Billionaire Biographies

What does it mean to be a billionaire? Is it simply a number in a bank account, or is it a level of power that transcends government and borders? This introductory episode sets the stage for our entire series, defining the billionaire not just as a person of wealth, but as an architect of the modern world. We explore how the concept of the billion-dollar fortune is barely a century old, yet it has come to dominate our economy, poli...

The story of modern wealth begins with one name: Rockefeller. This episode journeys back to the oil fields of Pennsylvania to uncover the origins of John D. Rockefeller, a meticulous and pious bookkeeper who would become the richest man in modern history. We trace his early life, his fanatical attention to detail, and the strategic vision that allowed him to see an empire where others only saw chaos. From his first refinery in Clev...

How did one company, Standard Oil, come to control 90% of the American oil industry? This episode dissects the terrifying and brilliant machine that John D. Rockefeller built to achieve total domination. We move beyond the man and into the intricate corporate structure that became his weapon. It was a behemoth of pipelines, refineries, and secret agreements that functioned as a private state.

We reveal the inner workings of the inf...

John D. Rockefeller spent the first half of his life becoming the most hated man in America, and the second half trying to become its most beloved. This episode explores the great paradox of his life: the ruthless monopolist versus the pioneering philanthropist. After Ida Tarbell’s scathing exposé and the government's breakup of Standard Oil, Rockefeller initiated the greatest act of reputation laundering in history. He set out to ...

Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish immigrant who became a steel baron, is remembered as the father of modern philanthropy. He famously declared that "the man who dies thus rich dies disgraced," and he penned "The Gospel of Wealth," an essay arguing that the super-rich had a moral obligation to use their fortunes for the public good. This episode examines the powerful philosophy that shaped his public image and inspired generations of ph...

Behind the grand libraries and concert halls lies the blood and fire of Homestead, Pennsylvania. In 1892, the celebrated philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and his ruthless chairman, Henry Clay Frick, decided to break the steelworkers' union at their flagship mill. This episode is an unflinching look at the Homestead Strike, a violent and pivotal conflict that exposed the brutal hypocrisy at the heart of Carnegie's empire. It was a war...

Before the Federal Reserve, there was one man who held the fate of the American economy in his hands: J.P. Morgan. This episode explores the unprecedented power of the world’s most dominant banker, a figure so influential he could halt financial panics and personally bail out the U.S. government. We examine the Panic of 1907, a severe financial crisis that saw the stock market collapse and banks fail across the country. With no cen...

J.P. Morgan didn't just finance industries; he forged them. His true genius was not in invention but in consolidation, a process he called "Morganization." This episode delves into his strategy of eliminating what he despised most—chaotic competition—by merging countless small companies into massive, efficient, and profitable trusts that he controlled.

We investigate his two greatest creations: General Electric, formed from the war...

Henry Ford did not invent the automobile, but he put the world on wheels. This episode explores the revolutionary genius of a man who transformed the car from a luxury toy for the rich into an essential tool for the masses with the creation of the Model T. We dissect the innovation that made it all possible: the moving assembly line. This wasn't just a manufacturing breakthrough; it was a fundamental reorganization of labor, time, ...

The same mind that revolutionized industry also harbored dark and hateful ideologies. This episode pulls back the curtain on the other Henry Ford: the tyrant, the union-buster, and one of America’s most prominent antisemites. We reveal the oppressive reality of life inside his factories, where the assembly line’s crushing monotony was matched by a corporate police force known as the "Service Department" that spied on and intimidate...

How does a family whose name was once synonymous with corporate evil transform itself into a symbol of public service and philanthropy? This episode follows the Rockefeller dynasty into the 20th century, focusing on John D. Rockefeller Jr., the son tasked with rehabilitating the family’s tarnished name. We explore how Junior shifted the family’s focus from profit to philanthropy, institutionalizing the giving his father began and c...

While the Rockefellers pursued public influence, the Ford dynasty remained a closed, private, and often dysfunctional kingdom. This episode delves into the tumultuous history of the Ford family after its patriarch, exploring the bitter conflicts, power struggles, and personal tragedies that nearly destroyed the company. At the center of the drama is the tragic relationship between Henry Ford and his only son, Edsel. Edsel, a man of...

The Kennedy family represents the pinnacle of dynastic ambition: the transformation of a fortune into the ultimate prize, the American presidency. This episode uncovers the story of the dynasty’s patriarch, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., a ruthless businessman who amassed a fortune and then dedicated it to a singular goal: placing his sons in the White House. We investigate the controversial origins of his wealth, from rumored bootlegging ...

The name Guggenheim is now synonymous with modern art, but the fortune that built its iconic museums came from deep within the earth. This episode traces the Guggenheim dynasty's journey from the rugged mining camps of the American West to the elegant art galleries of New York and Venice. We begin with Meyer Guggenheim and his seven sons, who built a global empire by dominating the mining and smelting of silver, copper, and lead. T...

Sam Walton, a folksy, pickup-driving man from Arkansas, crafted an image as a down-to-earth champion of the common person. This episode delves into the origin story of Walton and his creation, Walmart, the largest retailer and largest private employer in the world. We explore his simple yet revolutionary vision: to bring big-city discounts to rural America through a relentless focus on logistics, efficiency, and, above all, the low...

"Everyday low prices" come at a cost. This episode goes behind the scenes of the Walmart empire to expose the controversial business practices that have made the Walton family the richest dynasty in America. We investigate the company’s famously anti-union stance, documenting the sophisticated tactics it has used for decades to prevent its workforce from organizing. From manager training on "union avoidance" to the immediate shutdo...

For decades, Charles and David Koch operated in the shadows, building a political machine more powerful and influential than almost any in American history. This episode uncovers the origins of the Koch brothers' crusade, beginning with their father, Fred Koch, a founding member of the far-right John Birch Society who made his early fortune building refineries for Joseph Stalin. We trace how his sons inherited both his immense weal...

This episode follows the money. We dive deep into the Kochs' vast and secretive network of political non-profits and dark money groups, a sprawling web designed to obscure the source of hundreds of millions of dollars in political spending. We expose how groups like Americans for Prosperity and the Cato Institute were used to fuel the rise of the Tea Party movement, fight against the Affordable Care Act, and systematically install ...

The Mars family is the dynasty behind some of the world's most iconic brands—M&Ms, Snickers, and Milky Way—yet they are arguably the most secretive family in America. This episode penetrates the thick veil of privacy surrounding the clan that controls the largest candy company on Earth. We trace the family's history back to its founder, Frank Mars, and his often-strained relationship with his son, Forrest Sr., the tyrannical an...