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Oddly enough, Rockefeller was probably best known in his later life for the practice of giving a dime to children wherever he went.  He even gave dimes as a playful gesture to men like tire mogul Harvey Firestone and President Herbert Hoover.  During the Great Depression, Rockefeller switched to giving nickels instead of dimes.

Oddly enough, Rockefeller was probably best known in his later life for the practice of giving a dime to children wherever he went.  He even gave dimes as a playful gesture to men like tire mogul Harvey Firestone and President Herbert Hoover.  During the Great Depression, Rockefeller switched to giving nickels instead of dimes.

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==Legacy==

Legacy==

[[Image:John_d_rockefeller.jpg|thumb|200px|John D. Rockefeller's painting by [[John Singer Sargent]] in 1917]]

[[Image:John_d_rockefeller.jpg|thumb|200px|John D. Rockefeller's painting by [[John Singer Sargent]] in 1917]]

Notwithstanding these varied aspects of his public life, Rockefeller may ultimately be remembered simply for the raw size of his wealth.  In 1902, an audit showed Rockefeller was worth about $200 million—compared to the total national wealth that year of $101 billion.  His wealth grew significantly after as the demand for gasoline soared, eventually reaching about $900 million, including significant interests in banking, shipping, mining, railroads, and other industries.  By the time of his death in 1937, Rockefeller's remaining fortune, largely tied up in permanent family trusts, was estimated at $1.4 billion.  Rockefeller's net worth over the last decades of his life would easily place him among the very wealthiest persons in history.  As a percentage of the United States economy, no other American fortune—including Bill Gates or Sam Walton—ever came close.

Notwithstanding these varied aspects of his public life, Rockefeller may ultimately be remembered simply for the raw size of his wealth.  In 1902, an audit showed Rockefeller was worth about $200 million—compared to the total national wealth that year of $101 billion.  His wealth grew significantly after as the demand for gasoline soared, eventually reaching about $900 million, including significant interests in banking, shipping, mining, railroads, and other industries.  By the time of his death in 1937, Rockefeller's remaining fortune, largely tied up in permanent family trusts, was estimated at $1.4 billion.  Rockefeller's net worth over the last decades of his life would easily place him among the very wealthiest persons in history.  As a percentage of the United States economy, no other American fortune—including Bill Gates or Sam Walton—ever came close.

The Rockefeller wealth, distributed as it was through a system of foundations and trusts, continued to fund family philanthropic, commercial, and, eventually, political aspirations throughout the 20th century.  Grandson [[David Rockefeller]] was a leading New York banker, serving for over 20 years as CEO of Chase Manhattan (part of JP Morgan Chase).  Another grandson, [[Nelson A. Rockefeller]], was Republican governor of New York and Vice President. A third grandson, Winthrop Rockefeller, served as Republican governor of Arkansas.  Great-grandson, Jay Rockefeller (John D. Rockefeller IV) is currently a Democratic Senator from West Virginia.

The Rockefeller wealth, distributed as it was through a system of foundations and trusts, continued to fund family philanthropic, commercial, and, eventually, political aspirations throughout the 20th century.  Grandson [[David Rockefeller]] was a leading New York banker, serving for over 20 years as CEO of Chase Manhattan (part of JP Morgan Chase).  Another grandson, [[Nelson A. Rockefeller]], was Republican governor of New York and Vice President. A third grandson, Winthrop Rockefeller, served as Republican governor of Arkansas.  Great-grandson Jay Rockefeller (John D. Rockefeller IV) is a former governor and currently a Democratic Senator from West Virginia.

Rockefeller has passed into popular culture as the embodiment of wealth.  "Oysters Rockefeller" (colored green by the spinach) was named for him because the dish was so rich.  The Rockefeller family was a major benefactor in funding the reconstruction effort in France after World War I.  As a consequence, Rockefeller (along with the Rothschilds) was considered in that country the canonical billionaire—synonymous with extreme wealth.  "John D. Rockerduck" is a Walt Disney character popular in Europe who is a foil to other well-known rich duck, the avaricious "Scrooge McDuck".

Rockefeller has passed into popular culture as the embodiment of wealth.  "Oysters Rockefeller" (colored green by the spinach) was named for him because the dish was so rich.  The Rockefeller family was a major benefactor in funding the reconstruction effort in France after World War I.  As a consequence, Rockefeller (along with the Rothschilds) was considered in that country the canonical billionaire—synonymous with extreme wealth.  "John D. Rockerduck" is a Walt Disney character popular in Europe who is a foil to other well-known rich duck, the avaricious "Scrooge McDuck".