Cornelius Vanderbilt

Definition

Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877) was an American business magnate who built his wealth in shipping and railroads during the 19th century. He is known as one of America's leading industrialists at that time.

Analogy

You can think of Vanderbilt as Mark Zuckerberg or Jeff Bezos of his era - he started from humble beginnings but through strategic investments and ruthless business tactics, he became one of richest men in history.

Related terms

Robber Barons: A derogatory term referring to wealthy businessmen during America's Gilded Age who were accused of using unethical methods to get rich.

Gilded Age: A period in US history from the 1870s to about 1900, characterized by rapid industrialization, expansion of railroads, and extreme wealth disparity.

New York Central Railroad: One of the major railroad systems in the Northeastern U.S., controlled by Vanderbilt.