American Dynasty

Cornelius Vanderbilt built massive shipping and railroad empires. His last words urged his heirs to "keep the money together," but did they listen?

John D. Rockefeller started in Cleveland with a kerosene refinery, which became Standard Oil. Later, the Rockefellers donated much to charity.

Henry Ford revolutionized the automobile industry with his assembly line, making cars accessible to millions, but his personal life was imperfect.

J. Paul Getty became the world's richest from oil but faced a dilemma when his grandson was kidnapped with a $17M ransom demand. Would he pay it?

Lammot DuPont's goal to change DuPont altered the family and US industry since starting as a gunpowder supplier in 1802.

In the 1860s, Junius Morgan and son JP enter Wall Street. By century's end, their firm controls major industries like railways and US Steel.