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Ranked: The Richest Americans in History
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Key Takeaways
- Elon Musk ranks as the richest American in history, with an inflation-adjusted net worth of nearly $745 billion.
- Industrial-era titans like Rockefeller and Carnegie still dominate the top ranks, rivaling today’s tech billionaires.
Who are the richest Americans of all time when wealth is adjusted for inflation?
While modern tech leaders dominate today’s billionaire rankings, America’s industrial past produced fortunes that still rival—or exceed—those seen today.
This graphic ranks American billionaires throughout history by their peak net worth, adjusted to 2025 dollars. The data for this visualization comes from Business Insider, drawing on Forbes’ 2007 list of history’s wealthiest individuals. Historical fortunes were calculated at peak wealth and adjusted to 2025 dollars using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator. Net worth figures for living individuals reflect Forbes estimates as of December 29, 2025.
Modern Tech Titans Take the Top Spot
Elon Musk ranks first on the list, with an estimated net worth of $744.6 billion. His fortune reflects the explosive growth of Tesla and SpaceX.
| Rank | Name | Lifespan | Net Worth (2025 dollars) | Source of Wealth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elon Musk | 1971– | $744.6B | CEO of Tesla and SpaceX |
| 2 | John D. Rockefeller | 1839–1937 | $499.0B | Founder of Standard Oil |
| 3 | Andrew Carnegie | 1835–1919 | $459.6B | Founder of Carnegie Steel |
| 4 | Cornelius Vanderbilt | 1794–1877 | $275.3B | Shipping & Railroads |
| 5 | Larry Page | 1973– | $257.6B | Co-founder of Google |
| 6 | Larry Ellison | 1944– | $249.4B | Co-founder of Oracle |
| 7 | Jeff Bezos | 1964– | $244.0B | Founder of Amazon |
| 8 | Sergey Brin | 1973– | $237.7B | Co-founder of Google |
| 9 | Mark Zuckerberg | 1984– | $227.4B | Co-founder of Facebook |
| 10 | John Jacob Astor | 1763–1848 | $180.0B | Fur Trade & Real Estate |
| 11 | Jensen Huang | 1963– | $165.4B | CEO of Nvidia |
| 12 | Stephen Girard | 1750–1831 | $156.3B | Banking & Trade |
| 13 | Steve Ballmer | 1956– | $148.3B | Former CEO of Microsoft |
| 14 | Warren Buffett | 1930– | $147.4B | Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway |
| 15 | Michael Dell | 1965– | $141.2B | CEO of Dell Technologies |
| 16 | Richard B. Mellon | 1870–1933 | $134.5B | Heir to the Mellon banking dynasty |
| 17 | Alexander Turney Stewart | 1803–1876 | $132.1B | Founder of A.T. Stewart & Co. |
| 18 | Rob Walton | 1944– | $131.2B | Walmart Heir |
| 19 | Jim Walton | 1948– | $128.5B | Walmart Heir |
| 20 | Alice Walton | 1949– | $119.7B | Walmart Heir |
| 21 | Frederick Weyerhaeuser | 1834–1914 | $118.0B | Timber, Founder of Weyerhaeuser |
| 22 | Michael Bloomberg | 1942– | $109.4B | Founder of Bloomberg LP |
| 23 | Bill Gates | 1955– | $104.0B | Co-founder of Microsoft |
| 24 | Marshall Field | 1834–1906 | $98.2B | Founder of Marshall Field & Company |
| 25 | Sam Walton | 1918–1992 | $95.8B | Founder of Walmart |
| 26 | Jay Gould | 1836–1892 | $95.1B | Railroad |
| 27 | Henry Ford | 1863–1947 | $88.8B | Founder of Ford Motor Company |
| 28 | Andrew W. Mellon | 1855–1937 | $82.5B | Heir to the Mellon banking dynasty |
Other modern tech leaders making the list include Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg.
Industrial-Era Fortunes Still Loom Large
Despite the rise of technology billionaires, industrial-age magnates remain firmly entrenched near the top. John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil empire translates to nearly $500 billion today, while Andrew Carnegie’s steel fortune exceeds $450 billion when adjusted for inflation.
These fortunes were built during periods of rapid industrialization, when monopolistic advantages and limited regulation allowed wealth to compound at extraordinary rates.
Old Money, New Money, and Family Dynasties
Beyond founders and innovators, the ranking also highlights multigenerational wealth.
Members of the Walton family—Rob, Jim, and Alice Walton—each appear individually, reflecting Walmart’s enduring scale. Banking and industrial dynasties such as the Mellons and figures like Stephen Girard and John Jacob Astor illustrate how early control over finance, trade, and land helped shape America’s first great fortunes.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
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