Cornelius VanderbiltCornelius Vanderbilt (aka Commodore) is the third richest man in American history. In his 81 years of life he was able to build a fortune of $168.4 Billion dollars. He lived from 1794-1877, and the huge fortune that he created would leave his family as a legacy, one that survived for over centuries. He was a builder of steam powered ferries that would be used to transport people and goods along the coast and rivers of northeast America. This proved to be a very profitable business, but it was not where his billions were earned. He was a large investor, and he put a lot of money into the railroad business at a time when that industry was booming. He controlled one of the most lucrative railroad routes, the one connecting two major cities, New York and Chicago. With the money and help that he put into the railroad business he helped create the national railroad system. He goes to show that having the courage to seize opportunities is a critical component of self generated riches. He knew what the most profitable markets were, he understood the timing, and he had the smarts as well as the backbone to capitalize on the perfect opportunities. return from Cornelius Vanderbilt to getting rich
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