John D. Rockefeller
Son of a traveling con man; celebrated the day he was hired as a bookkeeper for the rest of his life.
John D. Rockefeller was born in 1839 in Richford, New York, US. John D. Rockefeller's background is described as White American; English and German descent. Growing up, the family was working class — his father was a bigamist patent-medicine salesman known as 'Devil Bill,' who boasted of cheating his sons to sharpen them; his devout Baptist mother held the household together. Son of a traveling con man; celebrated the day he was hired as a bookkeeper for the rest of his life.
- Born
- 1839 · Richford, New York, US
- Roots
- White American; English and German descent
- Family
- Working class
- His father was a bigamist patent-medicine salesman known as 'Devil Bill,' who boasted of cheating his sons to sharpen them; his devout Baptist mother held the household together.
- Education
- Cleveland's Central High School; a ten-week commercial course
- Started with
- Job Day
- Hired as an assistant bookkeeper at 16 after weeks of door-knocking; he celebrated September 26 as 'Job Day' every year of his life.
- Affiliations & societies
- None documented.
- Information only — claims like these are often unverifiable and may be wrong.
The pathway
- 1855 · age 16The bookkeeper$0.50/day
Hewitt & Tuttle pays fifty cents a day; he tithes from the first envelope.
- 1863 · age 24First refinery
Enters oil in Cleveland during the Civil War boom.
- 1870 · age 30Standard Oil
Ruthless consolidation brings roughly 90% of US refining under one trust within two decades.
- 1911 · age 71The breakup
The Supreme Court splits Standard Oil into 34 companies — whose shares promptly make him richer.
- 1913 · age 73The Rockefeller Foundation$500M given
With the University of Chicago and medical research, his giving tops $500M.
- 1937 · age 97Dies
Routinely estimated the richest American in history, adjusted for the size of the economy.
Frequently asked questions
Where is John D. Rockefeller from?
John D. Rockefeller was born in 1839 in Richford, New York, US. Their background is described as White American; English and German descent.
When was John D. Rockefeller born?
John D. Rockefeller was born in 1839, in Richford, New York, US.
What is John D. Rockefeller's background or ethnicity?
John D. Rockefeller's roots are described as White American; English and German descent. These are broad categories drawn from public sources, not statements about how the person identifies.
Where did John D. Rockefeller go to school?
John D. Rockefeller's education: Cleveland's Central High School; a ten-week commercial course.
What was John D. Rockefeller's family background growing up?
At birth the family was working class. His father was a bigamist patent-medicine salesman known as 'Devil Bill,' who boasted of cheating his sons to sharpen them; his devout Baptist mother held the household together.
How did John D. Rockefeller get started?
John D. Rockefeller started with job Day. Hired as an assistant bookkeeper at 16 after weeks of door-knocking; he celebrated September 26 as 'Job Day' every year of his life.
Sources
Compiled from these references and contemporaneous press reporting. Figures are approximate; verify before relying on them.