, Dutch colonialists occupied West Papua. The villages' ritualistic headhunting and warfare were savage and of the highest level of cruelty to those on the outside.
What did Rockefeller's plans for the Department of Defense include?
The plans implemented organizational changes in the Department of Defense, the Office of Defense Mobilization and the Department of Agriculture. His recommendations also led to the creation of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Rockefeller was appointed Under-Secretary of this new department in 1953.
How did Rockefeller die?
Rockefeller died on January 26, 1979 from a heart attack , two years and six days after departing the vice presidency. He was 70. An initial report incorrectly stated that he died at his desk in his office at Rockefeller Center. However, the report was soon corrected to state that Rockefeller actually had the fatal heart attack at another location: a townhouse he owned at 13 West 54th Street. The heart attack occurred in the late evening in the presence of Megan Marshack, a 25-year-old aide. After Rockefeller suffered the heart attack , Marshack called her friend, news reporter Ponchitta Pierce, to the townhouse; Pierce phoned an ambulance approximately an hour after the heart attack .
What was Rockefeller's main business?
Rockefeller formed the International Basic Economy Corporation (IBEC) in 1947 to jointly continue the work he had begun as Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs. He intermittently served as president through 1958. IBEC was a for-profit business that established companies that would stimulate underdeveloped economies of certain countries. It was hoped that the success of these companies would encourage investors in those countries to set up competing or supporting businesses and further stimulate the local economy. Rockefeller established model farms in Venezuela, Ecuador, and Brazil. He maintained a home at Monte Sacro, the farm in Venezuela.
Why did Rockefeller resign?
Rockefeller resigned from the federal government in 1956 to focus on New York State and on national politics. From September 1956 to April 1958, he chaired the Temporary State Commission on the Constitutional Convention. That was followed by his chairmanship of the Special Legislative Committee on the Revision and Simplification of the Constitution. In the state election of 1958, he was elected governor of New York by over 570,000 votes, defeating incumbent W. Averell Harriman, even though 1958 was a banner year for Democrats elsewhere in the nation. Rockefeller was re-elected in the three subsequent elections in 1962, 1966 and 1970, increasing the state's role in education, environmental protection, transportation, housing, welfare, medical aid, civil rights, and the arts. To pay for the increased government spending, Rockefeller increased taxation - for example, a sales tax was introduced in New York in 1965. He resigned three years into his fourth term and began to work at the Commission on Critical Choices for Americans.
How many children did Rockefeller have?
They had five children: Rodman Clark Rockefeller, Ann Rockefeller, Steven Clark Rockefeller, and twins Michael Clark Rockefeller and Mary Rockefeller. Michael Rockefeller disappeared in New Guinea in November 1961. He is presumed to have drowned while trying to swim to shore after his dugout canoe capsized.
What was Rockefeller's role in the war?
Rockefeller was charged with overseeing a program of U.S. cooperation with the nations of Latin America to help raise the standard of living, to achieve better relations among the nations of the western hemisphere, and to counter rising Nazi influence in the region. He facilitated this form of cultural diplomacy by collaborating with the Director of Latin American Relations at the CBS radio network Edmund A. Chester.
Why did Rockefeller change the movie Down Argentine Way?
Rockefeller required changes in the movie Down Argentine Way (1940) because it was considered offensive to Argentines. It was much more popular in the United States than in Latin America.
Overview
Illnesses and death
In his 50s Rockefeller suffered from moderate depression and digestive troubles; during a stressful period in the 1890s he developed alopecia, the loss of some or all body hair.
By 1901 he began wearing toupées and by 1902, his mustache disappeared. His hair never grew back, but other health complaints subsided as he lightened hi…
Early life
Rockefeller was the second child born in Richford, New York, to con artist William Avery "Bill" Rockefeller and Eliza Davison. He had an elder sister named Lucy and four younger siblings: William Jr., Mary, and twins Franklin (Frank) and Frances. His father was of English and German descent, while his mother was of Ulster Scot descent. Bill was first a lumberman and then a traveling salesman who identified himself as a "botanic physician" who sold elixirs, described by …
Pre-Standard Oil career
In September 1855, when Rockefeller was sixteen, he got his first job as an assistant bookkeeper working for a small produce commission firm in Cleveland called Hewitt & Tuttle. He worked long hours and delighted, as he later recalled, in "all the methods and systems of the office." He was particularly adept at calculating transportation costs, which served him well later in his career. Muc…
Standard Oil
By the end of the American Civil War, Cleveland was one of the five main refining centers in the U.S. (besides Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, New York, and the region in northwestern Pennsylvania where most of the oil originated). By 1869 there was triple the kerosene refining capacity than needed to supply the market, and the capacity remained in excess for many years.
Colorado Fuel and Iron
In 1902, facing cash flow problems, John Cleveland Osgood turned to George Jay Gould, a principal stockholder of the Denver and Rio Grande, for a loan. Gould, via Frederick Taylor Gates, Rockefeller's financial adviser, brought John D. Rockefeller in to help finance the loan. Analysis of the company's operations by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. showed a need for substantially more funds which were provided in exchange for acquisition of CF&I's subsidiaries such as the Colorado an…
Personal life
Against long-circulating speculations that his family has French roots, genealogists proved the German origin of Rockefeller and traced them back to the early 17th century. Johann Peter Rockenfeller (baptized September 27, 1682, in the Protestant church of Rengsdorf) immigrated in 1723 from Altwied (today a district of Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate) with three children to North America …
Philanthropy
Rockefeller's charitable giving began with his first job as a clerk at age 16, when he gave six percent of his earnings to charity, as recorded in his personal ledger. By the time he was twenty, his charity exceeded ten percent of his income. Much of his giving was church-related. His church was later affiliated with the Northern Baptist Convention, which formed from American Baptists in the Nor…