Biography of Rockefeller: the path to millions. Brief biography of John Rockefeller Autobiography of John Rockefeller

John Davison Rockefeller Sr.: biography

John Davison Rockefeller, photo

John Rockefeller is the richest and most successful person in human history.

His fortune was $318.3 billion (at 2007 dollar exchange rates). He was 74 years old and at the peak of his wealth, with a fortune of 1.53% of the American economy, America's first billionaire.

« I never knew who I would be in this life, but I always knew that I was born for something more“- this is what John Davison Rockefeller said, according to the recollections of his beloved grandson David.

As a young man, John Davison Rockefeller ( John Davison Rockefeller abbreviated as DDR) said that he has 2 dreams in life: the first is to earn $100,000, and the second is to live to be 100 years old. He was 2 years and 2 months short of goal 2, but he made his first dream come true with tremendous success.

John with his son

Rockefeller was born into a poor family

Full name: John Davidson Rockefeller Sr. ( he later had a son with the same name) was born on July 8, 1839 in New York State, USA, and died in 1937, having lived ninety-eight (98) years.

His father, William Avery "Big Bill" Rockefeller was a lazy man who spent most of his time thinking about how to avoid physical labor. John's mother Louise (Eliza), a self-employed farmer, was a very devout Baptist, and was often in poverty because her husband was constantly away for long periods of time and she constantly had to save on everything. However, thanks to the influence of his mother Louise and the devout Baptist John D., he grew up to be quite a hardworking guy.

• His mother was a terribly devout Baptist, so from childhood she instilled in John the idea that he needed to work hard and constantly save.
• The Rockefellers moved to New World in the 18th century and gradually moved north, towards Michigan. Things are piled into a creaking ox-cart, Rockefeller's grandfather holds the reins, his wife and children trail behind, swallowing road dust. They stopped in Richford, New York, where John Rockefeller would be born in 1839.
• He became a “devil” as a child. His dry, skin-covered face, eyes devoid of shine and thin pale lips greatly frightened those around him. In fact, he was quite sensitive and emotional, he just seemed to hide all his feelings in the farthest pocket of his soul. Few people knew what John really was like.

In young age

Education

At the age of 13, John went to school in Richford. In his autobiography, he wrote that it was difficult for him to study and he had to study hard to complete his lessons. Rockefeller successfully graduated from high school and entered Cleveland College, where he taught accounting and the basics of commerce, but soon came to the conclusion that three-month accounting courses and a thirst for activity would bring much more than years of college, so he left it.

Starting a business and how you got rich

Business was part of John's family upbringing. As a child, he would buy a pound of candy, divide it into small piles, and sell it to his sisters for a small markup. And at the age of seven he raised turkeys and sold them to his neighbors. He lent the $50 he earned from this to a neighboring farmer at 7% per annum.

In 1853, the Rockefeller family moved to Cleveland. Since John Rockefeller was one of the eldest children in the family, at the age of 16 he went looking for work.

John began his career in 1855 at the age of 16 as an accountant at the Cleveland trading firm Gevit & Tettl with a salary of first $5 and then $25 a week.

With his first salary, Rockefeller acquires a good ledger. In it he writes down all his income and expenses, paying attention to even the smallest details.

He, like Morgan, was of military age when the Civil War broke out in the United States. And both bought their way out of military service for $300 (in the North of the country this was a common practice for those with means).

Having gained what he considered to be sufficient experience and saving $800, John left the company in 1858 to open a partnership called Clark & ​​Rockefeller, a small grocery firm typical of the era of small business.

In the early 1860s, Rockefeller went out of business and organized new company- Rockefeller & Andrews, focusing on oil refining and kerosene trading, and continued to grow.

Then several more firms joined it, and in 1870 they founded the Standard Oil Company, with a capital of $1 million, which, with the help of successful business decisions and some predatory and illegal actions, became a giant monopoly.

At its height, Standard Oil had about 90% of the refined petroleum (kerosene) market in the United States (in the beginning, Standard Oil's products were not particularly interesting oil industry, the gasoline produced by those refineries was dumped in rivers because it was considered worthless).

In 1910, 55 years after Rockefeller earned his first $5, he became the world's first dollar billionaire. “Through perseverance, anything - right or wrong, good or bad - will be achieved,” said Rockefeller.

In 1911, the Supreme Court declared Standard Oil a monopoly under the Sherman Antitrust Act, and the Standard Oil Company was broken up.

The corporation was divided into 30 small companies with different boards and directors, in which John Rockefeller retained controlling interests. By this time, John Rockefeller had long since retired from the management of the company, but still had a huge percentage of the shares. He received at least $3 million annually from this business.

Oil prices are the secret to success

Since crude oil is essentially worthless without distillation, hundreds of refineries have sprung up at the other end of the pipeline (and this is true. Under Henry Ford there were 240 automakers, of which three remain - Ford, Chrysler and General Motors).

In Cleveland, Rockefeller's Standard Oil was just one of 26 refineries struggling to survive in a very shaky, single-supplier market.

In the 1960s, the price of crude oil fluctuated from 13 dollars per barrel to 10 cents. In fact, Rockefeller was not the first to appreciate the economic potential of the new industry, since the resulting kerosene could heat houses and light the streets of rapidly growing American cities.

The cheaper it cost the refiner to deliver oil from the field to the refinery and from the refinery to the market and consumer, the greater the margin with which he could play.

Rockefeller did both with success.

In early 1872, having entered into an alliance called the South Improvement Company, Rockefeller entered into a pact with three railroad companies (Pennsylvania, New York Central and Erie): they received the lion's share of all oil shipments.

In exchange, Standard Oil was given preferential railroad rates while its refining competitors were crushed with punitive prices. In addition to his enormous price advantages, Rockefeller received detailed information about competitors' shipments from the shippers and carriers union (South Improvement Company), which greatly helped in undermining their prices.

Time to work is the secret to success

Rockefeller knows that God blesses the righteous, and turns his life into a constant feat - he comes to work at 6.30 in the morning, and leaves so late that he has to promise himself to finish his accounting no later than ten in the evening.

John's favorite game

Daily practice of his favorite game - golf - provided the necessary stay at fresh air and the sun. He did not forget about indoor games, reading and other beneficial activities.

A successful marriage is the secret of success

The above fully applies to Rockefeller’s wife. Before marrying a young promising businessman, Laura Celestina Spelman, who can hardly be called a beauty, was a school teacher and was distinguished by exceptional piety. They met during Rockefeller's short student days, but got married only 9 years later. The girl attracted John's attention with her piety, practicality of mind and the fact that she reminded him of his mother. According to Rockefeller himself, without Laura’s advice, he would have “remained poor.”

State of the Rockefeller clan at the end of the 19th century

In addition to the oil business, which brought in $3 million annually, the businessman owned 16 railway and 6 steel companies, 9 real estate companies, 6 shipping companies, 9 banks and 3 orange groves.

« I believe that the purpose of any person on earth is to honestly take for himself everything he can, and just as honestly give everything he can.“- this is how John formulated his life credo.

At age 16, Rockefeller began working as an accountant and philanthropist.

Rockefeller was always a philanthropist; he gave 10% of his income from his very first salary to charity. As his wealth grew, so did his contributions to charity.

« Grandfather was not interested in purchasing Scottish or French castles; he was disgusted by the thought of buying art or yachts", says David Rockefeller.

In 1908, John wrote and published a book called “Memoirs”, where he was formed.

When John Davison started, his fortune was in the thousands of dollars, and all the money went into business. Now that he had hundreds of millions, it was time for charitable charity.

Fifty thousand letters came to Rockefeller a month asking for help; whenever possible, he answered them and sent checks to people.

• He helped found the University of Chicago with $35 million, established scholarships, paid pensions - all this was paid for by the consumer, whom Rockefeller forced to pay for kerosene and gasoline as much as Standard Oil needed.
• In 1901, he founded the New York Institute for Medical Research (from 1965 - Rockefeller University), in 1903 - the Council for Universal Education, in 1913 - the Rockefeller Foundation, in 1918 - the Laura Spelman Foundation (in honor of his wife - helping children and social sciences).
• The total amount of his philanthropic donations amounted to more than $700 million.
• Half of America dreamed of extracting more money from John Davison Rockefeller. The other half was ready to lynch him. Rockefeller was getting old. The passions seething around him got on his nerve.

In all the places where the aged Rockefeller appeared, he handed out handfuls of five- and ten-cent coins from his pockets to everyone around him. And he always took a supply of them with him.

John gave birth to four daughters and one son - John Davison Rockefeller Jr. (born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1874, died May 11, 1960 during winter holiday in Arizona), who continued his father's work ( the youngest had six children, and his five sons, representing the third generation of the Rockefeller dynasty, also became famous in the fields of business, finance and philanthropy).

John Sr. died in 1937 at the age of 98, his fortune was US$1.4 billion (1937 par) or 1.54% of US GDP, but before his death he gave away half of his accumulated wealth, founding a philanthropic organization that continues to give money for charity, to this day.

John Davison Rockefeller Sr., 1839-1937, biography

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John Rockefeller is the richest and successful person in the history of mankind. His fortune was $318.3 billion (at 2007 dollar exchange rates). He was 74 years old and at the peak of his wealth, with a fortune of 1.53% of the American economy, America's first billionaire. “I never knew who I would be in this life, but...

It would be very strange if the “Success Stories” section did not include the name of such a person as John Davison Rockefeller, who is known, first of all, for becoming the first person in the history of planet Earth whose fortune exceeded one billion dollars.

It is very remarkable that the story of his success began in a small provincial town in North America and this man owes his success solely to his talent and perseverance.

John was born in Richford, New York, into a Protestant family. His father, William Avery Rockefeller, was first a lumberjack, and then became a traveling salesman who supplied the surrounding residents with miraculous elixirs and potions. Dad was rarely at home and devoted a lot of time to trading, alcohol and riotous women. But in his memoirs, John speaks of his parent as a good father who free time devoted a lot of time to his son and, in particular, taught him how to trade. William, as they would say now, arranged unique trainings for his son by buying and selling various services of his son. John subsequently appreciated these lessons. And from communicating with his father, he gained the firm conviction that alcohol and tobacco are a vice, and this is very bad. And looking at how his mother suffered from her husband’s frequent infidelities, he decided even in childhood that he would never do this.

The neighbors considered Father John a very strange man who did not want to work, but simply, a quitter. However, William managed to save some money and buy a plot of land and invest some funds in various enterprises. He willingly shared with his son his knowledge about the principles of business management and the fundamental criteria for achieving success.

John's mother, Eliza Davison, ran the entire household (there were six children in the family. John is the second child in the family), was very sensitive to religion and resignedly accepted the hardships of life: regular lack of money (her husband was often absent from home, which required strict savings) and cheating spouse.

John later said that he began to engage in commerce from early childhood. Many people find it disgusting that the future millionaire bought candy in the store and then sold it individually to his sisters. Profiting from your relatives is disgusting?! It all depends on what angle you look at it from. Do you also think the boy’s actions were terrible? Then try answering the following questions:

• Are candies a necessity?
• the girls had money (they bought candy from John) and what stopped them from buying candy in the shop themselves?
• The shop sold sweets not by piece, but by weight. The girls, buying one candy at a time, spent less money than if they had bought these sweets in a store, which means they believed that they were committing good deal. If both parties believe that they have received the expected benefit, then what is immoral about it?

So, even in early childhood, not from books, but from his own practical experience, John understood what the laws of surplus value are and how they work. I believe it is very important for a future success story to understand how money works.

At the age of seven, he began breeding and feeding turkeys for sale, and helped neighbors (not for free) dig potatoes.

And what’s remarkable is that he recorded all the results of his commercial activities in a notebook. Stingy boy? Business is not possible without accounting and planning. Little John knew what is a revelation for many today's businessmen - success is not possible without accounting and planning.

The boy kept everything he managed to earn in a porcelain piggy bank, which allowed him to take up lending at the age of thirteen - it was at this age that he issued his first loan to a farmer he knew. Fifty dollars at 7.5 percent interest. Expensive? But the farmer took it, which means he thought it was profitable for him. Money shouldn’t just lie there – it should work and make a profit. This is one of the rules of success. Money must work.

If you want a success story, don't go to school

In the same year, when he issued the first loan in his life, he went to school for the first time. Many years later, recalling this period of his life, John wrote that it was very difficult for him to study, and completing his lessons simply required titanic work. But the boy had a goal and he successfully completed school and went to college with the goal of mastering the basics accounting and commerce. But, as often happens with extraordinary people, he quickly realized that education does not bring him closer to success, but turns him into a diligent employee who will work for other people all his life.

He is finishing a three-month accounting course and is looking for a job.

Just at this time, the Rockefeller family moved to Cleveland. John spends a month and a half looking for a job and eventually becomes an assistant accountant in a small company that deals with real estate and organizing shipping. Hardworking and punctual, he attracts the attention of the owners of the enterprise and when Chief Accountant leaves the company, the owners offer Rockefeller to take this place. But the predecessor received $2,000 a year, but John is offered only 600. And he leaves the company. If you don't value your work, then others won't value it either. This is another rule for achieving success - value your work and do not allow others to devalue it. If you don't do this, you won't have any success or success story. This was the first and last work, when John worked “for his uncle.”

It so happened that it was at this time that a businessman from England, John Maurice Clark, was looking for a partner with a capital of at least $2,000 to create and run a joint business. U young Rockefeller, at that time, there was a gold reserve of $800. The missing amount had to be borrowed from dad Rockefeller at 10% (!!! Remember the interest that John announced to a farmer he knew) per annum.

And April 27th happens historical event- John Davison Rockefeller becomes a junior partner in Clark and Rochester. The newly created company sells hay, pork, grain... It sells everything they buy.
And then something happens that can be called a gift of fate - the Civil War in the United States begins. I understand your indignation - how can you call war a gift?! But let me remind you that we are talking about a success story. For the business of a young company, the beginning of the war opened up great opportunities: war requires not only blood and lives, it takes everything. And hay, and pork, and cartridges... Everything.

The company's capital was clearly not enough for such a business, and John persuades the bank manager to issue an unsecured loan. How did it happen? History and young Rockefeller do not talk about the motives that pushed the hand and pen of the bank leader. There is an opinion that Rockefeller was so sincere and convincing that the bank manager could not resist. Have you ever received a loan from a bank? Have you ever seen a sentimental bank manager? Or maybe in those distant times people worked as bank managers?!

As a junior partner and businessman, John Rockefeller decided to marry Laura Celestina Spelman, a simple teacher whom he met during his student days. Like all women of that time, Laura was overly pious and at the same time unusually practical. Many years later, Rockefeller said that if it weren’t for my wife’s advice, I would have remained poor. Was it true? Of course it was! Laura may not have understood business, but a like-minded wife is not just the secret to success. This is a rocket that will carry anyone a normal man to the very pinnacle of success and to several lines in the history, if not of civilization, then of business for sure.

Where did success stories begin?

The world was entering the age of oil. Kerosene lamps were already burning and the great minds of the world were developing their internal combustion engines. Civilization slowly but surely walked towards the twentieth century - the age of motors.

It was during this period that John met the chemist Samuel Andrews, who was passionate about the problems of oil distillation and was confident in the enormous prospects of the emerging industry. In those days, the conversation was only about the possibilities of kerosene lighting of rooms and streets. A huge number of people, cities and towns... A huge market that no one has controlled yet.

At this time, a message appeared in the press about a “fresh” oil field discovered by Edwin Drake. The offer was risky, but very tempting. Rockefeller teamed up with Andrews, and then both of them, now as partners, turned to Clark. As a result, the oil refining company Andrews and Clark was established to build an oil refinery, which the partners named "Flats". They decided to transport oil via railway.

For the Rockefeller success story, oil and railroads are keywords. And the point is not that oil was transported by rail. There are 12 golden rules on how to become your first billionaire. I present to your attention rule No. 13, which the author did not like to talk about.

In the new company, Rockefeller led the search for oil fields. The work is difficult and not always rewarding. During this period, John thought that there were a huge number of small enterprises scattered throughout the country that were engaged in oil production and refining. Terrible chaos in the market. But if all these small enterprises were united under one sign and roof... It was with this idea that John Rockefeller came to his partners. This historical fact.

And now the main recipe in the success story from John Rockefeller - read carefully!

Under the laws of that time, corporations were not allowed to own property outside the state where the company was incorporated. And this was a big problem - potential investors are not interested in investing small amounts of money in a huge number of objects. The investment object becomes much more attractive if the property can be merged.

And Rockefeller figured out how to circumvent the laws. The business plan (if you can call it that) for the future company was prepared very carefully: they even thought through the issue that employees should not receive salaries in money, they would be given shares - this, according to Rockefeller, was supposed to make them work harder and more productively.

The thoroughness of the plan is evidenced by the following historical fact: barrels were required to transport oil. Barrels could be bought for $2.50, but the partners opened their own production, which allowed them to get the same barrels for $1. For a small enterprise, the price of a barrel was not significant. However, the partners were planning a business in which hundreds of thousands of barrels were needed.

The next point in the plan was the organization of transportation of oil and refined products. Rockefeller carefully studied all transport companies operating in the region, their competitive advantages and weaknesses. A separate plan was drawn up, which involved creating conflict situations among transport workers and using the consequences of these conflicts for their own purposes. Rockefeller created problems for transport workers, and then helped solve them.

Even before the Standard Oil Company was created, the implementation of this plan reduced the cost of transporting one barrel of oil from $2.4 to $1.65. This “small” advantage, multiplied by tens of thousands of barrels, became the key to a very great success future super company.

A whole series of secret agreements between the Rockefeller company and transport workers appeared: a low price for Rockefeller and a high price for any other company. Under such conditions, competitors had no chance of success. Employees of competing oil production and oil refining companies were bribed.

In 1870, the Standard Oil Company was incorporated with a capital stock of $1 million. And in this new company, John Rockefeller's share was 27%. And from that moment on, a real war began between oil producers and refiners, behind the scenes of which Standard Oil was hiding, which organized this war.

As mentioned above, in those days oil was transported in wooden barrels on open railway platforms. The oil evaporated and the buyer received only part of the sent cargo - the most valuable volatile fractions of oil evaporated.

The Rockefeller group secretly owned the transport company Union Tanker Car Company, and the transport company had a patent for sealed metal tank cars (oil is still transported in such containers). The transport company allocated such cars to Standard Oil's competitors, and John Rockefeller monitored competitors' deliveries, their volumes and consumers. And as soon as a competitor began to invest money in the development of its business, received loans and expanded its sales market, the order followed - not to allocate cars. Competitors went bankrupt, and Standard Oil bought bankrupt companies at a meager price. Rockefeller used this tactic to expand his business for many years. The competitors could not even imagine who organized their bankruptcy and who is the real owner of the transport company.

Just because of the collusion between Standard Oil and the transportation industry, the state treasury lost more than fifty million dollars annually. The independent oil producing companies that remained afloat turned to the state administration with a proposal to build a pipeline. State authorities supported the idea and construction began in 1878. The pipe could destroy the monopoly that Rockefeller had created for so many years.

Standard Oil's response to the decision to build the Riverside pipeline was to recruit gangs who attacked construction workers and blew up already assembled sections of the pipeline. The oil pipeline was still completed. In response, the Rockefeller company built four such pipelines and announced a meager fee for pumping oil. A rival pipeline went bankrupt and was bought, again for rock bottom, by Standard Oil. It is clear that as soon as the competitor was eliminated, prices for oil transportation increased significantly.

Why were the authorities silent? He did not remain silent. A Pennsylvania grand jury returned an indictment against Rockefeller and Flagler for organizing gangster attacks. A demand for the arrest of John Rockefeller was sent to New York. However, for unknown reasons (ha ha), this judicial act was not executed.

Success - in all its glory

This is where the real success began. Rockefeller negotiated with transport workers throughout the country and bought up small oil producing and refining companies. The competitors had little choice: go bankrupt or transfer the property to the Rockefeller empire for a share of shares. Thus, by 1880, John had more than 95% of all oil production and refining in his hands. North America. Having become a monopolist, Rockefeller raised oil prices.

Ten years later, the Sherman Anti-Monopoly Act required Standard Oil to be broken up into a number of small and independent companies. Rockefeller complied: 34 small enterprises were created. And in each of these enterprises, John Rockefeller had a controlling stake. Almost every modern American oil company has a success story that begins with Standard Oil. To put it more precisely: their stories are the success story of John Davison Rockefeller.

Before the division, Standard Oil brought its main owner more than three million dollars annually. And besides Standard Oil, John Rockefeller owned 16 railway transport companies, 6 metallurgical enterprises, 6 shipping companies, a dozen companies that traded real estate, a group of banks (9 pieces) and many other properties, such as orange groves and huge plots of land.

What more can be said about John Rockefeller and his success story?

He was a very religious man (?) and from his childhood he donated ten percent of his income annually to the Baptist Church. In 1905, 10 percent amounted to one hundred million dollars.

He lived a long life and died at the age of 97 (and dreamed of living to 100). He began to (gradually) move away from business management back in 1897 and focused all his efforts on charity: the University of Chicago and the Rockefeller Medical Institute were built with his money, etc., etc., etc.

Before he died, he gave away more than $500 million to charity. But this was not the entire fortune: the son inherited about 460 million.

In 2007, Forbes magazine attempted to estimate Rockefeller's wealth in modern terms. It turned out to be 318 billion. That year, Bill Gates topped the list with a net worth of just 50 billion.

And in conclusion, 12 golden rules of success from John Davison Rockefeller.

Success stories always make you think about how a person managed to achieve this very success, in what ways and by what means. If you read this post completely and carefully, then, quite possibly, you felt some disappointment: a Christian entrepreneur, high moral principles and collusion, bandits, tax evasion on a particularly large scale. And it’s all one person - John Davison Rockefeller. It's up to you, as always, to decide who he was. One big life, like any big story, is made up of small stories. Can these stories be considered success stories or should they be shamefully kept silent? To each his own. There was just such a person and this person lived. And these are no longer success stories - this is a historical fact.

Almost similar stories, but such different destinies. You can look at ways to achieve success or. And think...

John Davison Rockefeller. Born July 8, 1839 in Richford, New York - died May 23, 1937 in Ormond Beach, Florida. American entrepreneur, philanthropist, first dollar billionaire in human history.

Founded the company in 1870 Standard Oil and managed it until his official retirement in 1897. Standard Oil was founded in Ohio as a partnership of John Rockefeller, his brother William Rockefeller, Henry Flager, Jabez Bostwick, chemist Samuel Andrews and one non-voting partner, Stephen Harkens. As the demand for kerosene and gasoline soared, Rockefeller's wealth also increased, and he became the richest man in the world at one time, with a net worth of $1.4 billion (1937 nominal) or 1.54% of US GDP at the time of his death. Taking into account inflation The New The York Times estimates his wealth to be around $192 billion. in 2006 equivalent.

Rockefeller was one of the US philanthropists, the founder of the Rockefeller Foundation, who donated large amounts for medical research, education, in particular, for the fight against yellow fever. He also founded the University of Chicago and the Rockefeller University. He was a practicing Baptist and donated part of his income to support church institutions throughout his life. He was noted as a hardworking, purposeful and devout Christian, for which his partners called him “Deacon”. He always preached healthy image life and complete cessation of alcohol and smoking. He had four daughters and one son, who inherited the management of the Rockefeller Foundation.

Rockefeller was the second child of six children in a family of Protestants William Avery Rockefeller (October 13, 1810 - May 11, 1906) and Louise Selyanto (September 12, 1813 - March 28, 1889).

He was born in Richford, New York. His father was first a lumberjack, and then a traveling merchant who called himself a “botanical doctor” and sold various elixirs and was rarely at home. According to the recollections of neighbors, John's father was considered a strange man, trying to avoid hard physical labor, although he had a good sense of humor. By nature, William was a risk-taker, which helped him build up the small capital that allowed him to buy a plot of land for $3,100. However, risk-taking coexisted with foresight, so part of the capital was invested in various enterprises.

Eliza, John's mother, was a homemaker, a very devout Baptist, and often in poverty because her husband was constantly away for long periods of time and she constantly had to save on everything. She tried not to pay attention to reports of strangeness and adultery husband

Rockefeller recalled that his father early years told him about the enterprises in which he participated, explained the principles of business management, he wrote about his father: “He often bargained with me and bought various services from me. He taught me how to buy and sell. My father was simply “training” me to get rich!”

When John was seven years old, he began feeding turkeys for sale and earned extra money by digging potatoes for his neighbors. He recorded all the results of his commercial activities in his little book.

With his first salary, Rockefeller acquires a good ledger. In it he writes down all his income and expenses, paying attention to even the smallest details. He treated this book with special awe and respect, keeping it for the rest of his life. As well as the memory of your first working day, as an understanding of your first step on the path to becoming.

He invested all the money he earned in a porcelain piggy bank, and already at the age of 13 he lent $50 to a farmer he knew at the rate of 7.5% per annum.

His father's upbringing was continued by his mother, from whom he learned hard work and discipline. Since the family was large, and William Rockefeller’s enterprises did not always end successfully, she often had to save.

At the age of 13, John went to school in Richford. In his autobiography, he wrote that it was difficult for him to study and he had to study hard to complete his lessons. Rockefeller successfully graduated from high school and entered Cleveland College, where he taught accounting and the basics of commerce, but soon came to the conclusion that three-month accounting courses and a thirst for activity would bring much more than years of college, so he left it.

In 1853, the Rockefeller family moved to Cleveland. Since John Rockefeller was one of the eldest children in the family, already at the age of 16 he went to look for work. By that time, he already knew mathematics quite well, and completed a three-month course in accounting in Cleveland. After six weeks of searching, he was hired as an assistant accountant by Hewitt & Tuttle, a small real estate and shipping company, and soon rose to the position of accountant. He quickly established himself as a competent professional, and as soon as the manager of Hewitt & Tuttle left his post, Rockefeller was immediately appointed in his place. At the same time, the salary was set at $600 dollars, while his predecessor received $2000, because of this Rockefeller left the company, and this was his only hired job in his biography.

Just at this time, the English entrepreneur John Morris Clark was looking for a partner with a capital of $2000 to create a joint business. At that time, Rockefeller had saved up $800, he borrowed the remaining amount from his father at 10% per annum, and on April 27, 1857, he became a junior partner in the Clark and Rochester company, the company traded in hay, grain, meat and other goods. During these years, the southern states declared secession from the Union and the Civil War began, federal authorities there was a need to supply a large army, and to fulfill large-scale food supply orders starting capital$4000 was not enough, the company needed a loan. Despite the fact that the company was young, Rockefeller managed to make a positive impression on the bank director with his sincerity, and he agreed to provide the company with a loan.

In 1864, Rockefeller married teacher Laura Celestina Spelman, whom I met while still a student. Although she was pious, she also had a practical mind. Rockefeller noted: “Without her advice, I would have remained poor.”.

In the late 1850s and early 1860s, kerosene lamps became widespread and demand for the raw material for kerosene, oil, increased. At this time, Rockefeller met the chemist Samuel Andrews, who worked on oil refining and was convinced of the promise of kerosene as a means of lighting. Rockefeller was interested in a message about an oil field discovered by Edwin Drake in 1859. Common interests rallied Andrews and Rockefeller and they, on a parity basis with Clark's company, founded a new oil processing company, Andrews and Clark. The partners established the Flats oil refinery in Cleveland. Transported oil and finished products by rail.

The Standard Oil Company was founded in 1870. Rockefeller began searching for oil; already at the beginning of his activity, he noticed that the entire oil business was organized inefficiently and chaotic, and focused on putting things in order. The first step was to create the company's charter. In order to motivate employees, Rockefeller initially decided to refuse wages, rewarding them with shares, he believed that thanks to this they would work more actively, because they would consider themselves part of the company, since their final income would depend on the success of the business.

The business began to generate income, and Rockefeller began to gradually buy up other oil companies one by one, small enterprises that were not too expensive. This strategy did not sit well with many Americans. Rockefeller negotiated with railroad companies to regulate transportation prices, so Standard Oil received lower prices than its competitors: it paid 10 cents for transporting a barrel of oil, while its competitors paid 35 cents, with a difference of 25 cents per barrel for Rockefeller's company also received income. Competitors could not resist him; Rockefeller forced them to choose: unite with him or go bankrupt. Most of them chose to join Standard Oil in exchange for a share of shares.

By 1880, thanks to numerous small and medium-sized mergers, 95% of America's oil production was in Rockefeller's hands. Having become a monopolist, Standard Oil raised prices and became largest company in the world of that time. Ten years later, the Sherman Anti-Monopoly Act required the division of Standard Oil. After that Rockefeller split the business into 34 small companies and in all of them he retained a controlling stake and at the same time increased capital. Practically all major American oil companies originated from Standard Oil, including ExxonMobil, Chevron.

Standard Oil brought Rockefeller $3 million annually, he owned sixteen railroad and six steel companies, nine real estate firms, six shipping companies, nine banks and three orange groves.

Rockefeller's name became a symbol of wealth: he lived in great comfort, but did not flaunt his wealth like other millionaires on New York's 5th Avenue. He had a villa and 700-acre (283 ha) plot of land on the outskirts of Cleveland, as well as houses in New York, Florida and a personal golf course in New Jersey. But most of all he loved the Pocantico Hills villa near New York. Rockefeller wanted to live to be a hundred years old, but did not live to be three years old - on May 23, 1937, he died of heart attack at the age of 97 years.

John Rockefeller Family:

John Rockefeller Sr.'s five grandchildren continued the tradition of philanthropy and political involvement. The most famous of them was Nelson Rockefeller, Vice President of the United States from 1974-1977. Younger son John Rockefeller Jr., David Rockefeller, was the head of Manhattan Bank from 1969-1980.

They say that part of Rockefeller's success belongs to his wife. Few could compete with John in his tight-fistedness and stinginess, in his coldness and prudence. But his wife Laura Spelman was able to outdo him. They understood each other perfectly, and she gave him a lot of thoughtful, reasonable advice during his work in business. Modern researchers all say that Spelman was such a perfect character match for Rockefeller that it was amazing. They were able to live without spills for more than sixty years.

Many hated and cursed him, wanted him to lose all his money, but John Davison Rockefeller Sr. still increased his fortune with every passing year. The most interesting thing is that this man was most proud of his morality: he followed strict rules all his life, raised his children the way he was once raised.

Rockefeller's ancestors were Huguenots and lived in fickle France. In the 17th century, they left this country to escape the Inquisition and the royal dragoons, who were hunting for heretics. In Germany, the Rockfeil family changed their surname to the German style. The emigrants were hardworking, loyal to each other, but indifferent to strangers. Their faith demanded this, and John Rockefeller never violated these rules.

In the next century, the Rockefellers continued their journey and ended up in the New World. There they stopped in a city in New York state called Richford. And in 1839 John Rockefeller was born. John's father, William Avery Rockefeller, loved money very much and earned it by any honest or dishonest means. He pretended to be both a deaf mute and a herbal doctor, sold various pieces of glass, won prizes at shooting competitions, etc. William always went away to work for several months at a time, always dressed well, and gradually increased his small fortune. And little John looked at his father and learned.

He was a practical young man and, looking at his relatives, made many useful conclusions. From his mother, for example, he inherited hard work, honesty, discipline, his father taught him to love money, John’s grandfather achieved nothing, was talkative and self-willed, and the boy did not want to be the same. Even as a child, young Rockefeller began doing business: he caught turkey poults and sold them after a while, bought candies and then sold them to his own sisters at a premium. All of John's proceeds were in the piggy bank. A little later, the boy gave them to his father at interest.

Almost no one knew the human side of John Rockefeller. Such people try not to obey emotions and feelings, because their main goal is to get rich. But several situations in John's life perfectly prove that he was a sensitive boy.
While the young man is receiving secondary education, his father escapes from the creditors he has deceived and abandons his family. Later he changes his last name and leaves for another woman. At sixteen, John travels to Cleveland and begins looking for work. Many owners of firms and companies refuse him. Six weeks later, he was hired by Hewitt and Tuttle as an assistant accountant. Rockefeller came to work early in the morning (at 6:30), and ended his working day after 22:00. The future oil magnate loved to work and in a short period of time established himself as a competent professional. Therefore, after the manager of the company stopped working, John was immediately appointed to this position. True, his salary was set almost 3 times less than his predecessor. Rockefeller was very offended by this, and he left the company. He never worked for anyone else.

At this time, John Maurice Clark wants to open his own business and is looking for a person who could invest another $2,000. The English entrepreneur and John Rockefeller become partners and create the Clark and Rochester trading house. During the civil war they managed to earn good money. After some time, John begins to produce oil.
Before Rockefeller turned twenty-five, everyone he knew thought he only loved money. But it was not so. One girl had been waiting for John for nine years. He met Laura Celestia Spelman at school. Then the young man confessed his love to her, but the girl replied that he should first find himself Good work and achieved something in life.

The name Rockefeller has long been synonymous with wealth. And this is not surprising, since the first dollar billionaire in human history belonged to this dynasty. People have always loved counting other people's money, so it is not surprising that many are interested in the question of what the Rockefellers' fortune is this moment.

Only a select few know the exact answer, but this article can help shed light on the origins of the wealth of this famous family.

Where it all began

John Rockefeller, whose condition at the time of his entry into adult life barely equaled a couple of hundred dollars, was born in 1838 in the city of Richford, located near New York, and was the second of 6 children of William Avery Rockefeller and Louise Selyanto.

His father worked as a lumberjack in his youth, but over time he began to avoid hard physical labor in every possible way and became a “botanical doctor.” For months he was on the road, selling all sorts of herbal remedies, not paying attention to the dissatisfaction of his wife, who, in the absence of her husband, could barely cope with a large horde of children and did not know how to make ends meet.

However, over time, William managed to earn some money and buy a plot of land. He invested the rest of his savings in various businesses. At the same time, he was very impressed by the interest shown by his son John in his financial affairs. Despite his very young age, the smart boy wanted to know all the details of his father’s transactions and constantly pestered him with questions. As an adult, Rockefeller fondly remembered William, who, in his words, taught him “to buy and sell... and trained him... to get rich.”

How to raise a billionaire

John Rockefeller, whose fortune was $1 billion in 1905, was 7 years old when he was digging potatoes for his neighbors and raising turkeys for sale. Having barely learned to write and count, he started a notebook in which he recorded all his expenses and financial receipts. He carefully kept his money in a porcelain piggy bank and did not like to spend it on trifles. At the age of 13, he already had a small amount, which allowed the young businessman to lend $50 to a neighboring farmer, subject to paying 7.5 percent per annum.

With great reluctance, John went to school, where he did not like it at all, since his studies were difficult. However, Rockefeller successfully graduated and became a college student in Cleveland, choosing to specialize in “Fundamentals of Commerce.” Soon the young man realized that it was not at all necessary to spend money and 4 years of his life on obtaining the same knowledge that any 3-month accounting course would provide him.

Career

John Davison Rockefeller (net worth at the time of his death was $1.4 billion) began looking for a permanent job at the age of 16. A certificate of completion of accounting courses and good knowledge in the field of mathematics allowed him to become an employee of the Hewitt & Tuttle company, which was engaged in real estate and shipping. The young man quickly established himself as a competent professional and over time made a career leap from assistant accountant to manager. However, Rockefeller soon learned that his predecessor was paid $2,000, while he was paid only $600. He immediately left Hewitt & Tuttle and never became an employee again.

Starting your own business

Rockefeller David, whose fortune at that time was only $800, did not remain out of work for long. He managed to find out that one of his acquaintances was looking for a partner with a capital of 2 thousand dollars. The young man borrowed the missing amount from his father at 10% per annum and in 1857 became a junior partner in the firm of John Morris Clark and Rochester. With the outbreak of the Civil War, this small company, trading grain, hay, meat and other goods appeared excellent prospects, as the federal authorities of the United States had a need for large-scale supplies of food to supply the army.

It was obvious that there would not be enough start-up capital to develop the company. However, missing out on the chance to get rich from military supplies would be madness. Therefore, the company, one of the owners of which was Rockefeller, needed a loan. It was received thanks to John, since the young businessman made the most positive impression on the bank director with his sincerity.

successful marriage

Today, many ordinary people, brought up on glossy magazines, are surprised when they see the wives of billionaires, whose appearance, to put it mildly, is far from that of a model. At the same time, they don’t even think about what important role An intelligent woman can play a role in her career, as well as in increasing and preserving her husband’s capital. The above fully applies to Rockefeller’s wife. Before marrying a young promising businessman, Laura Celestina Spelman, who can hardly be called a beauty, was a school teacher and was distinguished by exceptional piety. They met during Rockefeller's short student days, but got married only 9 years later. The girl attracted John's attention with her piety, practicality of mind and the fact that she reminded him of his mother. According to Rockefeller himself, without Laura’s advice, he would have “remained poor.”

Money in oil

It's hard to believe, but until the mid-19th century, black gold had very low demand. However, it was precisely this product that the Rockefellers made a huge fortune from.

The founder of the dynasty had an unsurpassed business sense, and when kerosene lamps were invented, he quickly guessed what the prospects would be for the one who took over the oil production and refining business. Rockefeller became interested in reports of a black gold deposit that Edwin Drake discovered in 1859 and met chemist Samuel Andrews. The latter agreed to take over the scientific and technical side of the project and become a partner in the new business. Soon the firm of Andrews and Clark was created, which began building the Flats oil refinery in Cleveland. It later grew into the Standard Oil Company.

Secret of success

As already mentioned, at one time the fortune of the Rockefeller family began to grow sharply thanks to a business based on oil production. However, before this happened, John had to take a number of measures. In particular, he noticed that everyone who tried to work in this area before him acted chaotically and ineffectively.

First of all, Rockefeller created the company's charter, and to motivate employees, he refused wages by issuing shares of the enterprise. Thus, every employee was interested in the success of the business, which soon had a positive effect on his income.

Then he began to buy small companies one by one, trying to concentrate the entire oil production business in his hands. In addition, Rockefeller agreed with the railroad workers for more low prices for the transportation of Standard Oil products. In particular, the company paid 10 cents for transporting one barrel of oil, while its competitors paid 35 cents, i.e. more than 3 times more expensive. They soon faced a choice: either merge with Standard Oil or go bankrupt. Most company owners, without thinking twice, chose to accept Rockefeller's offer in exchange for a share of shares.

Oil tycoon N 1

By 1880, 95% of the oil production of the United States was already concentrated in the hands of Rockefeller. Having become a monopolist, Standard Oil immediately raised prices sharply. She was soon recognized as the richest in the world at that time. It was then that the fortunes of the Rockefeller family became and their name became a symbol of wealth.

End of monopoly

The Americans, who were always interested in the current state of the Rockefellers, soon realized that they were in their trap of Mr. John Davison, and now the price of fuel would depend only on goodwill. In this regard, the Sherman Antitrust Act was passed.

Rockefeller had to split Standard Oil into 34 small companies. At the same time, in all of them the businessman retained a controlling stake and even increased his capital. As a result of the division, such famous firms as ExxonMobil and Chevron emerged. Their assets are still a significant part of what the Rockefellers own (today their net worth is more than three billion).

State of the Rockefeller clan at the end of the 19th century

In addition to the oil business, which brought in $3 million annually, the businessman owned 16 railway and 6 steel companies, 9 real estate companies, 6 shipping companies, 9 banks and 3 orange groves.

Although the family lived in great comfort, they did not flaunt their wealth as other New York 5th Avenue millionaires did. At the same time, the Rockefellers' condition was constantly the subject of gossip. Their Pocantico Hills villa, a 283-hectare plot of land in Cleveland, luxury homes in Florida and New York State, a golf course in New Jersey, etc. were discussed.

Children

Rockefeller dreamed of living to be 100 years old, but did not live to see this for three years, dying of a heart attack in May 1937.

He raised his children very strictly, trying to instill in them a respect for money and a desire to earn it. He appointed one of his daughters as director, and she made sure that the brother and sisters were not lazy in fulfilling their duties. At the same time, children received a specific reward for any housework, and were fined for being late.

There was no question of any pampering in the Rockefeller family. In particular, as adults, they recalled how their father once wanted to give them a bicycle, but their mother advised them to buy one for everyone, so that the children would learn to share with each other.

The only son of John Davison Rockefeller, who was his father's namesake, fully lived up to his hopes. He did not strive to make a brilliant career, but devoted his life to his family and to being useful to society. As for the daughters, one of them died in at a young age, the other went crazy, and only Alta and Etid lived a long life, enriching their clan with new connections.

John Davison Rockefeller Jr.

After the death of his father, who gave him $460 million in his will, he spent a significant part of his fortune on charity. In particular, it was on John's initiative that New York became the headquarters of the UN. The construction of a complex of buildings for this organization cost Rockefeller Jr. $9 million. John had six children. They received from their father a fortune equal to $240 million.

Margaret Rockefeller Strong

Not many people know that John Davidson Jr. was not the person who inherited most of his father's money. The Rockefeller fortune, which in 1937 was estimated at $1.4 billion, or rather more than half of it, went to the granddaughter of the founder of the dynasty, Margaret. The young woman was the daughter of Bessie Rockefeller and Charles A. Strong. Large amounts Margaret's children and the medical research institute founded by her great grandfather also went from the inheritance.

Grandchildren in direct male line

John Davison Rockefeller Jr. had six children. Daughter Abby, like her brother John, were major philanthropists. Thanks to them, many foundations and organizations were founded, including the Institute of Pacific Relations, etc. Nelson Rockefeller, who was Vice President of the United States in 1974-1977, achieved particular success. Another Rockefeller grandson, Winthrop, was governor of Arkansas.

David Rockefeller: current status and brief biography

The oldest member of the clan was born in New York in 1915. He is the last of John Davidson Rockefeller Jr.'s children. In 1936, he graduated and was then sent to study in In 1940, John defended his dissertation on the topic “Unused Resources and Economic Waste” and received a doctorate in economics. In the same year he began his career in public service, becoming the secretary of New York's Fiorello La Guardia. During World War II, David Rockefeller first worked for the Departments of Health, Defense and Welfare, and in May 1942 he went to the front as a private. There he was sent to work in intelligence and carried out various government assignments in German-occupied France and North Africa.

As a result, he met victory with the rank of captain, and then participated in various business family projects. In 1947, David Rockefeller became director of the Council for international relations, and 14 years later - president of Chase Manhattan Bank. In April 1981, on the eve of his 66th birthday, he resigned from this post, as he had reached the age limit.

At the moment, David Rockefeller (currently worth $2.5 billion) has achieved a very old age and it is already over 100 years old. Recently there were reports in the press that he had another one. Apparently, the billionaire strives to live forever. At the same time, he is known as the main ideologist of birth control, since he believes that the Earth is overpopulated.

The name of David Rockefeller is often heard during speeches by famous conspiracy theorists. In particular, they call him the founder of the Trilateral Commission, created in 1973 to coordinate the approaches of the United States, Canada, Japan and the richest countries Western Europe to the most important political and economic issues facing humanity. The activities of this organization are hidden for the general public by such a dense veil of secrecy that, in comparison with the Trilateral Commission, the activities of the no less famous Bildelberg Group can be called absolutely transparent. However, no one knows exactly the program of this organization.

At the moment, the right considers the Trilateral Commission to be a world government, and the left is a club of rich people who do not want to obey anyone.

Rothschilds

Often when discussed general state The Rockefellers are also remembered for representatives of one of the most successful financial clans in Europe. It's about about the Rothschilds, family business which was founded more than 250 years ago, and began with a small shop of a Jewish money changer in the Frankfurt ghetto.

There is no, and cannot be, exact information about the state of this dynasty, which operates not only in the USA, but also in Europe, since according to the will of its founder, this information cannot be announced.

At the moment, the head of the family is Nathaniel Rothschild. He has a sister, Emma, ​​who is a world-renowned economist. Few people know that Nathan Rothschild is a member of the international advisory board of the Russian

History's Two Greatest Financial Dynasties: Allies or Adversaries

Throughout the history of their existence, the Rockefellers and the Rothschilds have worked more than once within the framework of fairly close business partnerships, participating in projects and acquiring shares in each other’s assets. At the moment, no particularly intense competition has been observed between the families, since their representatives prefer to negotiate on all issues.

To date, the Rockefellers (today's fortune is 300 billion) and the Rothschilds have agreed on a strategic partnership. In addition, they announced the merger of some of their assets. In particular, RIT Capital Partners (the Rothschild investment company) acquired a stake in the Rockefeller group. The latter has $34 billion in assets under management. These include the oil and gas group Vallares, as well as shares in such well-known companies as Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, Dell and Oracle.

As for the assets of RIT Capital Partners, they are estimated at 1.9 billion pounds sterling, most of which are invested in shares and government bonds.

By the way, while people are arguing what Rockefeller’s fortune is (150 or 300 billion), the clans, at least as some publications claim, are preparing to destroy the euro, since they no longer see the need for such a currency. They are also credited with the sharp economic breakthrough in China, which could not have been predicted some 30-40 years ago.

According to experts, the rapprochement of the Rothschild and Rockefeller clans will continue in the future.

Charity

The Rockefellers (currently their fortune is estimated at $300 billion) have always been great philanthropists. These traditions are still alive today. In particular, it was recently estimated that the elder of the David family gave away $900 million during his long life. In 2014 alone, he donated about $79 million to support various charitable projects.

Today, no one can say exactly what the fortune of the Rothschilds and Rockefellers is. However, of course, these two dynasties are among the richest clans on the planet and influence the politics of the United States and many other countries on the planet.