AncientFaces
J.D. Rockefeller with J.D. Rockefeller with others on his birthdayothers on his birthday
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J.D. Rockefeller with J.D. Rockefeller with others on his birthdayothers on his birthday
Updated Mar 10, 2025
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John Davison Rockefeller Sr is thought to be the wealthiest American ever and probably the richest person in modern history. Beginning as an assistant bookkeeper at age 16 and subsequently trying out a number of different business in his late teens and early 20s, he went on to found Standard Oil in 1870.
In 1911, the US Supreme Court broke up the company into 34 smaller companies, ruling that Standard Oil was in violation of anti-trust laws. The upshot was that each company doubled or tripled in value, making John Rockefeller the first billionaire and eventually making him worth $418 billion in 2019 dollars (inflation-adjusted) as of 1913.
Rockefeller spent the last 40 years of his life as a philanthropist, creating foundations that benefited medicine, education, and scientific research. He was also the founder of the University of Chicago and Rockefeller University and funded the establishment of Central Philippine University in the Philippines, taught Sunday school at his Baptist church as well as serving as a trustee, clerk, and occasional janitor at the church.
One of his favorite sayings was: "The growth of a large business is merely a survival of the fittest," he was a staunch supporter of capitalism. Is it any wonder? He was married and he and his wife, who died in 1915, had 5 children.
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AncientFaces
This account is shared by Community Support (Kathy Pinna & Daniel Pinna & Lizzie Kunde) so we can quickly answer any questions you might have.
Please reach out and message us here if you have any questions, feedback, requests to merge biographies, or just want to say hi!
2020 marks 20 years since the inception of AncientFaces. We are the same team who began this community so long ago. Over the years it feels, at least to us, that our family has expanded to include so many. Thank you!
2020 marks 20 years since the inception of AncientFaces. We are the same team who began this community so long ago. Over the years it feels, at least to us, that our family has expanded to include so many. Thank you!
Kathy Pinna
I'm a Founder of AncientFaces and support the community answering questions & helping members make connections to the past (thus my official title of Founder & Content and Community Support ). For me, it's been a labor of love for over 20 years. I truly believe with all of my heart that everyone should be remembered for generations to come.
I am 2nd generation San Jose and have seen a lot of changes in the area while growing up. We used to be known as the "Valley of Heart's Delight" (because the Valley was covered with orchards and there were many canneries to process the food grown here, which shipped all over the US) - now we have adopted the nickname "Capital of Silicon Valley" and Apple, Ebay, Adobe, Netflix, Facebook, and many more tech companies are within a few miles of my current home in San Jose (including AncientFaces). From a small town of 25,000, we have grown to 1 million plus. And when you add in all of the communities surrounding us (for instance, Saratoga, where I attended high school, living a block from our previous Mayor), we are truly one of the big cities in the US. I am so very proud of my hometown. For more information see Kathy - Founder & Content and Community Director
My family began AncientFaces because we believe that unique photos and stories that show who people are/were should be shared with the world.
My family began AncientFaces because we believe that unique photos and stories that show who people are/were should be shared with the world.
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