Richest people in history; From emperors to modern capitalists

Mansa Musa; Image Source: SCMP.com; Imaging Name: Unknown

According to Medina Thiam, a doctoral student at the University of California in Los Angeles and a specialist in the financial history and coastal region of Africa, this question cannot be answered with certainty. Historical sources say that in the year 9, Manasa Musa, the ruler of the Financial Empire in the medieval era, which encompasses large parts of West Africa (and should not be confused with today’s financial state), made a pilgrimage to the two sacred cities of the Islamic world, Mecca and Medina.

On this long journey, he crossed the great Sahara of Africa and moved from the Niger River to the Nile and the Red Sea. His convoy consisted of thousands of soldiers and hundreds of slaves carrying large quantities of salt, gold and other wealth. Mansa Musa on his way, when he reached Cairo, brought a significant amount of gold into the local economy; To the extent that the metal was reduced throughout Egypt. This made him become the richest person of all time.

The magnificent and spectacular pilgrimage to the world showed that there is a powerful government in West Africa that the ambitious rule ruled. After the trip, the cities of Timbuktu and Jenne became important business centers. Also, these cities became a center for scientists and scholars from all over the Islamic world.

Mansa Musa’s wealth was undoubtedly enormous on a historical and even modern scale. However, the numbers that are raised and estimated to be hundreds of billions of dollars in today’s are no more than a speculation. In addition, such astronomical estimates ignore the fact that researchers still do not know much about the economy, politics, and organization of the empire.

John D De Rockefeller was the founder and main shareholder of Standard Oil, which produced between 5 % and 5 % of US oil at its peak.

After the success of the first refinery in Ohio, he eventually became the first US billionaire with clever investment. Rockefeller donated at least $ 5 million to charity throughout his life.