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Cornelius Vanderbilt became the second richest man in world history, after John D. Rockefeller (discussed below).  Many decades earlier, beginning at the age of only 11, Vanderbilt quit school in order to work with his father to transport cargo and people by ferry boat between Staten Island and Manhattan.  Through tremendous hard work and shrewd business practices he amassed a fortune which culminated in his ownership and management of several railroad lines.  He built Grand Central Station in Manhattan, which is a railroad terminal for millions of travelers today.

Cornelius Vanderbilt became the second richest man in world history, after John D. Rockefeller (discussed below).  Many decades earlier, beginning at the age of only 11, Vanderbilt quit school in order to work with his father to transport cargo and people by ferry boat between Staten Island and Manhattan.  Through tremendous hard work and shrewd business practices he amassed a fortune which culminated in his ownership and management of several railroad lines.  He built Grand Central Station in Manhattan, which is a railroad terminal for millions of travelers today.

It was not until the age of 70 that Vanderbilt expanded his fortune by focusing heavily on the growing importance of the railroads.  First he acquired the New York & Harlem and Hudson Line, and then obtained control of the New York Central Railroad through the kind of ruthless business tactic that was common in that era when there were almost no regulations. A very cold winter had frozen the Erie Canal, and Vanderbilt refused to accept passengers or freight from New York Central Railroad, which severed its connection to the West. Stuck, that railroad then capitulated to Vanderbilt's demands that he be allowed to buy a controlling interest in New York Central Railroad, and from that position he was able to control much of railroad transportation from New York City to Chicago.  

It was not until the age of 70 that Vanderbilt expanded his fortune by focusing heavily on the growing importance of the railroads.  First he acquired the New York & Harlem and Hudson Line, and then obtained control of the New York Central Railroad through the kind of ruthless business tactic that was common in that era when there were few regulations and little intervention by courts. A very cold winter had frozen the Erie Canal, and Vanderbilt refused to accept passengers or freight from New York Central Railroad in order to sever its connection to the western destination of its passengers and freight. Stranded by the being cut off from necessary destinations, that railroad then capitulated to Vanderbilt's demands that he be allowed to buy a controlling interest in New York Central Railroad, and from that position he was able to control much of railroad transportation from New York City to Chicago.  

[[File:Biltmore Estate.jpg|300px|right|thumb|The Biltmore Estate of the Vanderbilt family in North Carolina, still the largest private home in the United States having 250 rooms and nearly 179,000 square feet]]

[[File:Biltmore Estate.jpg|300px|right|thumb|The Biltmore Estate of the Vanderbilt family in North Carolina, still the largest private home in the United States having 250 rooms and nearly 179,000 square feet]]