Answer: self-made millionaire
John Jacob Astor
John Jacob Astor (born Johann Jakob Astor; July 17 1763 – March 29 1848) was a German-American businessman merchant real estate mogul and investor who made his fortune mainly in a fur trade monopoly by smuggling opium into China and by investing in real estate in or around New York City.
John Jacob Astor IV (July 13 1864 – April 15 1912) was an American business magnate real estate developer investor writer lieutenant colonel in the Spanish–American War and a prominent member of the Astor family. Astor died in the sinking of the RMS Titanic during the early hours of April 15 1912.
Colonel John Jacob Astor IV (JJ Astor) was born in Rhinebeck New York on July 13th 1864 the son of William Astor and great-grandson of John Jacob Astor the fur trader. Astor was educated at St. Paul's School Concord and later went to Harvard.
Financier soldier and inventor John Jacob Astor IV built the Astoria section of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in 1897. He built several other notable New York City hotels including the St. Regis ...
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John Jacob Astor was the wealthiest man in America in the early 19th century and when he died in 1848 his fortune was estimated to be at least $20 million an astounding sum for the time. Astor had arrived in America as a poor German immigrant and his determination and business sense led him to eventually create a monopoly in the fur trade.
John Jacob Astor IV's funeral was held at Church of the Messiah in Rhinebeck. His body was entombed in the Astor Family Mausoleum at Trinity Church Cemetery. Madeleine his widow gave ...