Top 20 Wealthiest People To Have Ever Lived
These historical figures managed to stack some serious cheddar in their lifetimes. Welcome to WatchMojo, and we’re counting down a diverse array of fortunes from different eras in history, both in terms of personal wealth and controlling the purse strings of massively wealthy nations or empires.
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00:00Carnegie was ambitious, hardworking, and showed a knack for making smart investments.
00:05Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down the wealthiest people of all time,
00:10both in terms of personal fortune and, in many cases,
00:13through having total control over the purse strings of entire nations or empires.
00:17Towering above all others, his brilliant military career was encapsulated in three famous words,
00:23Vene Vidi Vici.
00:25The figures are estimates based on inflation-adjusted values,
00:28including for controlled assets such as land and resources.
00:3320. Alan Rufus
00:35England – $194 billion
00:38Alan the Red played a pivotal role in the Norman conquest of England.
00:42Through his military service and loyalty, he was awarded extensive lands.
00:46His estates were vast, generating enormous revenues from the agricultural outputs
00:51and the administrative fines he imposed.
00:54His wealth at the time of his death was estimated to be around 11,000 pounds,
00:58which was a colossal sum in the medieval period.
01:01In today's terms, this fortune would be equivalent to billions.
01:04And his holdings were not just in land.
01:06He held significant influence in the burgeoning economic system of feudal England.
01:11His financial acumen ensured that his net worth grew through strategic marriages
01:16and investments in burgeoning market towns and ports, which increased his revenues further.
01:2119. Vladimir Putin
01:24Russia – $200 billion
01:26This despotic former KGB agent has held power as Russia's president or prime minister since 1999,
01:33and is often described as a key figure in a kleptocratic political system.
01:36President Putin's official income is around $100,000 a year, and yet he lives like the super-rich.
01:44Various sources and investigative reports allege that Putin has accumulated enormous
01:48personal wealth through a combination of seizing control over major segments of the Russian economy.
01:53Particularly in the energy sector, and receiving kickbacks from oligarchs who benefit from state
01:59contracts and protections. Estimates from some sources suggest Putin's worth could be as high
02:04as $200 billion, hidden across a complex network of undisclosed assets, ranging from stakes in
02:10major oil and gas companies to significant holdings in other sectors through proxies.
02:15Stanislav Belkovsky claimed Putin had secret shareholdings in some of Russia's biggest
02:21companies.
02:2118. Nathan Mayer Rothschild
02:24England – $250 billion
02:27Starting his career in Frankfurt before relocating to England in 1798,
02:32Nathan Mayer Rothschild founded the influential bank N.M. Rothschild & Sons, which became a
02:37cornerstone in the development of international finance. He revolutionized banking by facilitating
02:43extensive government loans, crucially supporting Britain's military campaigns during the Napoleonic
02:48Wars. Nathan invests William's fortune in the London stock market. Rothschild's financial acumen
02:55was most famously demonstrated when he capitalized on advanced news of Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo,
03:01multiplying his wealth. His innovative financial strategies not only amassed a great fortune,
03:06but set new standards that shaped the banking industry for generations.
03:10Nathan smuggles gold from England to the continent, where James and the other sons
03:15distribute it to the states united against Napoleon.
03:1817. King Croesus – Lydia – $345 billion
03:24The last king of Lydia, an ancient kingdom in western Anatolia, King Croesus I's reign marked
03:30the pinnacle of the empire's power and riches. His kingdom thrived due to the gold-rich sands
03:35of the Pactolus River, which enabled Croesus to mint the first true gold coins with standardized
03:40purity, fundamentally changing trade and economic structures of that era. These innovations not
03:46only established his reputation for unprecedented wealth, they influenced the development of
03:51monetary systems worldwide. His legendary riches became synonymous with opulence,
03:56inspiring the phrase, Rich as Croesus. However, his prosperous reign ended abruptly when he was
04:02defeated by Persian king Cyrus the Great in 546 BCE, altering the region's power dynamics.
04:1016. Cyrus the Great – Persia – $350 billion
04:22Speaking of Cyrus, he didn't just defeat Croesus, he founded the Achaemenid Empire,
04:27which at its peak stretched from the Balkans to the Indus Valley. His conquests brought immense
04:32wealth, particularly through the subjugation of powerful city-states and the control of key trade
04:38routes across Asia. Cyrus implemented innovative administrative practices that increased economic
04:43stability and growth across his empire. His policies included respect for local customs
04:56and religions, which fostered loyalty and facilitated smoother integration of conquered
05:01lands. This approach not only solidified his empire's wealth, but also ensured its longevity,
05:06making him one of the richest rulers in history. 15. John D. Rockefeller – USA – $350 billion
05:22An iconic figure in the annals of American history, Rockefeller founded the Standard
05:27Oil Company in 1870, which monopolized the oil industry and became the world's first
05:32great business trust. His aggressive business strategies and innovative practices in the oil
05:37sector allowed him to control most of the oil production, refining, and distribution in the
05:42United States, leading to unprecedented personal wealth. By the time he retired, his fortune was
05:48unmatched, making him arguably the richest person in modern history. Rockefeller's worth was so huge
05:54that his family's philanthropic endeavors could be funded for generations, reshaping educational,
05:59cultural, and scientific institutions worldwide. 14. Andrew Carnegie – USA – $371 billion
06:09Rising from modest beginnings to become one of the most influential industrialists in American
06:13history, Carnegie built his empire in the steel industry. He revolutionized construction and
06:23manufacturing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and by the time of his retirement,
06:28that commercial empire had made him one of the wealthiest individuals ever.
06:38This immense prosperity was largely directed towards philanthropy, with Carnegie funding
06:42the establishment of libraries, universities, and various cultural institutions. His profound
06:48impact means that he's today remembered as yes, one of the richest people ever to have lived,
06:52but also one of the most charitable. 13. Mansa Musa – Mali – $400 billion
07:08Ascending to the throne of the Mali Empire around 1312, Mansa Musa expanded his empire
07:14to include a large part of West Africa, reaching immense wealth primarily through the region's
07:19substantial gold and salt mines. His legendary pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 demonstrated his
07:29riches on a scale previously unseen. Historians report that he traveled with a caravan,
07:35including thousands of soldiers and camels carrying gold. Musa's lavish spending and
07:40generous donations throughout the journey majorly impacted the economies of the regions
07:45through which he traveled. So much gold was handed out that the Cairo economy crashed and
07:49would not recover for ten years. His wealth was so staggering that it is often described as being
07:54impossible to quantify accurately, firmly establishing him as one of the richest individuals
07:58in history. Despite his global legacy, Mansa Musa has largely disappeared from the Western
08:04historical imagination. 12. Alexander the Great – Greece – $500 billion
08:10Inheriting the kingdom of Macedon from his father Philip II, Alexander embarked on a series of
08:15conquests that would dramatically expand his dominion, eventually covering territories
08:19from Greece to northern India. His conquests brought under his control some of the wealthiest
08:24regions of the ancient world, notably Egypt and Persia. The treasuries of these lands,
08:37especially the legendary city of Persepolis, significantly augmented his fortune.
08:47Alexander's ability to control and redistribute the immense resources of these areas not only
08:52funded his continuous military campaigns, it facilitated the spread of Greek culture and
08:57influence across his empire. His wealth, although immense, was primarily used to maintain and expand
09:03his territories. 11. Attila the Hun – Hunnic Empire – $500 billion
09:15Known to have been widely feared throughout the Roman Empire, Attila wielded power through sheer
09:20intimidation across much of Europe, leading the Huns from 434 until his death in
09:34453. Attila amassed his fortune primarily through plunder and tribute. His campaigns
09:39forced many kingdoms to pay substantial tributes to avoid his wrath, thereby funneling enormous
09:45resources into his control. Despite his reputation for savagery, Attila's strategic acumen in
09:57leveraging both military and economic tactics enhanced his influence. His treasure troves,
10:03filled with gold and precious items from raids, underscored his status as a formidable ruler in
10:08the ancient world. 10. Catherine the Great – Russia – $1.5 trillion
10:20Catherine took the Russian throne after the coup that overthrew her husband Peter III,
10:25and then expanded the Russian Empire and solidified her status as one of its most
10:29powerful rulers. Her reign saw the annexation of far-flung territories, including parts of Poland,
10:40Crimea, and the North Caucasus, which significantly increased the empire's
10:45wealth through the acquisition of fertile lands and strategic trade routes. Catherine's clever
10:50use of political and economic policies attracted foreign investors and stimulated domestic industry,
10:56contributing to a flourishing economy. Her personal prosperity was immense,
11:09supporting a lavish court and grand architectural projects that symbolized her power and status.
11:15These investments aimed to modernize and westernize Russia.
11:249. King Solomon – Israel – $2.2 trillion Legendary for his wisdom, Solomon presided
11:31over Israel during its Golden Age. Although the archaeological record is not definitive,
11:36his era was marked by extensive international trade and diplomatic alliances that boosted the
11:42kingdom's resources. Gifts and tributes flowed to Solomon from dignitaries worldwide,
11:47enriching his treasury with gold, exotic spices, and precious stones. His most celebrated project,
11:57the First Temple in Jerusalem, exemplified his financial power and architectural ambition.
12:12This temple not only stood as a spiritual center, it housed massive quantities of gold and treasures,
12:18including those from the famously rich Ophir. Solomon's management and economic strategies
12:24fostered a period that has become legendary in history.
12:278. Amenhotep III – Egypt – $4 trillion Ruling Ancient Egypt beginning around 1386 BCE,
12:44Amenhotep III presided over a period of unprecedented prosperity and artistic flourishing.
12:50In my opinion, Amenhotep III was Ancient Egypt's greatest pharaoh.
12:55His reign is characterized by extensive building projects, including the construction of
13:00magnificent temples and a royal palace, which showcased the mastery of his era. The pharaoh's
13:06diplomatic strategies played a crucial role in maintaining peace and enhancing Egypt through
13:10trade and tribute from neighboring states. Amenhotep wore gold from top to toe, and he
13:16handed it out to his courtiers as gifts. His reign saw the importation of luxury items like
13:22incense and ivory, alongside large amounts of gold from Nubia, solidifying his status as one
13:27of the richest rulers of the ancient world. Amenhotep III's legacy is vividly immortalized
13:33in the artifacts and monuments that survive today, reflecting the opulence of his reign.
13:38Amenhotep was able to utilize his key resource, his gold, to kind of get everything he wanted.
13:467. Augustus Caesar, Roman Empire, $4.6 Trillion
13:51During the reign of Augustus Caesar, the Roman Empire saw a transformation into a period of
13:56prosperity known as the Pax Romana. As the first Roman emperor, Augustus solidified his fortune
14:02through the expansion of the empire and the establishment of a centralized imperial treasury.
14:07This man launched the rise of the Roman Empire, Augustus. He implemented economic reforms that
14:13stabilized the currency and enhanced public wealth by fostering trade across the empire's
14:19network of roads and ports. The spoils of his war campaigns further swelled the imperial coffers,
14:25particularly after the defeat of Egypt, which brought its immense treasures into Roman control.
14:30During his reign, Rome becomes a world power, and Roman culture is at its peak.
14:36By annexing Egypt, Augustus gained direct control over its grain,
14:41crucial for feeding the Roman populace, and its gold mines, which filled the imperial treasury.
14:47Four times I came to the assistance of the treasury with my own money, Augustus said.
14:526. Julius Caesar, Roman Republic, $5 Trillion
14:57The iconic Caesar augmented his personal wealth and that of Rome through conquest
15:02and clever financial policies. His most lucrative campaign was the conquest of Gaul,
15:07where he expanded Roman territories and seized huge quantities of war spoils.
15:18These included gold and silver, which were crucial in funding his political ambitions back in Rome.
15:23He initiated the issuance of new coinage, increasing the money supply,
15:28which helped to alleviate Rome's debt crisis.
15:37These actions, combined with his strategic use of wealth to gain political allies and support
15:42among the populace, were instrumental in consolidating his power and influence,
15:47showcasing a multifaceted approach to accumulation and management.
15:545. Joseph Stalin, USSR, $7.5 Trillion
16:03As a dictator of a communist state, Stalin didn't accumulate wealth in the form of private assets,
16:09properties, or bank accounts typical for other historical figures. His quote-unquote wealth
16:14was essentially the ability to control and allocate the resources of the entire Soviet Union.
16:20The state seized assets from the peasantry and funneled them into industrial growth,
16:25which was essential for infrastructural development.
16:32By channeling the wealth of the nation into state-controlled sectors,
16:36Stalin amassed a massive economic power base. Moreover, Stalin's regime often appropriated
16:42fortunes through purges and the confiscation of property from perceived enemies of the state.
16:48This eliminated his rivals and redirected their assets to state coffers,
16:52further enhancing his control.
16:574. Empress Wu, China, $16 Trillion
17:08Empress Wu Zetian increased her wealth and that of the Tang Dynasty through strategic economic
17:13reforms and expansions. Her rule was marked by the strengthening of the central bureaucracy,
17:19which included revamping the agricultural tax system to increase efficiency and fairness.
17:24This adjustment led to more stable and increased revenue for the state,
17:28bolstering the dynasty's treasury.
17:36Empress Wu expanded the Chinese Empire's borders, securing control over key trade routes that
17:41enhanced commercial prosperity. Under her leadership, the Silk Road flourished, facilitating
17:47lucrative trade in silk, spices, and ceramics with Central Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.
17:54This brought enormous riches into China and increased its cultural and political influence
17:58across Asia.
18:053. Akbar the Great, India, $22 Trillion
18:10Yet another ruler on this list known as the Great, Akbar was one of the most illustrious
18:14rulers of the Mughal Empire, known for expanding its territory. His reign saw the incorporation
18:20of vast regions of the Indian subcontinent through both conquests and alliances, substantially
18:26increasing the empire's revenues. The wealth of the Mughal Empire under Akbar was evidenced by
18:31his sponsorship of large-scale architectural projects, including the construction of the
18:36Agra Fort and the city of Fatehpur Sikri, which served not only as administrative centres,
18:42but as symbols of the empire's prosperity and Akbar's absolute rule. He fostered international
18:48trade by opening up markets to European traders.
18:512. Emperor Shenzong of Song, China, $30 Trillion
18:56Ruling from 1067 until his death in 1085, this emperor was instrumental in enhancing
19:02the economic foundation of one of China's most financially successful eras. He implemented the
19:08Wang-On-Xi reforms, which revitalized the state's revenue system through reconstructed taxation,
19:13government monopolies on essential goods, and improved agricultural loans. These reforms
19:19increased state control over the economy, thereby boosting the treasury. Shenzong's reign saw the
19:24expansion of the jiaozi, an early form of paper money which facilitated trade and commerce across
19:30the empire. This innovation improved the efficiency of the economy and increased the
19:35central government's control over the monetary system. His strategic economic policies and
19:40enhancements to fiscal systems substantially elevated the wealth and stability of the Song
19:45Dynasty.
20:001. Genghis Khan, Mongolia, $100 Trillion
20:08Genghis Khan, founder of the Mongol Empire, amassed an unparalleled fortune through his
20:13conquests across Asia and Europe. Born in 1162, he expanded his empire to become the largest
20:23contiguous land empire in history. This expansion facilitated access to a multitude of resources
20:29and wealth, primarily through plunder and the imposition of tribute across the territories he
20:34subdued. The goods extracted from conquered lands included gold and silver, and also valuable silk
20:45and spices, essential commodities in international trade at the time. Genghis Khan's strategies
20:52integrated the sophisticated economic systems of the regions he conquered, such as the Silk Road,
20:58further enhancing the economic might of the Mongol Empire. His ability to control and
21:03redistribute riches underpinned the empire's entire economy. What other titans of commerce
21:15and government could have made this list? Let us know in the comments!
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