10 Richest People Who Ever Lived

6. Cornelius Vanderbilt - £139bn ($209bn)

Nicknamed "Commodore", Cornelius Vanderbilt built a vast fortune through shipping, steamboats and by controlling US railroads. By his death in 1877, Vanderbilt had accrued wealth of £139billion ($209billion) through his various business ventures. The Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, received an initial gift from Commodore before he died - a donation of $1million, the largest in history to that date. Vanderbilt left the remainder of his wealth as inheritance for his children.

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NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.