The Vanderbilt's: The Ruthless Family Who Built America

Comments · 745

• BA

  @bankerdave888 · 3 years ago

  According to an ancient Chinese proverb, “Wealth does not pass three generations” -- the first generation builds the wealth; the second generation is inspired to preserve it by witnessing the hard work of their parents; and the third generation, having never witnessed the work that went into the creation of this wealth, squanders it.

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• TI

  @TihetrisWeathersby · 3 years ago

  It's always weird to think that Anderson Cooper is a Vanderbilt

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• LI

  @LisaSamaritan · 3 years ago

  History Channel made a good documentary called "The Men Who Built America" (2012). It tells the story of Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Astor, Ford and Morgan.

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• CO

  @corrbhan5138 · 3 years ago

  The name Van der Bilt, later condensed to Vanderbilt, means 'of the Bilt', De Bilt being a small town in the Netherlands, where the family originally came from in the 17th century, and also where I grew up and lived most of my life.

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• ST

  @Stand_By_For_Mind_Control · 3 years ago

  When you're as rich as Cornelius no one makes fun of you for being a 60 year old Wolverine cosplayer.

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• JA

  @jaredkennedy6576 · 3 years ago

  People who clamor for deregulation and repeal of labor laws need to take a closer look at the Vanderbilt era.  The tycoons of the era weren't just entrepreneurs, they owned the country at that point, until they had enough of a negative impact that laws were enacted to limit their control.

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• DA

  @daiakunin · 3 years ago

  Megaprojects: let&apos;s talk about a major historical figure from US history.<br><br>History channel: let&apos;s talk about aliens and what they may or may not have built on earth.

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• HE

  @hebneh · 2 years ago

  As this video pointed out, there were a number of immense Vanderbilt mansions once in existence, and this emphasizes how many American cities formerly had at least one or two impressive local estates, and usually entire upper-class neighborhoods of big ornate homes. It&apos;s amazing to me how short-lived so much of this was; the big houses turned into schools or churches or even rooming houses within a few decades, and many of the finest neighborhoods turned into the most rundown districts by the middle of the 20th century. So just like the Vanderbilt fortune as a whole, the other signs of great wealth in many locations became trashed or are long gone.

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• SE

  @Sevenfeet0 · 3 years ago (edited)

  One of my friends is a direct descendent through the Alfred line. It’s very hard to maintain any massive fortune when it’s divested through many heirs over multiple generations. This is the fate of fortunes over many wealthy families not just Vanderbilts.

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• JA

  @janedunlap6879 · 3 years ago

  The estate in north Carolina is breathtaking. It takes almost a half hour to drive up the driveway. Its also filled with priceless art. And a chess set from Napoleon. The US art museums stored their art there during the World Wars, there&apos;s that much space.

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• MA

  @MacShintersbane · 3 years ago

  &quot;Great wealth lasts only three generations.&quot; &nbsp;- If you&apos;re lucky.

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• TH

  @TheJazzper1970 · 3 years ago (edited)

  Vanderbilt generally tried to build companies and run them well. Some other businessmen of that era were more of the shyster variety. He did well for someone with almost no schooling and who was only semi literate.

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