Gilded Facts About John Jacob Astor, The Richest Man On The Titanic
Born into one of the wealthiest families of the Gilded Age, John Jacob Astor IV got dealt the best hand one can receive. But this 19th-century Nepo baby soon proved he had the wit and cunning to compete with the big boys of the business world—until his life was cut short by a titanic symbol of the very decadence that defined his existence in the first place.
1. He Entered A Life Of Leisure
John Jacob Astor IV was born on July 13, 1864, at his parents’ vast country estate. He was the youngest child and only son of socialite Caroline Schermerhorn and William Backhouse Astor Jr.
John’s father, born into privilege like his son, was not ambitious, instead dedicating his life to leisure, luxury, and racehorse breeding. His status as an Astor allowed nothing less.
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2. He Was Wealthy From The Beginning
John Jacob Astor was the youngest of five children, and he and his four older sisters fit the textbook definition of kids born with silver spoons in their mouths.
At the time of his birth, the Astors were one of the wealthiest families in the United States. Now, to be fair, their life of luxury was the product of some hard work—but that work took place nearly a century earlier.
3. His Namesake Made His Family’s Fortune
Astor was named for his great-grandfather, the original John Jacob Astor. This Astor had come to the United States in 1783 with nothing but a few musical instruments.
He started in the fur trade, where he was wildly successful, making a fortune and soon pivoting to New York real estate development.
Astor’s forays into this exploding industry cemented him as the United States’ first multimillionaire. His great-grandson could count other big names among his family tree.
John Wesley Jarvis, Wikimedia Commons
4. He Had A Lot Of Famous Relatives
Wealth begets wealth, and the Astor family were related to many prominent wealthy families of the Gilded Age.
Among his relatives, John Jacob Astor IV could count a Presidential cabinet member for a great-grandfather, a wealthy Livingston for a great-grandmother, a distantly related Vanderbilt, and a brother-in-law who was the half-brother of future President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
But despite their blue blood, family matters were not always pleasant.
5. His Mother Feuded With His Cousin
Astor’s mother, Lina, was known formally as “Mrs. William Astor” until 1877, but with the passing of her older sister-in-law that year, Lina shortened her title to simply “Mrs. Astor” as the eldest surviving Astor wife. But it wasn't quite so simple.John’s cousin, William Waldorf Astor, felt that his wife should assume the preferred title.
Lina and her nephew began trading barbs in the press—and it was a bloodbath. Lina ended up humiliating William so greatly that he left the United States for England with his family. John was likely relieved when he finally got to pursue his own path.
