'''John D. Rockefeller''' (John Davison Rockefeller, Sr.) (1839 – 1937) was a leading American industrialist, financier, philanthropist and founder of a powerful family of bankers and politicians. He revolutionized the oil industry and defined the structure of modern philanthropy. From childhood, Rockefeller strongly believed that his purpose in life was to make as much money as possible, and then to use it wisely to improve the lot of mankind. In 1862, Rockefeller founded the [[Standard Oil Company]] and ran it until he retired in the late 1890s. He kept his stock and as gasoline grew in importance, his wealth soared and he became the world's richest man and first billionaire. | '''John D. Rockefeller''' (John Davison Rockefeller, Sr.) (1839 – 1937) was a leading American industrialist, financier, philanthropist and founder of a powerful family of bankers and politicians. He revolutionized the oil industry and defined the structure of modern philanthropy. From childhood, Rockefeller strongly believed that his purpose in life was to make as much money as possible, and then to use it wisely to improve the lot of mankind. In 1862, Rockefeller founded the [[Standard Oil Company]] and ran it until he retired in the late 1890s. He kept his stock and as gasoline grew in importance, his wealth soared and he became the world's richest man and first billionaire. |