John Jacob Astor
John Jacob Astor lived the classic American success story. Born into a society where there was minimal opportunity for upward mobility, he left Europe at a young age. With $25 in his pocket, Astor journeyed to America where he witnessed the birth of the United States, worked his way up from virtually nothing and became the richest man in the country. His descendants became American royalty, and his achievements became a model for other entrepreneurs to follow. Born in Germany in 1763 to a working-class family, Astor’s father was...