The Wealth Files

How History's Wealthiest Families Made Their Fortunes

The most prominent families rose to power through artful combinations of strategic moves, shows of strength, careful calculations and yes - divine luck.

They also used lots of systems.

This list includes the most powerful families in global history:

1. Medici

2. Rothschild

3. Astor

4. Morgan

5. Carnegie

6. Rockefeller

In this well-researched article we will study their backgrounds, with a focus on how they amassed their capital bases.

Let’s begin.

Medici Family

Introduction

The Medici family originated in Florence, Italy in the 12th century. They started out as members of the guild of doctors and pharmacists, which is where the name Medici comes from. Over time, they expanded into manufacturing, finance, and politics. By the 15th century, they had become the most powerful and influential family in Florence.

The Medici economic empire was founded on banking and manufacturing. They established the Medici Bank in 1397, which became the most extensive bank in Europe during the 15th century. The bank had branches across …