The Rich And How They Got That Way: How The Wealthiest People Of All Time From Genghis Khan To Bill Gates Made Their Fortunes

by Cynthia Crossen

What does Bill Gates have in common with Genghis Khan? Or Pope Alexander VI, the English inventor Richard Arkwright, or Hetty Green who was the "witch of Wall Street" during the 19th century? All were among the richest people in history. Through their stories, the author traces the major financial and technological developments that shaped the world we live in today. Once, plunder was the main source of great fortunes - then trade, financial entrepreneurship and manufacturing. Today it is selling high technology to a mass market. The stories of those who did the best possible job of getting rich is one of expanding opportunity, with wealth spreading beyond the few and society evolving in dramatic ways.

312 pages, Paperback

First published July 18, 2000

Reviews

[Manoj Kakran · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is well written chronically. This is about the Rich Persons and their History. The book is about 10 rich persons and how they got rich; from the year 971 to year 2012. The very interesting part of the book is narratives of 10 different centuries.

[Ferrol B · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Rich And How They Got That Way: How The Wealthiest People Of All Time From Genghis Khan To Bill Gates Made Their Fortunes, by Cynthia Crossen, is a book that delves into the inner workings of the empires built by a few of the richest people throughout history. From the well known Bill Gates to the less known Mansa Musa. In most parts, it performs this task admirably, but sometimes Crossen seems to go out on a limb about certain factors, sometimes leaving out how the subject of the chapter actually got their wealth, and talking instead about the economics of the period. Despite this, most chapters contain the right amount of information about environmental and direct effects that got the subject their wealth. The book also gives insight into how the very wealthy people in the past used some dirty tactics to stay on top. It makes you wonder how the current upper upper class are able to keep their money in their percent of the population. Overall, this book is probably worth reading if you wonder about how people of the past got their wealth, but it’s far from an excellent book.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book approaches world history by describing the way in which people over the centuries acquired wealth by chronologically looking at 10 wealthy people. Early on, wealth was acquired by taking what others had. Acquisition methods progressed to acting as a middleman, to being one who could exact taxes and tributes, to using money to create more money through investment, to manufacturing things, to manipulating stocks, to taking a tiny piece of billions of digital transactions. There were ridiculously wealthy people in here I had not heard of, including Mansa Musa, Jacob Fugger, Richard Arkwright, and Hetty Green (the latter being the loan female in the group). Each was emblematic of the means of getting rich in their time. Does not speak well of the wealthy as a group!

[Mark Bunch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview the times of way people rode the times into the history book. Part of a Wall street Journal -the wealthest peolp[ of the past 1000 years study.

[Michael · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is infuriating because it constantly meanders into tangents of history and anthropology and subjects entirely unrelated to "the wealthiest people of all time." Even when the book is on topic, the writing is rarely compelling. Needless to say, I didn't finish it. So many great books exist, why spend time reading mediocre ones?

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure why I chose this book, other than the large span of rich, most of whom I was unfamiliar with. It presents a picture of untold riches and excesses of some of the richest people to walk the earth.2+ to 3-

[Jack · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the worst books I've skimmed through lately. The author makes no attempt to correct for a very Eurocentric and Christian attitude. She plays very loose with the meaning of words and facts. Too frustrating to continue reading, too inaccurate to be of use.

[Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple reminder that once-in-a-generation wealth goes to those who not only work hard, but also seat themselves in the right place and time in history.