Founder of the Oil Company John D. Rockefeller Net Worth 2011

John D. Rockefeller was the founder of the Standard Oil Company and a Philanthropist, with the net worth of $663.4 Billion. John D. Rockefeller earned his net worth as an icon in the oil business. He founded and operated Standard Oil Company for 27 years, retiring in 1897. The business began with a partnership with his brother, William, and Henry Flagler, Samuel Andrews, Stephen V. Harkness and Jabez Bostwick in the state of Ohio. John D. Rockefeller also founded the University of Chicago and the Rockefeller University. He also founded many organizations to benefit medical research, education and Science. His generosity helped to eliminate the illnesses of yellow fever and hookworms. The more money he made, the more generous he became. Some of his contributions went to Spelman College in Atlanta, for African American women to receive the education they were entitled to, many Baptist Colleges, including Denison University. He also gave support to Colleges such as, Yale, Harvard, Weseley, Vassar, Columbia and other educational institutions. John D. Rockefeller was the founder of the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, the Rockefeller Sanitary Commission, and his General Education Board in 1903, which was founded in the hopes of giving everyone the equal opportunity to learn, especially in the black schools in the south, where a good education was hard to come by.

Rockefeller was born in Richford, New York, as well as his five siblings. His father William Avery wasn’t around very much and his mother Eliza was basically a single mom, with her hands full. John worked to earn extra money and helped around the house whenever he could. Eventually his family moved to Moravia, New York, then to Owego and he attended school at Owego Academy and then Folsom’s Commercial College to learn bookkeeping. When he finished school, he got a job as an assistant bookkeeper for Hewitt and Tuttle, a produce commission firm. He was only making 50 cents a day and he donated 6 % of that to charity. Eventually John went into partnership with Maurice B. Clark and opened their own small produce commission business. After selling produce, he and his partner Clark built an oil refinery in Cleveland, Ohio, which was they owned, along with Samuel Andrews and Clark’s two brothers. Two years later, John D. Rockefeller bought out the Clark Brothers and the business became, Rockefeller and Andrews. John D. Rockefeller was one of the great entrepreneurs, that could turn money into more money, and at the same time, never let greed stop him from sharing his wealth. At one time he was considered to be the wealthiest man in all of history.

Rockefeller was married to Laura Celestia Spelman and they had four daughters and one son. His son, John Jr. followed in his footsteps and became in charge of his fathers foundations. John D. Rockefeller was a devout Christian and always gave in 10% tithe to his church. He taught Sunday school a the Erie Street Baptist Missionary Church, as well as providing services as a part time janitor, trustee and clerk.