Richest People
Top 10 Richest People That Ever Lived
When talks about the richest people in the world are up, names like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates are quick to come to mind. But are they the richest people that ever lived?
When talks about the richest people in the world are up, names like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates are quick to come to mind. But are they the richest people that ever lived? Who is the Richest Man Ever? This article has all the answers you need.
Is having money the only metric for determining wealth? If that is the case, it poses a serious dilemma because money doesn’t actually have a set value. Long before the existence of money, there are other metrics that determined wealth just as money does today.
That being said, let’s go straight to answering the question: Who are the richest persons ever, and how much fortune did they accumulate?
1. Mansa Musa
With a roughly estimated net worth of $400 billion, Mansa Musa (1280-1337) is the richest man that has ever lived. He was the 9th Mansa of the Mali Empire which reached its territorial peak during his reign, and his wealth was indescribable.
Mali became the richest kingdom in Africa during Mansa Musa’s leadership, despite inheriting an already prosperous kingdom. His wealth stemmed from the Mali kingdom’s large salt and gold reserves. Another significant source of wealth was ivory from elephants.
Mansa M built the Great Mosque at Timbuktu, leaving behind a realm noteworthy for its size and wealth, but in the Middle East and Europe, he is best known for the splendor of his Mecca trip (1324).
Musa is known for his wealth and gift-giving and has sometimes been called one of the wealthiest people in history, though this claim is difficult to evaluate.
2. Augustus Caesar
The first Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus, often known as Octavian, ruled from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD. His legacy as one of the greatest leaders in human history has been cemented by his role as the creator of the Roman Principate.
One of the most effective rulers in ancient Rome, Caesar Augustus oversaw the city’s conversion from a republic to an empire. Augustus revolutionized almost every area of Roman society during his reign, bringing back peace and prosperity to the Roman state.
Augustus Caesar oversaw an empire that produced between 25% and 30% of the world’s economic production, and according to Stanford history professor Ian Morris, Augustus once had a personal fortune equal to one-fifth of the total economy of his empire. In 2019, that fortune would be about equal to $4.6 trillion. Morris adds that Augustus “personally owned all of Egypt for a period.” It’s challenging to surpass that.
3. Emperor Shenzong
The sixth emperor of China’s Song dynasty is Zhao Xu, or Emperor Shenzong of Song. he altered it to “Zhao Xu.” From 1067 until his passing in 1085, he was king.
Emperor Shenzong of Song is the 143rd most popular Chinese politician, the 236th most popular Chinese biography, and the 2,982nd most popular politician overall (down from 2,428th in 2019). The zhonghe uprising made Emperor Shenzong of Song famous.
The riches of the empire were derived from its technological advancements as well as its extraordinary competence in tax collection, which, according to Edwards, was hundreds of years ahead of that of European governments. The emperor had extensive authority over the economy throughout the Song Dynasty because of the government’s strong centralization, the professor added.
4. Akbar I
Akbar, the most powerful emperor of the Mughal dynasty in India, ruled over an empire that produced nearly one-fourth of the world’s economic output. According to the late economic historian Angus Maddison, India’s GDP per capita under Akbar was equivalent to Elizabethan England, but with “a ruling class whose luxurious lifestyle exceeded that of the European society,” according to Fortune’s Chris Matthews.
Data from economist Branko Milanovic, whose study suggests the Mughal Dynasty was one of the most effective empires of all time at extracting wealth from the population, support the claim that India’s elite class was wealthier than their counterparts to the west.
5. Andrew Carnegie
In 1848, Carnegie and his parents left Scotland for America. Carnegie was born in Dunfermline. Starting out as a telegrapher, Carnegie amassed interests in oil derricks, railroads, sleeper cars, and bridges by the 1860s. As a bond salesman in Europe, he increased his wealth by obtaining funds for American business. He founded the Carnegie Steel Company in Pittsburgh, which he later sold to J.P. Morgan for $480 million, establishing the U.S. Steel Corporation.
He has an estimated net worth of $372bn
The balance of Carnegie’s life was devoted to extensive philanthropy. with a focus on community libraries, international harmony, education, and scientific research.
Building Carnegie Hall with his corporate riches, he also established the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Carnegie Institution for Science,
Among others, are the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, the Carnegie Hero Fund, Carnegie Mellon University, and the Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Museums. His life has frequently been described as a real-life “rags to riches” tale.
6. John D Rockefeller
John D Rockefeller is one of the richest men ever, he was also the creator of the Standard Oil Company and one of the richest men in the world, John D. Rockefeller (1839–1937), was also a significant philanthropist. He was up in humble circumstances in upstate New York and made his first investment in the fledgling oil industry in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1863, and by 1880, his Standard Oil corporation was in charge of 90% of the nation’s oil production.
According to a 1918 federal income tax return and estimates of his overall fortune, Rockefeller was estimated to be worth around $1.5 billion in his New York Times obituary. This amount corresponds to over 2% of U.S. economic output that year, according to data gathered by MeasuringWorth (the U.S. did not keep official records on national income until 1932).
He has an estimated net worth of $341 billion.
7. Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov
In 1894, Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia’s opulent court, inherited the wealth of the illustrious Romanov Imperial line, Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov was the last Emperor of Russia, King of Congress Poland, and Grand Duke of Finland, ruling from 1 November 1894.
In addition to being on show in magnificent mansions, jewelry, and works of art, much was related to the state. The majority of the assets were taken over by Bolshevik revolutionaries after Nicholas and his close family was murdered in 1918.
He was officially titled, Nicholas II, Emperor, and Autocrat of All the Russians, and was commonly known by the monarchical title Tsar with an estimated net worth of $300bn
8. Mir Osman Ali Khan
The world’s most productive diamond mines and a thriving pearl business were among his rich inheritance when he assumed the princedom of the Indian state of Hyderabad in 1911.
His Exalted Highness was given as a reward for his devotion to the British Empire, and he generously donated money to public transportation and education. It was claimed that despite his tremendous wealth, he wore the same fez for 35 years.
He ruled the Kingdom of Hyderabad between 1911 and 1948 until India annexed it, he has an estimated net worth of $230bn
9. William The Conqueror
William, was the Duke of Normandy before he was king of England, and he was one of the most powerful nobles in France. However, he is most known for commanding the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, which altered the direction of English history and gave him the nickname William the Conqueror.
Despite being an illegitimate child, this Norman lord gained power in France through marriage and obtained territory in the 11th century before seizing the English crown by conquest. He liberally left his friend’s property and titles while in power from 1066 to 1087, putting them up in opulent style.
He has an estimated net worth of $229.5bn
10. Muammar Gaddafi
Gaddafi, who came from a low-income Bedouin family and was born close to Sirte in Italian Libya, turned into an Arab nationalist while studying in Sabha before enrolling at the Royal Military Academy in Benghazi.
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi was also a politician and political theorist.
He established a revolutionary organization within the military that led a coup in 1969 to overthrow the Western-backed Senussi monarchy of Idris.
He was the long-time ruler of Libya, he ruled from 1942-2011, he has an estimated net worth of $200bn
Summary
Here is a summary of the Top 10 Richest People that ever Lived:
- Mansa Musa
- Augustus Caesar
- Emperor Shenzong
- Akbar I
- Andrew Carnegie
- John D Rockefeller
- Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov
- Mir Osman Ali Khan
- William The Conqueror
- Muammar Gaddafi