John Jacob AstorJohn Jacob Astor was the 5th richest man in American history; learn how he did it here. The Astor’s are one of the most famous wealthy families in history. The legacy of Astor’s started in the 17th century and did not end until 2007. The wealth of this family started from the fortune accumulated by John J Astor (1763-1848). He was an immigrant from Germany and he got his start in the trade business. Astor was a highly successful fur trader and also a China trade importer. This gave his the financial backing to tackle his next venture, real estate investment. Astor was a very prominent player in the Manhattan real estate market. He had a keen sense of timing, and he always knew the perfect time to get into a business, and equally important, how to get out before its too late. So just what kind of money did John Astor have? While it may seem hard to believe that one man’s money would be enough to keep a family wealthy for nearly two decades, he most certainly did. By the time of his death he had amassed $110 Billion dollars. This puts him right behind Bill Gates in the list of richest Americans. He has the number 5 spot. A lot of his wealth was dispersed into philanthropic work by some of his heirs. Brook Astor, the last American Astor, was a huge giver and helped people from all walks of life. return from John Jacob Astor to getting rich
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