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World's 26 richest people ever
This is an exceptional rich list. The Celebrity Net Worth website ranks the world's 25 richest people ever.
The list with some obscure names has some interesting revelations.
The list that spans 1,000 years has no women. Only three members are alive today, and 14 of the top 25 are Americans, says the Celebrity Net Worth website.
The list uses the annual 2199.6 per cent rate of inflation to adjust historic fortunes – a formula that means $100 million in 1913 would be equal to $2.299.63 billion today.
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1. Mansa Musa I of Mali
Net Worth: $400 billion
Mansa Musa I of Mali has been named the richest person in history, in the list by the Celebrity Net Worth website.
When he became the king, the Malian Empire consisted of the territory formerly belonging to the Ghana Empire, Mali and surrounding areas.
It says, with an inflation adjusted wealth of $400 billion, Mansa Musa I would have been considerably richer than Carlos Slim, who is currently the world's richest man.
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World's 26 richest people ever
2. The Rothschild Family
Net Worth: $350 billion
The family tested its fortunes with banking in the late 18th Century. Mayer Amschel Rothschild's banking company had a total wealth of $350 billion.
"Some people believe they control over $1 trillion in real estate and banking assets," Celebrity Net Worth website says.
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World's 26 richest people ever
3. John D Rockefeller
Net Worth: $ 340 billion
John D Rockefeller is the richest American ever. His company Standard Oil dominated American Oil production sector, it was eventually disintegrated for being a monopoly.
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World's 26 richest people ever
4. Andrew Carnegie
Net Worth: $310 billion
It was rags-to-riches story for Andrew Carnegie. He made a good fortune after he sold Carnegie Steel Company to JP Morgan for $480 million in 1901.
After selling his company, Carnegie decided to spend his time for philanthropic activities focusing on local libraries, world peace, education and scientific research.
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World's 26 richest people ever
5. Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov
Net Worth: $300 billion
One of the wealthiest kings, Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov was the emperor of the Russian Empire from 1894 till the February Revolution of 1917.
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World's 26 richest people ever
6. Mir Osman Ali Khan
Net Worth: $230 billion
The last Nizam (ruler) of the Princely State of Hyderabad is the richest Indian ever. He ruled Hyderabad between 1911 and 1948, until it was merged into India.
During his days as Nizam, he was reputed to be the richest man in the world, having a fortune estimated at $2 billion in the early 1940s.
His treasury was worth 100 milion pounds of gold and silver bullion, and 400 million pounds of jewels. A rare Jacob diamond, valued at around 100 million pounds was used by the Nizam as a paperweight!
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World's 26 richest people ever
7. William, The Conqueror
Net worth: $229.5 billion
The first Norman King of England, he ruled the state from 1066 until his death in 1087. He had been Duke of Normandy since 1035 under the title of William II.
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World's 26 richest people ever
8. Muammar Gaddafi
Net Worth: $200 billion
Colonel Gaddafi was the ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the 'Brother Leader' of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.
Gaddafi seized power in a bloodless military coup from King Idris in 1969 and served as the country's head of state until 1977.
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World's 26 richest people ever
9. Henry Ford
Net Worth: $199 billion
Ford motor company founder Henry Ford introduced the Model T automobile, which revolutionised the transportation industry.
As owner of the Ford Motor Company, he became one of the richest people in the world. He is known for 'Fordism' mass production of inexpensive goods coupled with high wages for workers.
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World's 26 richest people ever
10. Cornelius Vanderbilt
Net Worth: $185 billion
Cornelius Vanderbilt is the third richest American ever, the 10th richest person in history.
An American industrialist and philanthropist, he made a fortune from shipping and railroads businesses.
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World's 26 richest people ever
11. Alan Rufus
Net worth: $178.65 billion
Alan Rufus was King William's companion during the Norman Conquest. Being William's close aide paid off as Rufus was offered 250,000 acres of land in England.
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World's 26 richest people ever
12. William De Warenne
Net Worth: $147.13 billion
William de Warenne, the first Earl of Surey was an English military leader, who was granted of land for his service during the battle of Hastings.
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World's 26 richest people ever
13. Bill Gates
Net Worth: $136 billion
Bill Gates, Co-founder of Microsoft is currently the world's second richest person. He was the world's richest person from from 1995 to 2009, excluding 2008, when he was ranked third.
During his career at Microsoft, Gates held the positions of CEO and chief software architect, and remains the largest individual shareholder of the company.
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World's 26 richest people ever
14. John Jacob Astor
Net Worth: $121 billion
John Jacob Astor was a German-American business magnate, merchant and investor. He was also the first
multi-millionaire in the United States.
He built a fur trading empire in the Uinted States and acquired huge real estate properties.
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World's 26 richest people ever
15. Richard Fitzalan (10th Earl Of Arundel)
Net Worth: $118.6 billion
Richard Fitzalan was an English nobleman and medieval military leader.
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World's 26 richest people ever
16. John of Gaunt
Net Worth: $110 billion
John of Gaunt was English King Richard II's Regent. He became one of the richest people in the world, thanks to land grants.
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World's 26 richest people ever
17. Stephen Girard
Net Worth: $105 Billion
A philanthropist and banker, Stephen Girard personally saved the US government from financial collapse during the War of 1812.
He is estimated to be the fourth richest American ever. Since he did not have heirs, he left most of his estate to charity.
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World's 26 richest people ever
18. A.T. Stewart
Net Worth: $90 Billion
A successful Irish entrepreneur, Stewart made his multi-million fortune in dry goods business. He aspired to be a minister but turned out to be a successful businessman.
Stewart opened branches of his company in different parts of the world and owned several mills and factories.
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World's 26 richest people ever
19. Henry Duke of Lancaster
Net Worth: $85.1 billion
Henry Duke of Lancaster was a prominent English diplomat, politician and soldier. He is remembered as one of the founders and early patrons of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.
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World's 26 richest people ever
20. Friedrich Weyerhauser
Net Worth: $80 Billion
Friedrich Weyerhauser was American timber mogul and founder of the Weyerhaeuser Company, which had saw mills, paper factories, and other business enterprises, and large areas of forested land.
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World's 26 richest people ever
21. Jay Gould
Net Worth: $71 billion
Jay Gould was a leading American railroad developer. However, Conde Nast Portfolio ranked Gould as the 8th worst American CEO of all time.
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World's 26 richest people ever
22. Carlos Slim Helu
Net Worth: $68 billion
Carlos Slim Helu is a Mexican business magnate and philanthropist. Slim has been ranked the richest person in the world since 2010.
He is the chairman and chief executive of telecommunications companies Telmex and America Movil.
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World's 26 richest people ever
23. Stephen Van Rensselaer
Net Worth: $68 billion
Stephen Van Rensselaer III was the Lieutenant Governor of New York as well as a statesman, soldier, and landowner, the heir to one of the largest estates in the New York region.
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World's 26 richest people ever
24. Marshall Field
Net Worth: $66 billion
Founder of Marshall Field and Company, Marshall Field was worth $66 billion (inflation adjusted) in 1906.
Sam Walton (Also ranked 24)
Net Worth: $65 billion
Sam Walton was an American businessman and entrepreneur known for founding the retail firms - Walmart and Sam's Club. When he died in 1992, Walton's net worth was $65 billion.
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World's 26 richest people ever
25. Warren Buffett
Net Worth: $64 billion
Known as the 'Sage of Omaha', Warren Buffett is considered to be one of the most successful investors of the 20th century.
Buffet, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway is consistently ranked among the world's richest people. Buffett is known for his personal frugality and philanthropic initaives as well.