William Henry Vanderbilt
#163,792
Most Influential Person Across History
American businessman and philanthropist
Why Is William Henry Vanderbilt Influential?
(Suggest an Edit or Addition)According to Wikipedia, William Henry Vanderbilt was an American businessman and philanthropist. Known as "Billy," he was the eldest son of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, an heir to his fortune and a prominent member of the Vanderbilt family. Vanderbilt became the richest American after he took over his father's fortune in 1877 until his own death in 1885, passing on a substantial part of the fortune to his wife and children, particularly to his sons Cornelius II and William. He inherited nearly $100 million from his father. The fortune had doubled when he died less than nine years later.
