Though the also Jewish Rothschild family are often touted as being the world’s most secretive banking family, that title should instead go to Brazil’s Safra family and their patriarch Jacob Safra, who was arguably the greatest banker no one has ever heard of. He was perhaps even a better banker Read more…
Though there are many who would claim that various members of the also Jewish Rothschild family hold this title, at least officially, Brazil’s Joseph Safra was the richest banker in the world prior to his death in December 2020. The longtime chairman of the Safra Group and its associated companies, Read more…
The heir to a banking dynasty over 100 years old, Edmond Safra moved with his father from Lebanon to Brazil to create the foundations for today’s Safra Group. Once he inherited it with his brothers, he continued to grow his family company into the giant it is today. Yet, whilst Read more…
Early Life Frederick Henry Royce was born in the village of Alwalton, in Huntingdonshire, just five miles west of Peterborough on March 27 1863, as the youngest of five children born to flour mill owner James Royce, and his wife, Mary King Royce. Though his first name was legally Frederick, Read more…
Coming from humble beginnings as the son of Canadian immigrants, Walter Chrysler went from railroad engineer to general manager to automotive pioneer, and the driving force behind both the Chrysler Corporation and Chrysler Building, both of which bear his name. Early Life Railroad Career Automotive Pioneer Buick Willys Chrysler Corporation Read more…
Early Life John Clifton Bogle was born on May 8 1929 in Montclair, New Jersey as the youngest of two twins born to William Yates Bogle Jr. and Josephine Lorraine Hipkins, and went by “Jack” from an early age. Like many families, the Bogles were hit badly by the Great Depression that Read more…
Early Life Rollin White King was born in Cleveland, Ohio on April 10 1931 to Griffin and Elizabeth King. Born at the height of the Great Depression, the King family struggled to make ends meet just as many other families in the Depression did. Growing up in arguably the worst Read more…
Though seldom remembered, even by the struggling company he turned into a giant, William S. Paley is one of those entrepreneurs that without, the world would be a wholly different place. In this case, for the worse. A radio and TV broadcasting pioneer, Paley helped turn CBS from a struggling Read more…
Haym Salomon is one of those names that is seldom remembered in the history books. Yet, without the great fortune he had acquired and his using it to fund the revolutionary forces during the American Revolution, the US as a country may have never come to fruition. But in doing Read more…
When it came to wealth in the Medieval Era, the history books would make you think that only noble families held wealth. Whilst this is mostly true, there was one family that was the exception to this rule: the Fugger family. The personal bankers and financiers of dukes, princes, kings, Read more…